How Many Receptacles or Outlets on one 20 amp Circuit Breaker?

how many receptacles in a 20 amp circuit? I will answer the question in the video. Receptacles are the same as outlets.

[@Polararies]

I believe the code says you can use either a 15amp or a 20amp receptacle on a 20 amp line.

[@PalaniRides]

Thank you so much for this easy to understand video. ... I just checked and I have one 15amp circuit for the three bedrooms in this house. The Master bedroom has a two year old Samsung TV, and a computer that both get used alot throughout the day. There's an outlet on my bed stand that charges my phone overnight also. The SECOND bedroom is utilized also and has an TV occasionally being used throughout the day; evenings especially, a center ceiling light, and small clock radio that's plugged into a receptacle. The THIRD (Guest) bedroom, which seldom gets used in a year's time, is basically why I'm here. The ceiling room light gets occasionally used, but that's it. There is a table lamp plugged into an outlet also. I'm here because I want to tap into an existing outlet in the room (circuit) and add an outlet behind the wall for a new mounted TV for solely cosmetic purposes. I also want to do the same for the previous second bedroom and run an outlet behind its wall mounted TV also to clean it up cosmetically. Okay, I've tried to be as specific as I could as to what I have going here, and I'm just wondering whether adding those two upper wall mount outlets to those bedrooms okay? If I'm understanding electricity here, it's not how many outlets I have plugged into the wall, but how many are being used at the same time and whether those appliances are power hogs, either solely like a hair dryer, or three TV monitors on at the same time? Thanks.

[@ronanitasimon6704]

Great information! Especial the information about the 20 amp recepticals/plug ins. Running a circuit for my wife's iron. Thank you

[@flannelguydiy6458]

thanks for watching!

[@mellowpuddle]

the outlet amps is something i did not know. thanks for the info

[@kathyern861]

So glad you mentioned that there are receptacles that have an amp rating - such as 15 amp and 20 amp ratings. If you install a 15 amp rated receptacle on a 20 amp circuit - and - you plug in one device into that receptacle that draws more than 15 amps - the amount of electrical heat generated in that receptacle will be more than what it is designed to handle. It may melt - it may become brittle over time - it may fail - it may.... Chances that anyone will plug in one device that generates more than 15 amps (somewhere between 16 and 20 amps) - is highly unlikely.

[@darrylh547]

Exactly what I needed to know, thank you.

[@flannelguydiy6458]

thanks for watching!

[@steves8014]

My garage is 55 feet wide. The sub panel is at one end and I am making a workshop at the other end. The goal is to run 20amp outlets to the far end and have about four 20 amp outlets for general use. Also, to run a dedicated 20amp circuit with a single 20amp outlet for an occasional small 110 welder and possibly a pellet stove that only draws 2-3 amps. The problem is the attic where the wires run is routinely over 100 degrees, and the 12 gauge wire already installed is about 65-75 feet. Will this be OK? Thanks to the licensed electricians for their generous help!

[@charliebecker2216]

Thx good basic knowledge.

[@Aaron_Lesse]

I just need to extend a 20A branch circuit from one outbuilding to another (via new underground line) for the sake of adding some outlets in that second building. No water or wet conditions in either building. I'll probably make sure the first outlet in the first outbuilding is an AF/GFCI outlet, I'll use 12-gauge wiring (because of the 20A breaker), I'll probably use 20A outlets in the second outbuilding. I think I'm all set for that, with a little more reading up on whether I need the AFCI feature at all. Now I just need to figure out the whole grounding thing (find out how the existing branch circuit is grounded and if I need additional grounding measures on the extension or just extend the existing ground wire through the new outlets).

[@pyme66]

What about on an industrial electrical installation? By the way, great information. Thanks.

[@pyates87]

I'm getting ready to replace the outlets in my house built in 58 the breaker has been updated but the outlets have no ground so I'm thinking ungrounded gfcis. Which ones should I buy?

[@KevinCoop1]

The answer you are giving for dwelling units is for non-dwelling units(commercial areas). This is a code answer! Dwelling units number of branch circuits is based on required circuits for specific loads, like laundry and kitchens and other specific areas, known special equipment, and a few areas. The remainder is square footage of the unit is to have a minimum number of branch circuits. There are receptacle spacing requirements for receptacles. If one decides to put receptacles every 6’ instead of 12’, that does not increase the loads or the required number of branch circuits, just the number of receptacles that can be spread over the number of circuits required. Can one do every 6’ and double the number of branch circuits? Yes you can. So the answer is, there is NO number of receptacles that is required as maximum per circuit per code in your dwelling unit for general purpose receptacles. Have a great day!

