basement remodel elec. question

[livetofish]

i'm working on a basement for family and was asked to run rough elec. i am ok with that and understand all the nuts and bolts but am unsure as to how mavy outlets/fixtures can be located on one 15 amp 14/2 circuit. the panel has plenty of space and is in the next room so i would like to over build the system if it's convenient. thanks.

[bkrahmer]

From what I read in my wiring book (Taunton's), you can place unlimited outlets on one circuit. :) He mentions that for commercial, you are limited to 10 outlets on a 15-amp circuit, and 13 on a 20-amp circuit. That should give you some clues.

[steeve]

livetofish,

you calculate your total capacity(A X Volts=watts) and use 80%safty
ex: 15A x120V=1800 watts, 80%=1440 watts
20A x240V=4800 watts. 80%=3840 watts
3x 60w lights=180w, washer=1500w,etc...you have to know how many watts or amps the total Accessories will be... :wink:

[N2Deep]

Code here is 10 outlets per circuit 12/2 15Amp and 10 light fixtures per curcuit 14/2 15Amp
Bedrooms require Arc fault breakers
That is code in Las Vegas Nevada Area

[bkrahmer]

I'm starting to wonder if there are major mistakes in all of the Taunton's books... I guess you can't assume anything anymore (publishers of Fine Homebuilding?). I better get some code books... :)

[Rich]

UBC says one thing - local codes most likely say another.

[livetofish]

ok, i got a figure well of 3 watts for general use per ft2 wich puts me at 972 watts, and i will have 8 new outlets which i will run one circuit for (15a) as well as a 20 amp refrig circuit for a future wet bar fridge and one 15a for the lights. thanks. anyone tell me real quick the mounting hieght for the boxes?

[steeve]

dont know if ther's a code for it, just mesure one in your house,but make sure you use the right size of box depending of the number of wires in it... :wink:

[Vector]

anyone tell me real quick the mounting hieght for the boxes?

Code says they must be no farther than 12' apart. It does not say how high (or low) they must be mounted.

In typical new construction, the electrician uses his hammer to set the height. Bottom of the box will be hammer height off of the subfloor. This varies depending on the hammer the electrician uses. :roll:

A little higher than that is nice for older people who may not want to stoop down so far to plug in stuff. Too much higher and you can't hide your cords behind furniture, etc.

Anything near a sink has to be GFCI protected. Actually, there's a rule about GFCI in the basement period, but I can't remember if it's for finished or unfinished off the top of my head. Probably unfinished.

Regardless, you'll likely want to run the fridge on it's own 20A circuit, *without* GFCI, and use a simplex (single) receptacle for it. Anything with a decent sized motor will cause a lot of nuisance trips on a GFCI and with a fridge, especially one you may not check every day, that's bad.

Going to have any kind of home theater or stereo system down there? If so, you might want to run a seperate circuit for that, to isolate it as much as possible from noise.

Taunton is right about the 2002 NEC. Local codes may limit the number of receptacles, etc, but the NEC doesn't.

3W/sqft is a minumum guideline. It's quite alright to plan for a lot more than that.

[sleepy hollow]

Ok, I am also having to determine how to plan my circuit runs in my basement. I am placing my outlets at roughly 8 foot intervals. In my main rec room I have 10 50W 4" recessed lights. So I am wiring 5 duplex receptacles plus the 10 lights on one circuit. This will be the largest circuit in the basement. Sound OK? I am using 12/2 cable. I doubt the receptacles will get more than additional lights/lamps on them, or small electronics, or temporary use with vacuum cleaner, etc.

One other related question - is a 15 amp receptacle rated for the appliance using it (i.e., no more than 15 amps draw at that receptacle), or is it rated to match the breaker size? Put another way, do I have to use 20 amp receptacles if I use a 20 amp breaker? (All my wiring is 12/2 or 12/3 for basic circuits/switches. Room is 13X32 with 10 total receptacles.)

Thanks.