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The National Electrical Code (US) allows up to thirteen 20 amp receptacles on a 20 amp circuit.

120V x 20A = 2400 VA

each duplex receptacle is calculated at 180 VA

2400 / 180 = 13.3333 receptacles, since you can't put a third of a receptacle in, you have to round down to 13.

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Q: Does the NEC code allow multiple 20A receptacles on a 20A circuit Put another way does a 20A receptacle with T shaped neutral slots imply that no other outlets are that circuit?
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Can a 20 amp circuit breaker operate two 15 amp receptacle?

It is perfectly acceptable to have (2) 120 volt 15 amp receptacles operated from a 120 volt 20 amp circuit breaker (as a general rule of thumb 11 receptacles are acceptable on a 20 amp circuit). The 15 amp rating of the receptacle is the maximum allowed amperage that should be hooked up to the receptacle at any one time. So in this case the limiting factor is the amount of current being drawn across both receptacles simultaneously should not exceed the 20 amp rating of the circuit breaker. In the United States the NEC code allows the use of a 20 amp circuit breaker to feed a branch circuit consisting of 15 amp receptacles. Generally you would not exceed 11 receptacles though as you will assume an average load of 1.5 amps per receptacle and trying to maintain about 80% max load.


Can you control 10 outlets with one 20 amp GFCI outlet on one 20 amp circuit?

Yes. I know of no limits to how many regular receptacles (outlets) you can "piggy back" onto one GFCI receptacle. However, in commercial and industrial construction there are limits to how many receptacles can be placed on any one circuit. These limits in the United States and according to the NEC are: 10 receptacles on a 15 amp circuit and 13 receptacles on a 20 amp circuit.


How is a plug in receptacle connected to other receptacles in a normal house circuit?

There are typically 8 to 10 receptacles on most house circuits with special applications in Kitchens. The wires are in parallel with Black to Black, White to White and Bare Wire Ground to Ground.


What is the formula to figure out how many plugs and lights you can put on a circuit?

This depends upon the circuit breaker capacity. You may never load a circuit to greater than 80% of it's capacity. So you may load up to 12 Amps on a 15 Amp circuit, and, 16 Amps on a 20 Amp circuit. The National Electrical Code requires you to calculate each receptacle at 180 VA. If the circuit is 120 volts and 15 amps, you would have 1800 VA, divide by 180 VA per receptacle, equals 10 receptacles per circuit (minus the wattage of each luminaire or light fixture added to the circuit, before dividing by the 180 VA). If the circuit is 120 volts and 20 amps, you would have 2400 VA, divide by 180 VA per receptacle, equals 13.333 receptacles per circuit (round down to 13 receptacles),(minus the wattage of each luminaire or light fixture added to the circuit, before dividing by the 180 VA).


Why does my GFI circuit trip every few weeks even with nothing is plugged and the outlet was already replaced?

Receptacles are daisy chained so that one receptacle also powers others. A GFCI is often in the first receptacle so that a fault on any other connection/receptacle will be detected and cut off by that GFCI. Trip the GFCI. Then find all receptacles and appliances now without power. A fault can be in any one or due to a combination of many slightly defective appliances.

Related questions

Where must GFCI receptacles be installed in residential garages?

All receptacles in a garage must be GFCI protected by code. Typically, the first receptacle in the circuit (location is irrelevant) must be a GFCI, then all others down stream in the circuit will be protected, and can be common receptacles.


Can a 20 amp circuit breaker operate two 15 amp receptacle?

It is perfectly acceptable to have (2) 120 volt 15 amp receptacles operated from a 120 volt 20 amp circuit breaker (as a general rule of thumb 11 receptacles are acceptable on a 20 amp circuit). The 15 amp rating of the receptacle is the maximum allowed amperage that should be hooked up to the receptacle at any one time. So in this case the limiting factor is the amount of current being drawn across both receptacles simultaneously should not exceed the 20 amp rating of the circuit breaker. In the United States the NEC code allows the use of a 20 amp circuit breaker to feed a branch circuit consisting of 15 amp receptacles. Generally you would not exceed 11 receptacles though as you will assume an average load of 1.5 amps per receptacle and trying to maintain about 80% max load.


