How many receptacles can you wire to a 15 amp?

Answer 1

One View:In USA: As many as you want. There's no magic number. You have 15A to play with, so you can divide that up however you wish. It all depends on what you intend to plug in. For general usage I'd stick with the NEC Code (any point along a wall must be within 6ft of a receptacle).

In my 1970's house here I've counted 9 receptacles on a single 15A breaker (yuck!).

Always be sure to switch off the breakers at the main panel before you attempt to do any work on any mains power circuit.

Another View:Yes there are some "magic numbers".The U.S. National Electrical Code Article 220.3 (B) (9) has guidelines for calculatiing general 120 volt dwelling-unit receptacle circuits as having a load of 180 volt-amps per receptacle.

Because a normal circuit breaker can only be loaded to 80 percent of trip rating, then 0.80 X 15 = 12 Amps. 12 Amps X 120 volts = 1440 Volt-Amps per 15-Amp circuit. 1440 VA / 180 VA per receptacle = 8 duplex receptacles per circuit allowed.

For a 20-Amp circuit, you are allowed (.8 x 20 X 120)/ 180 = up to 10 duplex receptacles per circuit.

Another View:Both answers are technically correct.

A device (receptacle, switch etc) by definition does not consume any energy so there is no load added to the circuit by installing any number of receptacles. The problem occurs when too many loads are plugged into those receptacles.

The NEC section quoted above (moved to 220.14 (I) in 2008) does not apply to receptacles used for general illumination in a dwelling (which covers a majority of household receptacles). Dwellings are addressed by NEC 220.14 (J).

Further, the 80% quoted is true for continuous loads only. If the appliances being switched on and off on a particular circuit never run continuously all at the same time, their individual wattages when totalled-up can, in fact exceed that 80% figure, because a non-continuously-loaded breaker may have 100% of its rating applied to it for short periods such that it does not become "warm"...

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A good guideline many electricians follow as a 'rule of thumb' is of 1.5 amps per receptacle.

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As always, if you are in doubt about what to do, the best advice anyone should give you is to call a licensed electrician to advise what work is needed.

Before you do any work yourself,

on electrical circuits, equipment or appliances,

always use a test meter to ensure the circuit is, in fact, de-energized.

IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY SURE YOU CAN DO THIS JOB

SAFELY AND COMPETENTLY

REFER THIS WORK TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS.

Answer 2

eight In Canada there shall be not more that 12 outlets on any 2 wire branch circuit. Such outlets shall be considered to be rated at not more that 1 amp per outlet. Where the connected load is known, the number of outlets may exceed 12 providing the load current does not exceed 80 % of the rating of the over current device protecting the circuit.

Answer 3

Answer for USA, Canada and countries running a 60 Hertz supply service.
Circuit loading
The code states that there shall be not more that 12 outlets on any 2 wire branch circuit. Such outlets shall be considered to be rated at not more that 1 amp per outlet. Where the connected load is known, the number of outlets may exceed 12 providing the load current does not exceed 80 % of the rating of the over current device protecting the circuit.

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That depends on what the circuit will be used for.
I'd put a refrigerator on a 15 amp circuit and not anything else.
For a typical bedroom or living room circuit, about 5 outlets.
For 100 watt ceiling lights, again, about 5.

<><><>

As always, if you are in doubt about what to do, the best advice anyone should give you is to call a licensed electrician to advise what work is needed.

Before you do any work yourself,
on electrical circuits, equipment or appliances,
always use a test meter to ensure the circuit is, in fact, de-energized.

IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY SURE YOU CAN DO THIS JOB
SAFELY AND COMPETENTLY
REFER THIS WORK TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS.

Answer 4

Answer for USA, Canada and countries running a 60 Hertz supply service.

Builders generally hook up to 8 outlets and/or lights per circuit.

Builders should not be doing electrical installations.

In Canada there shall be not more that 12 outlets on any 2 wire branch circuit. Such outlets shall be considered to be rated at not more that 1 amp per outlet. Where the connected load is known, the number of outlets may exceed 12 providing the load current does not exceed 80 % of the rating of the over current device protecting the circuit.

A 15 amp breaker can supply 1800 watts total for lights, outlets, etc. (15 X 120 volts= 1800 watts). As a rule of thumb leave 20% "spare" in the event you connect a power hungry item - 1440 watts total. Add up the total wattage of items you plan to plug in to the circuit.

This only applies to commercial properties.

There is no strict limit on how many receptacles can be connected to a 15 amp breaker in a residential property according to the NEC. The device is a convenience outlet and they are placed for convenient access to power without creating hazards [crossing doorways, etc]

Answer 5

Depends on the anticipated loads. Six would be a typical layout in a residence.

There is no restriction on the number of outlets on a circuit in a residential setting, however the circuit should only serve 500 square feet of the dwelling.

Answer 6

Depends on the size wire used in the circuit. If you wired the circuit with AWG #12 wire on a 20 amp breaker then you can install no more than 12 outlets. If you wired it with AWG #14 wire on a 15 amp breaker then install no more than 9 outlets. This is assuming only outlets are on the circuit and nothing else.

Answer 7

15A x 120V = 1800 VA

NEC allows 180 VA per receptacle

1800/180 = 10 receptacles