(1) 20amp breaker/circuit, (3) 15amp receptacle, (3) Gavitas drawing 4.6amps each, OK?

[mikeross]

Well as the title says, I'm in the process of laying out the electrical in a new build. I've got 5 rows of 3 lights and if I can get 3 lights on 1 circuit it will make the layout look really clean.

If I run a 20 amp breaker/circuit, and have (3) separate 15mp single outlet receptacles on this circuit, 1 for each light, will I run into any issues because each receptacle is only rated for 15amps? The lights are going to be drawing 4.6amps each at 240v, so technically I'm under the 15amp draw, just wondering if I'm splitting it up over (3) receptacles makes a difference.

I know you will say just go buy a 20 amp receptacle but I've got a ton of these 15amp ones and would like to use them.

 

[Ponky]

Thats too much constant load.

 

[LexLuthor]

Your good, 1 light is 4.6 amps, that is well below the 80% threshold for the 15 amp receptacle.

And the 3 lights at 4.6 amps equals 13.8 amps, which is below 80% for the 20 amp breaker.

You just have to make sure you have the 20 amp double pole breaker and all the receptacles wired correctly for 240 volt instead of 120.

 

[PauliBhoy]

I concur with Lex, just be aware that 20 amp breaker won't support additional lights if you ever decide to expand....

 

[mikeross]

Your good, 1 light is 4.6 amps, that is well below the 80% threshold for the 15 amp receptacle.

And the 3 lights at 4.6 amps equals 13.8 amps, which is below 80% for the 20 amp breaker.

You just have to make sure you have the 20 amp double pole breaker and all the receptacles wired correctly for 240 volt instead of 120.

Thanks man, your response tells me you understand what I'm trying to say. I don't know much about electrical so not sure if I'm explaining it correctly. Yes, everything is being wired at 240v, 20amp 2pole breaker, 12-2 bx wire.

 

[mikeross]

I'm just trying to make everything look clean on the install with a single 240v receptacle per light. Each room is feeding off a 100amp sub panel. I've got 5 rows of 3 lights. I'd like to be able to run all the circuits down one wall and just tee off into each of the rows... kinda hard to explain without a photo.

It's a 2 pole, 15amp breaker, with 12-2 wire. I have no plans to add anything else on the circuit except for these (3) lights, 13.8 amps total.

I guess i'm just wondering how the load is shared between these (3) receptacles. I know the breaker is big enough, wire big enough, 15amp receptacle with 4.6amp device being plugs in... but when all on the same circuit is this 15amp rated receptacle cutting it to close.

 

[mikeross]

Thats too much constant load.

Please explain? Are you 100% certain... do you fully understand what my question is cause I know its confusing... well I know I may not be asking it properly lol.

 

[Ponky]

Please explain? Are you 100% certain... do you fully understand what my question is cause I know its confusing... well I know I may not be asking it properly lol.

Yeah. You have the 15 amp receptacle. Standard. But you want to run 3 600 watts on one circuit. Which although technically ok is something our guys recommend against. They will only do one 1000 watt per 20 amp.
And 2 600 watts. Max
But we are on 110v. So I don't know the standards in 240v countries. The reason they do 2 x 600 watt per circuit max is to let you plug in some fans. When you try and squeeze 3 600 watts per 20 amp circuit on 110v here you end up with problems. I only have the answer I received when I asked. I don't know more than the guy I hire. For 12 hour duty cycles using control boards you can use 4 or 8 per board. Using bigger fuses and wires. Not an expert. And only know about CSA standard.
Can? Yes? Best practice? No. Go 2 600 watts per circuit to prevent issues. Leave headroom

 

[LexLuthor]

Yeah. You have the 15 amp receptacle. Standard. But you want to run 3 600 watts on one circuit. Which although technically ok is something our guys recommend against. They will only do one 1000 watt per 20 amp.
And 2 600 watts. Max
But we are on 110v. So I don't know the standards in 240v countries. The reason they do 2 x 600 watt per circuit max is to let you plug in some fans. When you try and squeeze 3 600 watts per 20 amp circuit on 110v here you end up with problems. I only have the answer I received when I asked. I don't know more than the guy I hire. For 12 hour duty cycles using control boards you can use 4 or 8 per board. Using bigger fuses and wires. Not an expert. And only know about CSA standard.
Can? Yes? Best practice? No. Go 2 600 watts per circuit to prevent issues. Leave headroom

You are correct in regards to 120v, but with 240v it cuts the amperage in half. He just needs to make sure each receptacle has 2 hots instead of 1 and they need to be on alternating poles.

