I have a 200 amp load center w/ 14 breakers. How many outlets or lights can I connect to one breaker?

Question

The load center was bought from manards it has (6) 15 amp (6) 20 amp (1) 30 amp double pole and (1) 50 amp double pole breakers.

Answer 1

Wow, I have never seen so many wrong or misquided answers on one question before. Don't take electrical advise from untrained and unqualified people.

The National Electric code does not limit how many general use outlets (receptacle and lighting) you may put on a circuit in a dwelling unit. You can put as many as you wish on a single circuit. In a commercial building, the limit is 10 on a 15 amp circuit and 13 on a 20 amp circuit. 2005 NEC 220.14i. You can follow that for your home for a "rule of thumb." That number works good for most circuits. It is based on 180 volt/amps each in the code. There are special rules for kitchen small appliance circuits and some major appliances. Double pole (240 volt) circuits are to be dedicated circuits for a specific load or use only. One outlet per circuit.

Just FYI an outlet is a point of electrical use. It can be a receptacle outlet, a lighting outlet, or a hard wired outlet.

Answer 2

The population of the load center is irrelevant to the question of how much load a single breaker can take. The answer is the amperage. You have to figure the load.

You know that a given device (say, a light bulb) uses 60W. The formula is Watt = Volts x Amps. We know the voltage is 120V (if you're in the U.S.) so 60/120 = 1/2A. Do that for the devices plugged into that circuit and you have your total load.

1. The NEC recommends keeping the total load at about 80% of the maximum rated overcurrent protection (i.e. the breaker size).
2. If you need more amperage, you cannot just change the breaker; the wiring has to be changed as well. A typical lighting circuit in a residential home is 14A and you will find either a 15 or 20A breaker on it. Installing a 30A breaker could well send more amperage down that copper than it is rated to handle. This will eventually lead to a fire.
3. Electrical motors figure differently due to the high amperage draw during startup. The motor is supposed to have a label or tag on it that states the maximum amperage and the nominal amperage; go by the latter. The former is very brief and the wiring can handle it for short periods.
4. The 50A is most likely for an electric range which draws a LOT of power. 30A for washer/dryer/dishwasher.

Answer 3

First off, check the brand of panel you have and then buy what is called a "piggy back" breaker of 20 amps, remove a 20 amp breaker in your panel nearest the empty spot and install the piggy back breaker which is actually 2 breakers in one designed for one space.This will free up to spots. Go with 10/3 or 8/3 to a sup panel in the shed. 10/3 is 30 amp and 8/3 is 50 amp. This will give you 220 volts out to your shed so this should be more than enough power for what you want and then some for future use. A sub panel in the shed is your best bet as you can control your circuits from there instead of the big panel. It may cost a little more but well worth the extra investment and will save you headaches later on down the road

Answer 4

Light run on 20 amps or less, the rule of thumb is to estimate each light on 1 circuit. for example you have six wall outlets in one room and 3 wall outlets in an adjoining room that all run on the same circuit. If each plug outlet has a lamp plugged in and each lamp has a 75 watt bulb in it then it would be;

6+3 = 9 x 2 =18 plug out let in total at 75 watts each.

75 x 18 = 1350 total watts on that circuits

1350 divided by 110 the volts of current = 12.2727 Amps

a 15 amp breaker is enough amps for that one circuit without any problems.

never share a breaker with an electric stove, water heater, electric heat or a dishwasher, these need their own separate breakers.

When a microwave or toaster, or coffee maker are in one cir cut you may exceed the amp capacity if they are all on at the same time, so make sure, they are on separate breakers from each other or pair them up two to one circuit.

Answer 5

Use all the info you have here because the other responses are informative....just make sure if you use 14 Gage wire it be installed to a 15 amp load...dont put 14 Gage wire on a 20 amp or higher load...that will lead to the wire burning up....12 Gage wire can go on a 15 or 20 amp load....10 guage for ur 30 amp and 6 guage for your 50

Answer 6

You want to save your 20 amp breakers for the kitchen (2), bathroom (1 ea) and garage, and all other rooms that require GFCI protection.
You should be able to have up to 10 outlets/fixtures on each 15 amp breaker, with two circuits for your living room/family room.
The 50 amp breaker is for your electric range or stove and the 30 amp breaker is for the electric dryer or your electric water heater. If you have both, you may want to install another 30 amp breaker.

Answer 7

average bedroom circuit for receptacles with 12-2 around 10 receptacles lights on different circuit vary depending on type of lights mos lights say how many amps they pull just dont exceed youre wire or youre breaker 12-2 good for 20 amps 14-2 good for 15 amps 10-2 for 30 amps

Answer 8

you connect up to the rating of the circuit breaker!!! i.e. a 15 amp breaker can take a load of 15 amps,, to figure this you need to do the math and figure out how much amps your things will use,,,, there is a down loadable chart here somewheres that lists all the appliances and their ratings,, ust google for it,, just remember,, you only have a 200 amp max,, so you can not use the all the max ratings for all the breakers,,,which total 280 amps!! it is assumed that each breaker will not be used to its fullest all the time!!

Answer 9

the ave front room runs, about 5 power points of a 20 amp breaker,
so use 20 amp,for the bedrooms, front room
hallways, and kitchen
the 30 amp get used for the stove, hot water tank,and welders , because they are made up of 220 volts
the double tend to be the stove, anything that uses, 220 v
if your unsure hire a pro ..... best to be safe

Answer 10

How much you can connect will depend on the number of watts your load can handle

Watts is the measure of total energy available. Each thing you add on will use a certain amount of water (eg a 60 watt bulb uses 60 watts).

If you have a powerboard it will have a wattage rating. Add on too many things then the circuit breaker will activate and turn the powerboard off (the alternative is that it catches on fire, which I have seen happen).

Though note the following fact, most things drain more power when the are just turned on. So it is usually not a good idea to add too many things onto one powerboard.