Enter your Total Receptacles, VA per Receptacle, and System Voltage — along with Continuous Load Receptacles, Demand Factor, and Breaker Derating — and the Receptacle Load Calculator breaks down your Total Load, Continuous vs. Non-Continuous Load, Total Current, and Minimum Breaker Size.
Total Load
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Continuous Load
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Non-Continuous Load
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Total Current
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Minimum Breaker Size
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20A Circuits Needed
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The NEC requires 180 VA per duplex receptacle outlet for general purpose receptacles in residential applications. Single outlets are calculated at 90 VA each.
Per NEC 220.44, you can apply a 50% demand factor to the portion of general receptacle loads that exceeds 10,000 VA. This recognizes that not all receptacles will be loaded simultaneously.
A continuous load operates for 3 hours or more continuously. These loads must be calculated at 125% of their actual load or the circuit breaker must be derated to 80% of its rating.
Quad receptacles should be counted as two duplex receptacles for load calculation purposes, contributing 360 VA total to your load calculation.
NEC requires that continuous loads not exceed 80% of the branch circuit breaker rating unless the breaker is listed for 100% continuous operation, which helps prevent overheating and ensures safe operation.
While 120V is most common for general purpose receptacles, 240V, 208V, and 277V circuits may be used for specific applications like commercial or industrial installations.