Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
Few people understand it. Nobody agrees what it is, how to learn about it, or who's responsible for it. It has never been more important
Highlights
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Replies
There is no set limit in a dwelling, according to the NEC. In practical terms, 10 to 12 should be a maximum.
that doesnt matter you can have one or a hundred. the question is. how much watts will the items pull on those recepticals.
I have 17 on one breaker here, inspected. No problem.
PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!
My vote, No More then 10! Less if I also had lights on the same circuit.
my whole house is 20 amp and I only have six per circuit, fot the computer circuit only two. But the correct answer is, it depends on the watts that you plan to plug in. If you only plug one desk lamp inthat circuit you could have 1385 recepticals on that circuit and be legal. But you need to count watts on, Tv's, vcr, clocks, lights , microwave, computer, printers,everything. That is also why most people only use 15 amps for light circuits.
Thanks to all of you! I usually just overkill things ( 5 or 6 receps, never lights & receps on the same circuit.) I just wanted to know my limits. Of course, i cannot add up all the things that will be plugged in because i have no idea what the homeowner will plug in. Heck, i plug in my compressor in my house! plus a saw and whatever else i can get away with. RZ
If you our going to use that circuit in a bedroom, more then likely it will need Arc fault protection. What type of living space will this circuit service?
It is an "Office" with a bathroom. It could be construed as a bedroom. Does that count? THanks. RZ
yes,even a smoke alarm in the bedroom must be on arc fault.
You really need to check with your local building department. And find out what version of the code that they are using and what, if any, there are local modifiications.
A number of local areas do limit the number of receptacles on a circuit, although the NEC does not limit them for general purpose residental circuits.
Likewise where I am we are using the 96 NEC code which contains nothing about arc fault's.
The next city over has adopted the 2002 NEC, but has modified the code to not require the AFCI's.
And what is a bedroom is also up in the air. Some places it is only rooms specified as a bedroom. Other places it is anything other than a kitchen, bath, living room, or hall.
You should allow 150va, volt-amps, per general lighting recp. that works out to 10 cord and plug connected loads of 12 amps on a 15 amp circuit.