Maximum Draw on a Household Circuit?

[Marc Miller]

I'm no electrician so I thought I post a question. What's the maximum draw
that can be connected to a standard household circuit? I have a 200amp
panel and just installed a circuit with numerous outlets and a fluorescent
light fixture on a 15amp breaker with 12/2 Romex. I put two duplex outlets
together so I would have four connections in the basement, and then the wire
was run to the garage to power the light as well as one duplex outlet. Just
curious as I don't want to get in trouble. Thanks...

 

[keith]

I'm no electrician so I thought I post a question. What's the maximum draw
that can be connected to a standard household circuit?

Define "standard". In the US, few 120V outlets are rated for more than
15A, though many circuits are rated for 20A. Circuits are rated by
(and protected for) their wire size.

I have a 200amp
panel and just installed a circuit with numerous outlets and a
fluorescent light fixture on a 15amp breaker with 12/2 Romex.

Why 15A?

I put two duplex outlets together so I would have four connections in the
basement, and then the wire was run to the garage to power the light as
well as one duplex outlet. Just curious as I don't want to get in
trouble. Thanks...

What's the total draw? If it's less than 15A, you should be fine. THough
I'd have run a seperate feed to the garage.

 

[Pete J. Ahacich]

First of all, you could use a 20a breaker with 12/2.

120VAC 20 amp circuit per 500ft/^2 (Ref Table 220-3-b 1996 NEC) (Sorry. I
don't have a current code book handy to give you a ref # from.)

120Vx .80 = 16 amps; 16a/1.5a per light/outlet allows you 10 devices max.

 

[PCK]

First of all, you could use a 20a breaker with 12/2.

120VAC 20 amp circuit per 500ft/^2 (Ref Table 220-3-b 1996 NEC) (Sorry.
I don't have a current code book handy to give you a ref # from.)

120Vx .80 = 16 amps; 16a/1.5a per light/outlet allows you 10 devices max.


"Marc Miller" <[email protected]> wrote in message

really here any 20 amp circuit would require t-slot receptacles
and they allow 12 devices (100 watt per device loaded to 80 %)
on a 15 amp circuit. unless the load is fixed and then no limit to number
of devices so long as 80%. don`t ask about electric heat as now they
allow 100% circuit loading on fixed electric heat.

 

[Al]

| |> First of all, you could use a 20a breaker with 12/2.
|>
|> 120VAC 20 amp circuit per 500ft/^2 (Ref Table 220-3-b 1996 NEC) (Sorry.
|> I don't have a current code book handy to give you a ref # from.)
|>
|> 120Vx .80 = 16 amps; 16a/1.5a per light/outlet allows you 10 devices max.
|>
|>
|
| really here any 20 amp circuit would require t-slot receptacles
| and they allow 12 devices (100 watt per device loaded to 80 %)
| on a 15 amp circuit. unless the load is fixed and then no limit to number
| of devices so long as 80%. don`t ask about electric heat as now they
| allow 100% circuit loading on fixed electric heat.

100% circuit loading is allowed for certain cases. Generally when the
circuit supplies a single load only, and that load is normally expected to
operate intermittently (such as a home electric central heat), running at
100% is safe. The 80% is otherwise a reasonable margin for the unexpected
such as variations in manufacturing tolerance and diversity in unplanned
loading.

In reality, you could run 30 amps on AWG 14 wire, and 40 amps on AWG 12
wire, or more, and not burn it up ... in most cases. The electrical code
standards build in a good margin of safety to cover lots of variations
that could all add up to turn a marginally safe situation into a very
unsafe one.

Wall socket outlets are rated at 7.5 amps each for a total of 15 amps
per wall outlet. At least that is what the imprint on some of mine says.

Al

 

[Bud]

Wall socket outlets are rated at 7.5 amps each for a total of 15 amps
per wall outlet. At least that is what the imprint on some of mine says.

Far as I know the UL standard for a 15A duplex receptacle is 15A per
half and 20A total (if they are on a 20A circcuit). They are tested at
150% of rating.

Bud--