[@inspectr1949]

Finally someone that knows the Code.

[@stephen1193]

I was hoping to find the actual answer in the comments.

[@cdsmit27]

So basically it doesn't matter how many receptacles you have on a single breaker? It all comes down to how mamy watts you plan on plugging into that leg?

[@solomonmason7823]

Exactly

[@RichardRhodes-nv7fs]

What size breaker do I need to run 3 different machines 120v each and can it be installed in a regular panel box like for a house or do I need to get another panel installed judt for those outside and no those are the only things that will be on that run to the building? Thanks

[@ackpelon]

Hello, can 8/3 copper wire, handles 20amp pool water pump and pool 30amp waterheater at the sane time ?

[@ReadyUpGo]

Near the end you mentioned that receptacles can be rated for 15 or 20 amps…! Light dawns on small brain! I didn’t know that because I am a cheerfully willing, untrained diy fool, sometimes. THANK YOU!

[@flannelguydiy6458]

thanks for watching....please share the video for me. Thx

[@DavidBerquist334]

If I use 12/3 and do a multi-wire branch circuit and if it's within six feet of the sink a GFI on the red and the white then another GFI on the black and the white

[@Gonefishin12]

Thank you!

[@flannelguydiy6458]

thanks for watching

[@wayneszabo320]

Usually in residential layout you would factor in 1.5 amps per receptacle on a 15A circuit. Usually on 20A circuits such as a kitchen circuit no more than four on a circuit.

[@JoseJimenez-ee2gr]

What would it do if you use a 15amp recept to a 20amp breaker? Thank you!

[@KevinCoop1]

@@JoseJimenez-ee2gr Normal installation.

[@tiruwork1000]

hi, I do like the way you explain. would you please advise me on how I can use the Heat Press machine, printer, tumbler, and all others?

[@flannelguydiy6458]

Glad it helped....now you can help me by sharing this video on Facebook

[@Mixdplate]

I'm getting ready to renovate a very large sun room. Currently there are 5 outlets in the room on a 20 amp circuit, 12g wire, and 15 amp outlets. An electrician told me that the 15 amp outlets are ok on the 20 amp, just can't put 20 amp receptacles on 15 amp or 14g wire. I'm planning on adding 3 - 4 more outlets on this run. One of the outlets runs a 8000 btu window AC, the rest will be for basic electronics. Should the outlets be replaced with 20 amps? Do I need to split the load?

[@thomasmarable6818]

Add a new circuit for ac the just add to the one you already have. 15 amp devices on the 20 amp is ok.

[@malquid3811]

Hi to be clear, the definition of one outlet or receptacle is one duplex receptacle right? A two gang will be classified as two outlets? Thank you. Great video.

[@flannelguydiy6458]

yes you are correct....

[@djafterdarkentdjs3374]

quick question thanks for explaining this method and now i have a better idea but what i am searching for is how can i check to see what receptacle outlets are in the same circuit breaker the reason is I don't want to blow a circuit breaker so i want to find 2 separate electrical circuits with ease which circuit breaker finder would you recommend for the purpose i need it for. Hopefully i made sense. One more example so if i am already plugged into a 15 or a 20amp receptacle outlet and i now need to plug another device that i know it takes a lot of juice like a fog machine and i decide to use another receptacle outlet thinking its on a different circuit breaker thats where i would use the Circuit breaker finder plugging a tester to the same receptacle outlet please help

[@flannelguydiy6458]

thanks for watching! please share the video

[@genegonzalez4713]

The 20Amps can only be used 80% which is 16 amps. I prefer to use 2 amps per circuit instead of the 1.5 amps. So 2×8 = 16, so I would only install realistically 8 but I would use 4-6 that's the safe route

[@bill.Latham]

Great video can a 10000 btu air condition be install on a 20 amp breaker all that is on the 20 amp breaker are three bedroom outlets?

[@markmiller6142]

I have a 15000 btu on a 20 amp, same 15000 btu on 15 would dim lights and randomly pop the breaker, 20 is recommended

[@carlosportilla7634]

Hello sr. I like your videos. My question is that in a20amp circuit with 12-2 romex. Home run. I see junction box tha bring 14-2 romex wire that is going to my front porch switch lights. N outdoor. Lights. Is this ok? Or I may have some pro led with that. . Being working fine for long time with out problem. Thanks n have good day👍

[@flannelguydiy6458]

I think you are fine since the amount of power used in the 14-2 wire is low

[@bah5310]

You can use a 15 amp receptacle on a 20 amp circuit. The device that plugs into that will never exceed 15 amps. However, do not side wire those receptacles (NEC violation) because that 15 amp rated device could over heat.

