{"id":3708,"date":"2021-05-24T00:12:33","date_gmt":"2021-05-24T00:12:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lightingtutor.com\/?p=3708"},"modified":"2022-08-19T07:56:37","modified_gmt":"2022-08-19T07:56:37","slug":"how-many-outlets-on-a-20-amp-circuit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lightingtutor.com\/how-many-outlets-on-a-20-amp-circuit\/","title":{"rendered":"How Many Receptacles or Outlets on a 20 Amp Circuit?"},"content":{"rendered":"

How Many Receptacles or Outlets on a 20 AMP circuit?<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"How<\/span><\/p>\n

Circuit breakers serve to protect the wires on the circuit from overloading and overheating which could result in damage to the circuit or even a fire. The key to safety is to make sure you are not overloading the circuit by adding too many receptacles or outlets.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is a Receptacle?<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

A receptacle is an outlet that is used to plug in a device that uses electricity. If you have a light switch on the same circuit as electrical outlets and that switch controls overhead lights and not an outlet, then that switch should also be counted as a receptacle.<\/span><\/p>\n

How Many Receptacles on a 20 Amp Circuit Breaker?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Standard practice is to put no more than 10 receptacles on a 20 amp circuit. This assumes that each receptacle will draw an average of 1.5 amps or 180 watts.<\/span><\/p>\n

Although 10 is the average number or receptacles per circuit, you will also need to understand what the expected use will be for each circuit. For example, bathrooms, kitchens, and garages typically have devices plugged into outlets that draw a lot more than 1.5 amps or 180 watts. However, bedrooms will likely have lamps and other devices that use much less power so use the worst case scenario when determining how many outlets to put on your 20 amp circuit.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hair dryers and toaster ovens could use up the majority of the 20 amps in the circuit while televisions, computers, and LED lights will use much less.<\/span><\/p>\n

This chart will give you an idea of how many watts and amps each standard device will use.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Standard Device<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\nWatts<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\nAmps<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cell phone Charger<\/span><\/td>\n5<\/span><\/td>\n0.04<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lamp with LED Bulb<\/span><\/td>\n10<\/span><\/td>\n0.08<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
60 inch LCD TV<\/span><\/td>\n200<\/span><\/td>\n1.66<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Curling Iron<\/span><\/td>\n20<\/span><\/td>\n1.66<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Coffee Maker<\/span><\/td>\n750<\/span><\/td>\n6.25<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Toaster Oven<\/span><\/td>\n1200<\/span><\/td>\n10<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Electric Space Heater<\/span><\/td>\n1500<\/span><\/td>\n12.5<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hair Dryer<\/span><\/td>\n1500<\/span><\/td>\n12.5<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n