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Subject - Wiring Basement - General Questions
highlt Hi my friend is wiring his basement and has some questions about code.

He plans to put eight 20 amp plugs on a 20 amp circuit. Is it ok to put eight plugs on a 20 amp circuit? He wants to ensure there isn't some rule with code that says you can only have 7 etc. I'm aware of calculating loads for the circuit. Also, is it ok to run one GFI and have the other seven come off the GFI and protect those outlets as well? Is there any limit to the number of plugs connected to a GFI?

How about recessed lighting? He plans to put 16 six inch can lights in the room and run the lights off a 15 amp circuit. Any limit to the number of cans on an individual circuit?

So he basically has four questions:

1. Any violation of electric code by putting 8 20 amp receptacles on a 20 amp circuit?

2. Is it ok to put one GFI outlet in and feed the other seven outlets off of it? Any limit to the number of plugs coming off the GFI outlet?

3. Any limit to the number of can lights on a 15 amp circuit?

Any help greatly appreciated.
JimmyDee
quote:
1. Any violation of electric code by putting 8 20 amp receptacles on a 20 amp circuit?

NEC says no limit on number of receptacles on either a 15 amp or 20 amp circuit. You local code may differ from this.

quote:
2. Is it ok to put one GFI outlet in and feed the other seven outlets off of it? Any limit to the number of plugs coming off the GFI outlet?

Yes it is acceptable and is done on a lot. No limit as far as I know.
Jim
highlt Jim thanks for quick reply. How about my last question:

3. Any limit to the number of can lights on a 15 amp circuit?
JimmyDee
quote:
210.19 Conductors — Minimum Ampacity and Size.
(A) Branch Circuits Not More Than 600 Volts.
(1) General. Branch-circuit conductors shall have an ampacity not less than the maximum load to be served. Where a branch circuit supplies continuous loads or any combination of continuous and noncontinuous loads, the minimum branch-circuit conductor size, before the application of any adjustment or correction factors, shall have an allowable ampacity not less than the noncontinuous load plus 125 percent of the continuous load.

16 lights X 65 watt = 1040 watts total X 125% = 1300 watts.
1300 watts/ 120 = 10 amps.
It will work. I wouldn't do it but it should be ok. I would split this number of lights on severl seprate switches for when they are not all needed. Thats a lot of light.
Jim
highlt Thanks alot.