My county building inspector started handing out a list of guidelines when you pull a permit. The electrical section of these guidelines includes the following:
"15 amp 14 gauge wire we recommend that no more than 4 receptacles are used on one circuit. 14 ga. can be used for light legs. We see too much voltage drop if more than 4 receptacles are used. 20 amp 12 gauge wire-we recommend that no more than 6 receptacles be used per circuit."
There is also a recommended circuit breaker size for wire size table. It looks like this:
50 amp- 8 gauge
75 amp- 6 gauge
100 amp-4 gauge
130 amp-2 gauge
150 amp-1 gauge
180 amp-1/0 gauge
200 amp-2/0 gauge
It doesn't say copper or aluminum.

The guidelines also say to "watch for 6 ft. receptacle spacing on walls".

I tried to explain to the inspector that voltage drop was only mentioned in the NEC as a FPN and FPNs aren't enforceable articles of the code.
Am I wrong in balking at the above mentioned points of these "guidelines"?

Fred,
the 'contractor' in me says fine, as long as it's uniformly delegated. ( and i can have 60-70 OCPD's)

the 'lectrician in me says e-mail him this..



[This message has been edited by sparky (edited 01-10-2002).]

I showed him that in my code book. It didn't seem to impress him.

Well then, I'd ask him for his homework on those 4 receptacles there. Better yet, I use an ideal tester that shows V-drop, maybe you could find one ??

Fred, U can find one here..... http://www.testersandmeters.com/tm/PowerQualityMeters.nsf





[This message has been edited by sparky (edited 01-10-2002).]

He's got one of those "Mr. Inspector" gadgets that simulates a 15 or 20 amp load when plugged into a receptacle. I was told a few years ago when the city got one of these gadgets that if the circuit was 12 ga. wire, 20A CB but 15A duplex receptacles you weren't required to simulate a load greater than 15A since the receptacle doesn't accept a 120V 20A cord cap.
I don't use 14 ga. wire but I do put 8-10 receptacles on a 12 ga. 20A GP circuit. I've checked for VD using a 1800W portable heater and never gotten more than 2% with it plugged into the last outlet. I don't think it's a valid concern. All loads in a house of any significance are already taken care of in the calculation such as laundry and small appliance circuits. I do put the fridge, microwave, dishwasher and disposal on dedicated circuits in addition to the 2 small appliance circuits. I think that more than covers the loads.

Fred,

What does He mean by "6 ft. receptacle spacing" ?

Bill

Bill
I think this is what is being referred to:

210.52(1) Spacing. Receptacles shall be installed so that no point measured horizontally along the floor line in any wall space is more than 1.8 m (6 ft) from a receptacle outlet.

This is interpreted by me to mean 12' spacing not 6' but I don't know what this AHJ has been smoking. They have obviously hired a plumber as an electrical inspector.
Again.

Before you get too carried away with waving your NEC at him, you'd better find out if there's a County requirement that goes above and beyond the NEC.
If there's a County Code that says you have to run all residential wiring in PVC coated rigid, then you've got to comply!!
(From the Land of Varying City Codes and Inspector Fetishes)

I asked if the county had passed any ammendments to the NEC and he said no, it was adopted as written but he was trying to get the county commissioners to pass an ordinance banning the use of 14 ga. wiring in residential construction. The city which is our county seat already passed such an ordinance about 4 years ago.
I'm really concerned about the wire size/breaker size chart as much as anything. Misinformation can be worse than no information in some cases.

Then ask for his superior to explain it...in Code and in writing. That way you've got a record. Send your request via Certified Mail w/ a return receipt requested. That way they can't say it got lost in the Mail
If they can't stand behind it, then do it per NEC and get ready for the fireworks!!
(and then there's always NEC90-4)

To use the number of receptacles on a circuit as the basis for minimizing voltage drop without considering load and circuit length is a gross oversimplification of the concept of limiting voltage drop. It seems he is using 180 VA per receptacle (360 per duplex x 4= 1440 VA which is 80% of 15 amps) to conclude that no more than 4 shall be installed on a single circuit, thereby unnecessarily limiting the number of outlets on a circuit. This will lead to an unusually large number of circuits and the increased likelihood of the use of the previously mentioned mini breakers installed to accomodate the 42 OR MORE circuits that will result.

watthead,

Thanks, Yes I know the spacing rule and interpret it the same as you do.

It seems to confuse a lot of people into thinking that it means Receptacles must be spaced 6 ft apart. If that's the case here (@ only 4/circuit) that means a lot of circuits for even the average size house. (Mucho AFCIs too .. $$$$)