2006-08-31 10:06:04 · 12 answers · asked by ? 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Depends on what you have plugged in. If it is a microwave, then the answer is 1. The general rule of thumb is 7 common outlets/switches.
2006-08-31 10:12:47 · answer #1 · answered by duke1414 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
In the USA for most places there is no code that says how many receptacles per 20 amp breaker. The rule of thumb has always been 10. That's 10 if they are all 1.5 amps or less. You want the load to stay at 80% or less and that would be 16 amps but also 1920 watts. It's usually listed on the side of a breaker it's loads. Most single pole 20 amps will say 20amp 1920 watts. This is fine through bedrooms almost 100% of the time. For kitchens the code is different. And it's usually along the lines of no more than 2 receptacles per 20 amp or 15 amp and no more than 4 foot apart and if a counter is more than 2 week wide it must have a receptacle.
2016-05-23 02:09:08 · answer #2 · answered by Lawl Browns 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As a general rule I would keep it between 6 and 8 oulets to each 20 amp circuit. You can get by with more but you never know how your needs may change. You may use an outlet for one thing now but may use it for something different in the future. Don't take chances on overloading a circuit. Keep it around 6 or 8 outlets. If you have limited circuits in your panel you may want to increase this number, but plan well. You can plan a circuit by finding the total amps (watts divided by volts = amps) Example, if you have 12-100 watt bulbs on a circuit (12x100=1200 watts divided by 120 volts= 10 amps) Appliances and other electrical devices will list wattage or even sometimes they will list amperage. If they list amperage, you will not have to use this formula. Don't exceed 80 percent of the breakers capacity. For a 20 amp circuit breaker, don't exceed 16 amps.
2006-09-02 14:50:22 · answer #3 · answered by m_d_mack 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
How many times does this question need to be asked?
Michael G you are more off the mark than Stuart!! The only thing wrong with Stuart's answer, is 22A is not necessarily going to trip the breaker. Breakers have trip curves that indicate how long it takes to trip (a minimum and maximum). They are only guaranteed to NOT trip for a continuous load of 80% of the rating (16A for a 20A breaker). 20A MAY trip at some point (doesn't have to), and even 22A MAY trip at some point (doesn't have to).
You say outlet, but I'll take that to mean receptacle (code makes a distinction). You didn't say where, so I'll assume residential. If commercial, a receptacle isn't required, so if you put one in, it needs to have a load (1.5A for a 120V 15 or 20A receptacle). In residential, it requires a lot of receptacles and most have nothing plugged in, so there is NO load assigned. You can have as many as you want on a circuit. The limit in residential that keeps you from putting the whole house on one circuit is by square feet. It works out that a 20A circuit can serve 800 sq ft. (The limit is 3VA/sq ft). You are welcome to limit it more; the code is a minimum.
2006-09-01 02:23:50 · answer #4 · answered by An electrical engineer 5 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Depending on where you live. The code book here in Canada says 12 outlets for a 15 Amp breaker. But I usually figure out what is going on to this breaker. What I do is put about five outlets in and about four lights. Figure out approx. what your amps will be.
2006-08-31 15:35:34 · answer #5 · answered by whtcamp 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Some misinformation in previous answers. Code puts no limits on how many outlets( receptacles, lights) can be on a 15 or 20 amp circuit for general branch circuit. There are requirements on how many circuits are required for different rooms in a house such as the kitchen( minimum of 2) There is also a formula for the number of circuits for a house based on the square footage.. Since I don't know what your are using the outlets for can't tell you how many. For general branch circuits such as bedrooms where you should use a 15 amp circuit 10 outlets is quite ok if there isn't going to be anything requiring a lot of amps. Ten outlets on a 20 amp circuits can also be quite ok once again if you have no significant load.Other circuits for Kit., laundry, dining room will require 20 amp. circuits for the receptacles. Good luck.
2006-08-31 11:15:11 · answer #6 · answered by steven a 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I always knew it was eight in non-appliance circuits. An outlet can be a receptacle or a ceiling fixture.
Kitchen counters require 10 amps per receptacle. So 2 per 20 amp breaker, and should be a GFI receptacle or breaker. Dedicated receptacles like AC recptacles must be solely dedicated to one 20 amp breaker.
Stuart is way off the mark. Get a copy of the National Electrical Code.
2006-08-31 10:23:31 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
As many as you want.
However, you can only draw a TOTAL of 20 amps before the breaker kicks. So if you have a 10 amp microwave running, and turn on a 12 amp vacuum cleaner, the breaker will kick.
2006-08-31 10:13:52 · answer #8 · answered by Stuart 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It depends on what you plug into them. Everything uses amps. When you have motors which SURGE, you will go over your amps and blow the breaker. Basically, if all you are using are lights, and small appliances, you could have two to three rooms with TVs in every room...but plug in the sweeper or the AC and you might blow the breaker. Most boxes have them divided out fairly well.
2006-08-31 10:15:36 · answer #9 · answered by DA R 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
in new york it;s 8 on a circut in commercial,as many as u see fit in residential,but u have to have 3 for the kitchen a uility box and a microwave,also a lighting has to be on a seperat circut also in new york every bed room has to have a ac circut and bed rooms have to be on a arc fault circut
what it comes down to is every 15 linear feet every one in commercial and 12 liner fet in residential
2006-09-01 03:57:05 · answer #10 · answered by forsakenex 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