Receptacles

Home Up Wiring Plans Circuit Designing Receptacles Switches

BEFORE THE ARCHITECTHOME DESIGNING BACKGROUND – UNIQUE HOME DESIGN ARTICLES

HOME ELECTRICAL DESIGN,

ELECTRICAL RECEPTACLES AND OUTLETS

A GUIDE TO HELP AVOID HOME ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS

By Before The Architect  Copyright 2002, 2003, 2007, 2009 Before The Architect

YOU MAY FREELY QUOTE THE AG WITH PROPER ATTRIBUTION

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INTRODUCTION

The most common electrical devices in a home are electrical switches and receptacles. 

This article is about the home electrical system of design of receptacles and their electrical outlets. 

You’ll come across a system of home electrical design guidance which

---Exceeds codified prescripts or

---Addresses aspects of house receptacle and electrical outlet design and installation about which

------Common codes are moot or

------Common practice can be wanting. 

An abundance of safety and convenience and durability – that’s the storyline - a guide to help avoid home electrical problems. 
 

HOUSE RECEPTACLES ELECTRICAL DESIGN SYSTEM

 

bulletIn a given bathroom
bulletOn a per-bathroom and a per-lavatory basis
bulletWithout regard to the size of the bathroom (i.e., ½-bath, 3/4 –bath, etc.)
bulletWithout regard to how close one lavatory is to another
bulletWithout regard to whether the mount requires piercing a mirror, moving a rack, etc.
bulletAt least 1 individual [‘individual’ has replaced what this home designer knew down all the years as ‘dedicated’], ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI, or GFI) shall be installed
bulletWhich electrical circuit shall be rated 120V/20A and
bulletWhich receptacle shall be rated 120V/20A
bulletWhich installation shall be proximate to and within 3 linear feet of each bathroom lavatory and
bulletThis electrical circuit shall be dedicated to that receptacle only and to no other application whatsoever
bulletThere shall be no branches in these individual electrical circuits for fans, lights, heaters, or anything else, i.e., wire the rest separately 

Comment:  Let no doubt dissemble.  Each bathroom lavatory gets its own individual electrical circuit.  ½-bath lavatory gets an electrical circuit all its own.  2 lavs in the master each get its own individual electrical circuit. 

bulletReceptacle outlets for general utility applications
bulletShall not exceed 8 duplex outlets per 20A electrical circuit and
bulletShall not exceed 6 duplex outlets per 15A electrical circuit 
 
bulletReceptacles shall be connected to the line, not through it, unless the electrical circuit is individual
 
bulletA receptacle shall not be split-wired 
 
bulletUtility receptacle outlets in a kitchen or bar area
bulletShall be connected alternately to not less than 2 electrical circuits individual solely to that space application and
bulletShall contain in number not greater than 8 receptacles (i.e., 4 duplex receptacles) per electrical circuit
bulletShall not be sited behind a stovetop or other cooking appliance
bulletShall be spaced not less than code, including depth of sidewall and not just the backwall 
 
bulletEach of the following appliances shall be connected to an individual electrical circuit at 120 volts, 20 amps (or manufacturer’s specification) with a 20 amp (or manufacturer’s specification) singleplex receptacle or appropriately hard-wired to a junction box
bulletMicrowave
bulletDishwasher
bulletClothes washer
bulletRefrigerator/freezer, or, if not a combined unit, then separately to a refrigerator and a freezer
bulletChill drawer
bulletWine cooler
bulletUnder-counter or auxiliary water heater 
 
bulletA switched receptacle
bulletShall not be greater than a single receptacle outlet, i.e., no split receptacles, or
bulletShall be both sides of a duplex receptacle or
bulletShall be all 3 sides of a triplex receptacle set up or
bulletShall be all 4 sides of a quadraplex receptacle set up and
bulletThat is, shall be connected in its entirety 
 
bulletA Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter receptacle exterior to a door 
bulletShall be weatherproof
bulletShall be sited on each side of the door wherever possible
bulletShall apply to any exterior door
bulletIn a stairwell
bulletTo covered or open patio or porch without regard to level 

Comment:  The National Electrical Code slices and dices this electrical circuit vs. receptacle match-up sure enough to bunch the shorts of the most serious student.  This home designer’s in no mood to quibble. 

bulletGFCI protection shall be applied to 
bulletA receptacle within 6 linear feet of
bulletA water source or container or
bulletOther object at all possibly to become energized, including but not limited to bare metal pipe or similar
bulletA clothes washer within 6 linear feet of
bulletA water source or container or
bulletAny other potentially energized conductor without regard to the supply receptacle’s site or surrounding state of finish 
 
bulletA utility electric receptacle 
bulletShall not be placed flat to a counter in a kitchen counter area, peninsula, or island
bulletShall not be placed below countertop level, as on the side of a counter, peninsula, or island
bulletExcept a utility receptacle may be placed in the parting wall of a two-tier counter, peninsula, or island
bulletIf set flush to that wall and
bulletIf protected by a ground fault circuit interrupter 

Comment:  This home designer knows that this receptacle limitation is off the National Electric Code 2005 reservation, wherein below-counter receptacle placement may be made more permissively than the old boy’ll let happen on his watch.  Too bad for the folks who follow the code.  This is about deadly serious safety concerns. 

bulletHallway receptacles shall be wired only on their own electrical circuit(s) and none shall be connected to any other electrical circuit
 
bulletA closet, cabinet, or any other space below a staircase shall not contain a high-voltage outlet
 
bulletExterior receptacles by passage door
bulletShall be set to both left and right of door
bulletShall be each on an individual electrical circuit

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