New York State Master Electrician Practice Exam

How many receptacle outlets are permitted on a 20A, 120V circuit in a commercial building?

1. 10

2. 12

3. 13

4. 15

The correct answer is: 13

The correct answer highlights that a 20A, 120V circuit in a commercial setting can support multiple receptacle outlets based on the National Electrical Code (NEC) guidelines. Specifically, when calculating the number of receptacle outlets, the NEC gives a general provision indicating that a maximum of 1.5 amps can be assigned to each receptacle outlet. For a 20A circuit, you can take the total circuit capacity of 20 amps and divide it by the 1.5 amps per outlet. This calculation results in approximately 13.3 outlets, which rounds down to 13. Therefore, it is permissible to install up to 13 receptacle outlets on that circuit without exceeding its current capacity under typical load conditions. Understanding the implications of these guidelines is essential for ensuring safety and compliance in commercial electrical installations, allowing for sufficient power availability while preventing overload situations.