[@Cambalamba]

15 amp breaker with 15amp outlet and 20amp wire might as well so 20amp breaker and outlet

[@mrreams711]

@@Cambalamba bad info

[@BushidoBrownSama]

So you have to back wire in that situation?

[@hoff8672]

I added a ring flood lamp where my old porch light was and it fried the switch and trip the breaker. The whole room was powerless. I was able to restore power by cycling the breaker back on but now the switch has no power. The breaker is a 20 amp any suggestions? Thanks

[@flannelguydiy6458]

i would have to see it myself.

[@KevinCoop1]

You hooked it up wrong and burned through a conductor somewhere. Either in the switch or the light you installed. Otherwise, the breaker would not stay on. Oh, since you direct shorted the breaker, the manufacturer says you need to replace it.

[@parveenmehay6753]

Sir can you show with wiring how many plugs at 15 Amp can install and with gfi

[@iampuzzleman282]

Can you use Romex 10 2 wire if you want to have multiple outlets? How are best to go with 10 3?

[@flannelguydiy6458]

size 10 is overkill for regular outlets. Too large of a wire

[@levismith7456]

It is recommended 10 outlets per 20 amp circuit. Is a duplex plug (like shown @ 3:47) considered 1 or 2 outlets?

[@flannelguydiy6458]

that is ONE outlet

[@brabbit7703]

Can I connect one outlet to one circuit with no junction box or do I have to have more then one outlet ? Thank you very much in advance

[@keithtomlin4649]

All outlet's to my knowledge by code for some time reaquers a junction box.

[@davidcortez9527]

So 5 receptacles on a 20amp circuit would also be fine?..just nothing above the standard 10 receptacles

[@felixthecat1890]

What parts of the house are most commonly ran by 20amp breakers ?

[@flannelguydiy6458]

either appliances or areas of the house that will have a lot of things strung together

[@JohnJackson-er9pw]

Would a washing machine and a icebox and two freezers be OK for one 20amp braker?

[@flannelguydiy6458]

no idea without seeing the specs of those items

[@robertverburg1481]

no

[@kiddynamite3931]

If one of my recepticals went out on a string of 5, would they all need to be replaced fot them to work, or just the bad one for now? I will eventually change them all , but this will be my 1st

[@christopherenders4280]

You should only need to replace the one.

[@kiddynamite3931]

@@christopherenders4280 Thanks. I have 1 that's not registering any volts at all, when the others are still registering 30v. Should I assume that's the one?

[@flannelguydiy6458]

you would just change the one that went bad

[@kiddynamite3931]

@@flannelguydiy6458 I had 15 outlets on 1 breaker. I had no clue which went bad. I started closest to the box, but should have started furthest, as it was the last outlet of the chain that was bad. I learned a few things, picked up some useful equipment, and have all my outlets working, and safe. Thanks!

[@nore8141]

How many power tools on a 20 amp circuit example table saw and vacuum dust collector…..can I use both?

[@flannelguydiy6458]

it all comes down to how many watts your devices draw.

[@AizLikespp]

Ok,i have one ?,my breaker pop up evrytime we plug,the ac portable or the heaters on 3 rooms at the sametime,how can i fix that? Can i add another 15amp breaker and separate one the bedrooms??

[@flannelguydiy6458]

yes it sounds like they are on the same breaker and you are over-loading it. You can separate a bedroom if you like. I did that with two bathrooms

[@AizLikespp]

@@flannelguydiy6458 ok thanks for the response but how do i do that? Do i have to add another breaker?

[@MarkHerndon]

@@flannelguydiy6458 How many 20 amp quads on a breaker say for a home bedroom converted into a computer office? I'm wanting to go industrial grade self grounding quads.

[@thomasmarable6818]

@@MarkHerndon you meed to know your total amperage draw and break it down fron there. If your total draw on 20 computers is 15 amps then you can 1 receptacle per computer if you want.

[@scotdavis6570]

@@AizLikespp It sounds like that you got very little knowledge in electrical work so I would highly recommend hiring a license electrician

[@michaelmaverick2630]

Most kitchens especially around the countertop must be a 20 amp circuit. But, I never see 20-amp outlets around the countertop. 20 amp meaning the special little "T" slot where the plug goes in on the common side. I can't find any videos, where actual 20 amp outlets are being installed. Everyone seems to use the common/standard 15 amp outlets. Help. :)

[@csimet]

15A outlets are typically used, even on a 20A circuit for kitchen counters. Many kitchens now have two circuits for the counters, each 20A, especially considering the number of outlets now being built into the design. Most plug-in kitchen appliances are 15A only and the 20A wiring (and circuit) just helps reduce the possibility of overloading. At least that is my understanding. Someone else can correct me if I'm in error.