Can you control 10 outlets with one 20 amp GFCI outlet on one 20 amp circuit?

Yes. I know of no limits to how many regular receptacles (outlets) you can "piggy back" onto one GFCI receptacle. However, in commercial and industrial construction there are limits to how many receptacles can be placed on any one circuit. These limits in the United States and according to the NEC are: 10 receptacles on a 15 amp circuit and 13 receptacles on a 20 amp circuit.


Can duplex oulet have one dedicated outlet?

Answer for USA, Canada and countries running a 60 Hertz supply service.Yes, if it is connected with a three wire circuit such as kitchen counter receptacles. In this case both top and bottom of the duplex receptacle are dedicated circuits. An example of a duplex receptacle being the only device in the circuit from a 15 amp breaker is the receptacle for a microwave oven.


How is a plug in receptacle connected to other receptacles in a normal house circuit?

There are typically 8 to 10 receptacles on most house circuits with special applications in Kitchens. The wires are in parallel with Black to Black, White to White and Bare Wire Ground to Ground.


What is the formula to figure out how many plugs and lights you can put on a circuit?

This depends upon the circuit breaker capacity. You may never load a circuit to greater than 80% of it's capacity. So you may load up to 12 Amps on a 15 Amp circuit, and, 16 Amps on a 20 Amp circuit. The National Electrical Code requires you to calculate each receptacle at 180 VA. If the circuit is 120 volts and 15 amps, you would have 1800 VA, divide by 180 VA per receptacle, equals 10 receptacles per circuit (minus the wattage of each luminaire or light fixture added to the circuit, before dividing by the 180 VA). If the circuit is 120 volts and 20 amps, you would have 2400 VA, divide by 180 VA per receptacle, equals 13.333 receptacles per circuit (round down to 13 receptacles),(minus the wattage of each luminaire or light fixture added to the circuit, before dividing by the 180 VA).


Why would someone use two positive wires to complete a house 2 plug receptacle circuit?

If the 2 hot wires are connected to either side of a receptacle, you have a 240v receptacle (assuming it's in the US). This is typically done for window air conditioners. But code requires that the receptacle have a different configuration than other receptacles in the building so you don't run the risk of plugging in a 120v device into a 240v receptacle.


Why does my GFI circuit trip every few weeks even with nothing is plugged and the outlet was already replaced?

Receptacles are daisy chained so that one receptacle also powers others. A GFCI is often in the first receptacle so that a fault on any other connection/receptacle will be detected and cut off by that GFCI. Trip the GFCI. Then find all receptacles and appliances now without power. A fault can be in any one or due to a combination of many slightly defective appliances.


DoesCode permit connecting receptacles to a 20ampere branch circuit using short lengths of 14AWG conductors as the pigtail between the receptacle terminals and the 12AWG branch-circuit conductors?

No. This practice is a violation of Article 210.19 (A) of the NEC. "Conductors of branch circuits supplying more than one receptacle for cord-and-plug-connected portable loads shall have an ampacity of not less than the rating of the branch circuit."


What are the different kinds of electrical receptacle?

The most common types are the regular type, where the only over current protection is provided by the breaker panel. the other most common type is the GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) This type has a built in "circuit breaker" so when it senses a fault in the circuit it trips-this type is the safest as they are more sensitive than circuit breakers in the breaker panel.See related links below.


Can you plug a gas stove into a dedicated microwave circuit?

In most instances, YES especially if it is a BUILT-IN microwave Most microwaves are 1500-1800 watts; this is the entire capacity of one branch circuit If it is plugged into a receptacle that shares a circuit with other receptacles, then the other shared receptacles can not be used while using the microwave. In busy kitchens (commercial) and sometimes at home, this would prove inconvenient


Which wire goes on the ground fault receptacle?

In normal home wiring the black and white supply the circuit voltage. The green conductor connects to the green screw. The black conductor connects to the brass coloured screw and the white conductor connects to the silver coloured screw. There are additional terminals on the receptacle that connect to the down stream side of the circuit. By making these connections on the GFI receptacle all downstream normal duplex receptacles are also protected.