ECN Forum Forums Code Related Discussion NEC & other Code issues Office receptacle placement

OK. Let's see if I've got this now. Say in a bedroom, common sense would tell me to put a receptacle on each side of where a bed may go, etc., and after that I would fill in the gaps to make sure that no point along the wall lines would have a space no longer than 6' between receptacles? I used that example because I'm about to add a bedroom to my house.

I agree that an unlimited number of receptacles on a circuit is asking for poor performance from the circuit.....and MANY locales have limited the number of receptacles allowed on a residential circuit.

It is no surprise that, by strictly doing the code minimum, you may end up doing some silly things.

Take this 6-12 rule as it is usually applied. Enter a room, mark off 6 feet, then 12 ft, etc...all around the room. Since many rooms are somewhat close to being 12 ft x 12 ft, the result of this method is that you run the absolute minimum number of receptacles- but the all end up in the middle of the wall. You've almost guaranteed that every one will be behing furniture.

A better result happens if you place a receptacl right by the door, then start counting off 12 ft. Since doors are usually near the corner of the room, you wind up with a receptacle on either side of the bed (or sofa)....at the 'expense' of ONE additional receptacle in each room.

No, that no point along the wall is more than 6' from a receptacle, in either one direction or the other.

Start at a doorwy; the first receptacle must be within 6'. The next one must be within 12' of the first one. The last one must be within 6' of the next doorway.


Picture yourself trying to plug in a lamp with a 6' cord. As you move along the wall, just as you move 6' from the last one, the next one must be within 6'; that's 12' between them.

When I did my bedroom I put three 4x4s such that in the 2 logical bed locations I could have a quad on each side. Those got "smurfed" to the oversize square box with a mud ring down to a double by the door. Originally I had with 3 ways controlling a switched duplex at each bed location and the overhead, controlled at the door or bed. When we (read "she") change our mind it is trivial to change stuff. You always seem to run out of outlets by the bed.
I stuck in one of those solid state night lights in half of the quad in the one that wasn't behind the bed.

the spacing rule was explained to me like this: draw two lines on a piece of paper, about 6inches apart. let the distance between them represent 12 feet. Now, draw another line exactly halfway, to represent you. If you move in either direction, you are within the 6ft "zone" of that receptacle, Thus the 12 ft spacing.

The 180 VA rule is only for calculations. As far as branch circuit load limitations,where there is any combination of non and continuous loads, it shall be sized at 125% of the load, or 80% of the circuit rating however you look at it. Unless you have some kind of rated assembly that has a 100% rating.

Xthedge If I were wiring my own bed room I`d put a min of 2 outlets per wall the long side maybe 3 the code is the minimum.If I were wiring it would not want the min standards for my house or anyone elses for that matter. Its the cheap a** general contractors who have us wiring a house for nothing and putting less than desired outlets and switches. Sorry if any GC`s here.I think a good electrical job can help sell a house just like the tile and cabinets can.I hate wiring to code so I can compete with everyone elses price.Man that felt good. Vent,vent,vent

I blame the real estate sales people. By and large they are idiots who really do not understand the product they sell.
If they sold the added value of having receptacles, lights, switches etc where you will really need them there would be enough money in the job to do it right.
Unfortunately they will sell fancy knobs on the cabinets and never mention the extra "infrastructure" nobody looks at ... until they are standing there with a plug in their hand and no receptacle to put it in.

The one that bothers me is they don't sell the value of a combo low voltage and receptacle box. Anywhere you have a cat 5 or TV cable, you will need a receptacle. Why would they ever do it any other way? Unfortunately nobody puts that extra buck or two into the job.

Since people are saying what they like rather than what the code requires:

I put recepts where I want them: A bit away from the center of walls, and not directly under windows.

It is a fact of life: No matter where you place the recepts: there is only a need for 1 recept and you have missed it my 5' and it needs to service 5 devices.

Reel-Break,
I totally agree.