Before The Architect - House Electrical Receptacles and Outlets

Receptacles

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

HOME ELECTRICAL DESIGN,

ELECTRICAL RECEPTACLES AND OUTLETS

A GUIDE TO HELP AVOID HOME ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS

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

In a given bathroom

On a per-bathroom and a per-lavatory basis

	Without regard to the size of the bathroom (i.e., ½-bath, 3/4 –bath, etc.)
	Without regard to how close one lavatory is to another
	Without regard to whether the mount requires piercing a mirror, moving a rack, etc.

At 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

	Which electrical circuit shall be rated 120V/20A and
	Which receptacle shall be rated 120V/20A
	Which installation shall be proximate to and within 3 linear feet of each bathroom lavatory and

This electrical circuit shall be dedicated to that receptacle only and to no other application whatsoever

There 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.

Receptacle outlets for general utility applications

	Shall not exceed 8 duplex outlets per 20A electrical circuit and
	Shall not exceed 6 duplex outlets per 15A electrical circuit

Receptacles shall be connected to the line, not through it, unless the electrical circuit is individual

A receptacle shall not be split-wired

Utility receptacle outlets in a kitchen or bar area

	Shall be connected alternately to not less than 2 electrical circuits individual solely to that space application and
	Shall contain in number not greater than 8 receptacles (i.e., 4 duplex receptacles) per electrical circuit
	Shall not be sited behind a stovetop or other cooking appliance
	Shall be spaced not less than code, including depth of sidewall and not just the backwall

Each 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

	Microwave
	Dishwasher
	Clothes washer
	Refrigerator/freezer, or, if not a combined unit, then separately to a refrigerator and a freezer
	Chill drawer
	Wine cooler
	Under-counter or auxiliary water heater

A switched receptacle

	Shall not be greater than a single receptacle outlet, i.e., no split receptacles, or
	Shall be both sides of a duplex receptacle or
	Shall be all 3 sides of a triplex receptacle set up or
	Shall be all 4 sides of a quadraplex receptacle set up and
	That is, shall be connected in its entirety

A Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter receptacle exterior to a door

Shall be weatherproof

Shall be sited on each side of the door wherever possible

Shall apply to any exterior door

	In a stairwell
	To 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.

GFCI protection shall be applied to

A receptacle within 6 linear feet of

	A water source or container or
	Other object at all possibly to become energized, including but not limited to bare metal pipe or similar

A clothes washer within 6 linear feet of

	A water source or container or
	Any other potentially energized conductor without regard to the supply receptacle’s site or surrounding state of finish

A utility electric receptacle

Shall not be placed flat to a counter in a kitchen counter area, peninsula, or island

Shall not be placed below countertop level, as on the side of a counter, peninsula, or island

Except a utility receptacle may be placed in the parting wall of a two-tier counter, peninsula, or island

	If set flush to that wall and
	If 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.

Hallway receptacles shall be wired only on their own electrical circuit(s) and none shall be connected to any other electrical circuit

A closet, cabinet, or any other space below a staircase shall not contain a high-voltage outlet

Exterior receptacles by passage door

	Shall be set to both left and right of door
	Shall be each on an individual electrical circuit

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