NEC Branch Circuit Requirements 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: How many small-appliance branch circuits are required for receptacle outlets in a dwelling kitchen, pantry, and dining area?
- One
- At least two (Correct answer)
- At least three
- Four
Correct answer: At least two
NEC 210.11(C)(1) requires at least two 20-amp small-appliance branch circuits.
Question 2: At least one 20-ampere branch circuit must be provided for receptacles in which dwelling location?
- Bedroom
- Laundry area (Correct answer)
- Hallway
- Attic
Correct answer: Laundry area
NEC 210.11(C)(2) requires a dedicated 20-amp laundry branch circuit.
Question 3: The small-appliance branch circuits in a dwelling kitchen are NOT permitted to supply which of the following?
- Refrigerator
- Countertop receptacles
- Lighting outlets (Correct answer)
- Dining room receptacles
Correct answer: Lighting outlets
NEC 210.52(B)(2) prohibits small-appliance circuits from supplying lighting outlets.
Question 4: A dwelling-unit bathroom requires at least one branch circuit of what rating for its receptacle outlets?
- 15 amperes
- 20 amperes (Correct answer)
- 30 amperes
- 40 amperes
Correct answer: 20 amperes
NEC 210.11(C)(3) requires a 20-amp branch circuit for bathroom receptacles.
Question 5: When a single 20-amp branch circuit supplies the bathroom receptacles in a dwelling, what else may it supply?
- Only receptacles in that one bathroom (Correct answer)
- Lighting in the same bathroom
- Receptacles in any number of bathrooms only
- Kitchen receptacles
Correct answer: Only receptacles in that one bathroom
Per NEC 210.11(C)(3) Exception, a circuit serving one bathroom may also feed that bathroom's other equipment, but a multi-bathroom circuit must serve receptacles only.
Question 6: What is the minimum number of general-purpose branch circuits determined by, in a dwelling unit?
- Number of receptacles
- Total computed lighting and receptacle load
- Square footage at 3 VA per ft² for lighting (Correct answer)
- Number of rooms
Correct answer: Square footage at 3 VA per ft² for lighting
NEC 220.12 uses 3 VA per square foot to compute the general lighting load that sets circuit count.
Question 7: A 125-volt, 20-amp branch circuit serving the laundry is permitted to supply which additional location?
- Garage receptacles
- Only laundry receptacles (Correct answer)
- Bathroom receptacles
- Outdoor receptacles
Correct answer: Only laundry receptacles
NEC 210.11(C)(2) restricts the laundry branch circuit to laundry receptacle outlets only.
NEC Branch Circuit Requirements 3
How many small-appliance branch circuits are required for receptacle outlets in a dwelling kitchen, pantry, and dining area?