Receptacles

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BEFORE THE ARCHITECT – DREAM HOME DESIGNING BACKGROUND – UNIQUE HOME DESIGN ARTICLES

FINE HOME ELECTRICAL DESIGN,

ELECTRICAL RECEPTACLES AND WIRING ELECTRICAL 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 light switch controls and receptacles. 

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

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

---Exceeds codified prescripts or

---Addresses aspects of house receptacle and electrical outlet wiring 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 dream home designer knew down all the years as ‘dedicated’], ground fault electrical circuit interrupter (GFCI, or GFI) shall be installed
bulletWhich electrical circuit wiring 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 wiring shall be dedicated to that receptacle only and to no other application whatsoever
bulletThere shall be no branches in these individual electrical circuits wiring for fans wiring, home lights wiring, heaters wiring, or wiring anything else, i.e., wire the rest separately 

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

bulletReceptacle outlets wiring for general utility applications
bulletShall not exceed wiring 8 duplex electric outlets per 20A electrical circuit wiring and
bulletShall not exceed wiring 6 duplex electrical outlets per 15A electrical circuit wiring 
 
bulletReceptacles shall be connected to the line, not through it, unless the electrical circuit wiring is individual
 
bulletA receptacle shall not be split-wired 
 
bulletWiring utility 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 wiring
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 wiring 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 switch-controlled receptacle
bulletShall not be greater than a single receptacle outlet wiring, 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 electrical 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 wiring vs. receptacle match-up sure enough to bunch the shorts of the most serious student.  This fine 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 electrical circuit interrupter 

Comment:  This dream 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) wiring and none shall be connected to any other electrical circuit wiring
 
bulletA closet, cabinet, or any other space below a staircase shall not contain a high-voltage electric outlet wiring
 
bulletExterior receptacles by passage door
bulletShall be set to both left and right of door
bulletShall be each on an individual electrical circuit wiring

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