[@armslength2618]

20 A cct should be able to handle 20 amps. Whatever combination of appliances or tools on 15's and 20's is used to draw up to that is the user's discretion. Obviously the maximum concentration would be 1 appliance drawing nearly 20 amps from one 20 A receptacle, even though that's very rare for 120 V kitchen equipment. But any receptacle should still be able to draw up to that if that's the only one being used. The work area wiring has to anticipate the total typical ( or maximum, if that is typical ) wattage that will be used. If that's going to draw over 20 A, then you simply need another circuit or more. But it's ridiculous to put in a bunch of 15 A receptacles to try to force users to stay under 20 amps. Most of those 15 A outlets won't be drawing anywhere near 15 amps anyway.

[@michaelmaverick2630]

Thank you for responding; that helps. I couldn't understand why 20A/120vac outlets (the T slot on common) were sold in the marketplace but never seem to be used in the kitchen setting, for the two required 20A/120vac circuits. Be well.

[@KevinCoop1]

Michael, the answer is that 15 amp receptacles have 20 amp pass thru ratings, so allowed on 20 amp circuits. The T slot 20 ampere receptacles are for very few appliances. All countertop mounted kitchen appliances are designed and manufactured with 15 amp plugs. The loads within are restricted to be on 15 amp plugs. I have personally seen only a few things that require 20 amp 120 volt receptacles. Large copy machines that print many pages quickly do. There are other machines but very few. Hope this helps you.

[@michaelmaverick2630]

@@KevinCoop1 Thank you for explaining that. It's so confusing. Also, given the thousands of videos on KZbin, I couldn't find anybody that said what you said. Most appreciated.

[@KevinCoop1]

Anything less than continuous load for 3 hours shall be considered a non continuous load. Therefore on a 20 amp 120 volt receptacle your non continuous load can be 20 amps or 2400 watts. For continuous loads, 80% of the breaker reading is 16 amps or 1920 watts. Will a 20 amp breaker instantly trip at 21 to 30 amps? No it will not. The breaker has to heat up in order to cause a trip.

[@kevinhorne4530]

How many amps for deep freezer

[@flannelguydiy6458]

everything is different. You need to read your freezer manual

[@user-dv5bc1cc6z]

180VA per receptacle

[@johnlindmeyer7329]

Code let's you use a 15 amp outlet on a 20 amp circuit

[@KevinCoop1]

20 amp circuits are allowed to have 15 or 20 amp receptacles. 15 amp circuit 15 amp receptacles. 20 amp circuit with a single receptacle(not duplex) must be 20 amp

[@keithtomlin4649]

15 amp recptical or 20 amp recptical on 20 amp circuit(12 GAGE WIRE) ; NO 20 AMP RECPTICAL ON A 15 (14 GAGE WIRE) AMP CIRCUIT.

[@kattor4]

Finally a clear answer thank you so much

[@ebonyhumphrey4456]

You can use a 15 amp outlet on a 20amp circuit breaker. You can’t use a 20 amp outlet on a 15 amp circuit breaker.

[@wildernessofzin9543]

I have a 60 flex volt 𝖣𝖾𝗐𝖺𝗅𝗍 battery that the light on charger comes on solid …. No flash . Battery has one bar , but won’t charge . Battery has minimal hours and is from 2020 . Is there a way to get this battery to work again ?

[@jmahtab]

This is incorrect, there is no limit on how many general use receptacles can be on a residential circuit. Commercial circuits are calculated at 180 VA per yoke.

[@user-dv5bc1cc6z]

You are incorrect! The 180VA counts for all receptacles, residential and/or commercial. I’m a master electrician and teach electrical code.

[@SuAmigoElilegal]

Question please. When it comes to receptacles . In my house there are 6 in the kitchen . Now do each place like the kitchen, do each receptacle or outlet plugs have a 15 amp or do all 6 share a 15 amp breaker ?

[@flannelguydiy6458]

you can have one breaker that controls all of the outlets in your kitchen. String them together. However, if one of the outlets is for a microwave or an oven, or a dishwasher, each of those should be on their own breaker.

[@AvkashSpice]

Ok so if i have two outlets but are connected to one circuit breaker switch (20 amp also i just add 120/125v just in case) and outlet #1 is pulling 990 watts and should i avoid plugging a device that pulls 800watts on outlet#2 cause they are both connected to the same breaker switch? Or does both have their own 12/15 amp × 120v

[@flannelguydiy6458]

if you are exceeding the rating for the breaker, then you should split them up