Also, the receptacle needs to be made for a 240v plug. But if he is in a country where 240v is the norm, he shouldn't have any issues.

 

[LexLuthor]

@mikeross Are you in the USA?

 

[mikeross]

@mikeross Are you in the USA?

Originally but I'm in Canada now. I actually just came back from Home Depot. I called them up to ask if I could return if I didn't have the receipt. They gave me a store credit and I swapped them 15amp receptacles for 20amp ones. My electrician did say that is was fine, no worries sticking with the 15amps. I was heading into the depot anyways so decided to just swamp them.

I appreciate the info though bud, thanks!

 

[Cashmeh]

@mikeross Are you in the USA?

I dont know how to tag people on here, could you give me some advice?

Need assistance running extra breaker/wire/outlet

I would like to run the entire 4x8 off one breaker if possible. I will be adding it to the left pole on my breaker. I know just enough about electricity get my myself killed atm. I had a buddy tell me what to do, hes an electrician. Yet hes busy and im not trying to give him all my details...

www.thcfarmer.com

 

[Cbdfool]

You can run 16 amps continual load (over 2 hours running time). That’s 80% of 20 amps.

 

[Goblinkiller]

I am running 960w of led and one portable ac (750w) two exhausts and one to two small fans on 10 amp breaker. Was worried but did some math and it was good. Cant add more though. In winter the panel oven (1000w) runs instead of ac.

Cant remember the formula but. As people has pointed out its different if you run 120v or 220v

 

[Scrogger2190]

I would get a bigger circuit because your lights are practically maxing the constant load threshold and you need environmental control units too.

 

[mikeross]

I would get a bigger circuit because your lights are practically maxing the constant load threshold and you need environmental control units too.

How is 13.8 amps on a 20 amp breaker maxing out the circuit?

 

[jguit]

Cant remember the formula but. As people has pointed out its different if you run 120v or 220v

P = I * V (ex. 1000W = 8.7A * 115V)

P / V = I (ex. 1000W / 115V = 8.7A)

P / I = V (ex. 1000W / 8.7A = 115V)

P = Watts (Power), I = Amperes (Current), V = Volts (Voltage)

If any 2 values are known, just plug them into one the formulas above.

 

[LexLuthor]

How is 13.8 amps on a 20 amp breaker maxing out the circuit?

It's not, there is an 80% rule. Don't use more than 80% of the max amperage rating. So 20 amp circuit can safely handle up to 16 amps, maximum. Anything below 16 amps would easily be handled by the wires, receptacles and breaker as long as all the components are rated properly.

 

[PipeCarver]

Well as the title says, I'm in the process of laying out the electrical in a new build. I've got 5 rows of 3 lights and if I can get 3 lights on 1 circuit it will make the layout look really clean.

If I run a 20 amp breaker/circuit, and have (3) separate 15mp single outlet receptacles on this circuit, 1 for each light, will I run into any issues because each receptacle is only rated for 15amps? The lights are going to be drawing 4.6amps each at 240v, so technically I'm under the 15amp draw, just wondering if I'm splitting it up over (3) receptacles makes a difference.

I know you will say just go buy a 20 amp receptacle but I've got a ton of these 15amp ones and would like to use them.

The only problem I see is the size of the wire required for 20amps #12 doesn't fit the 15 amp receptacles very well. You can't use the quick wire ( too big ) and it doesn't fit nicely around the screw on the receptacle. Meaning...if you can't secure it properly you can potentially have lose wires. its also difficult to get 3 conductors either BX/Romex/Lumex spliced with pig tails, marretts & the receptacle into your small box without pinching wires, You can run #12 from the panel to a junction box then drop down with #14 to the receptacle but that junction box has to be accessible and that will fix wires being too big to for the plugs and boxes.

 

[Scrogger2190]

How is 13.8 amps on a 20 amp breaker maxing out the circuit?

Because there's the 80% rule for constant load which would he 16amp on a 20 breaker and that's just his lights. As soon as he plugs in an a/c or space heater plus a dehumidifier or humidifier it's going to pop