15A circuit load (Ontario Code)

[anjp]

I'm doing a basement reno in Ontario and looking for clarification on circuit load design. Unfortunately I don't have a copy of the code because its ridiculously expensive (if you have it please pm me!), but I do have Electrical Code Simplified, based on the 23rd edition which is a little old and doesn't answer this question:

I want to know the max load the code allows on a 15A circuit. I know it's 80% margin (i.e. 12A / 1440 watts) which is interpreted as 12 lights/outlets. I'm installing lots of LED potlights which are rated at 6 Watts each. Is it legal for me to design a circuit up to 1440 watts since I know the draw? Or am I still limited to 12 potlights per 15A circuit?

And if I can build it above 12 potlights, can I mix and match with outlets? I.e. 6 outlets at assumed 120 watts each (720 W) plus 10 potlights at 6 watts (60 W) for total 780 watts. This is well below the 1440 threshold.

There will be an inspection when the wiring is done.

thanks!

 

[robinsoc]

If the circuit contains just lights you can load it up to 1440w, if you put any receptacles on that circuit you are limited to 12 devices.

 

[cybrdyke]

How practical is it to put receptacles and lights on the same circuit? If something plugged into one of the receptacles makes a breaker trip, then all the lights go out. Not cool.
CD

 

[anjp]

If the circuit contains just lights you can load it up to 1440w, if you put any receptacles on that circuit you are limited to 12 devices.

Thanks. Is that pretty well defined somewhere in the code? I'm borrowing a copy this weekend and just want to look it all up.

Also wondering if I need AFCI on potlight-only circuits. I believe they're only required on circuits with outlets and that an AFCI outlet can be first on the circuit instead of using an AFCI breaker at the panel. In the case of a combo lights/outlets circuit, does the AFCI outlet need to be before the light switch too?

cheers

 

[theoldwizard1]

How practical is it to put receptacles and lights on the same circuit?

It may not be a code requirement but putting lights and receptacle on different circuits certain is "best practice".

 

[MikeF2316]

It may not be a code requirement but putting lights and receptacle on different circuits certain is "best practice".

But on the other hand, if you have all your lights on one circuit, then the failure of that circuit will leave you in the dark! So when I ran wires for new lights alternate rooms are on different circuits.

 

[reader2580]

But on the other hand, if you have all your lights on one circuit, then the failure of that circuit will leave you in the dark! So when I ran wires for new lights alternate rooms are on different circuits.

How likely is it that a properly wired lighting circuit will trip a breaker? I have never had it happen to me

 

[rlitman]

I'm doing a basement reno in Ontario and looking for clarification on circuit load design. Unfortunately I don't have a copy of the code because its ridiculously expensive (if you have it please pm me!), but I do have Electrical Code Simplified, based on the 23rd edition which is a little old and doesn't answer this question:

I want to know the max load the code allows on a 15A circuit. I know it's 80% margin (i.e. 12A / 1440 watts) which is interpreted as 12 lights/outlets. I'm installing lots of LED potlights which are rated at 6 Watts each. Is it legal for me to design a circuit up to 1440 watts since I know the draw? Or am I still limited to 12 potlights per 15A circuit?

And if I can build it above 12 potlights, can I mix and match with outlets? I.e. 6 outlets at assumed 120 watts each (720 W) plus 10 potlights at 6 watts (60 W) for total 780 watts. This is well below the 1440 threshold.

There will be an inspection when the wiring is done.

thanks!

Are these LED luminaires, or are you installing ceiling cans with LED trims. If they are LED trims, then anyone can come in and change them back to incandescent, and you need to stick to the 12 can limit.

Next, if these are indeed LED fixtures, keep in mind that the drivers on LED have very harmonic currents. Because of this, I would expect real issues if you were to actually load up a single circuit with 1440W of LED fixtures. My gut tells me that you should probably stop at about half that.

 

[MikeF2316]

How likely is it that a properly wired lighting circuit will trip a breaker? I have never had it happen to me

In the early '80s I worked in an office that was wired to the max with florescent lights. They were getting on in years, which causes increases in current. Late one winter afternoon, the breaker popped. At first we thought it was a power failure, but then we realized plugged in stuff was still working. We ended up taking out a couple of tubes to stop it from happening again. A few months later, we had to take out some more.