Code Calculations – Receptacle Loads

Feb. 1, 2001James Stallcup Sr. | Electrical Construction and Maintenance

Receptacle loads
A receptacle is a contact device installed at an outlet for the connection of an
attachment plug. To calculate the total VA of receptacle loads, calculate the VA
for each type of occupancy and total the results. For continuous loads - loads
where the maximum current is expected to continue for 3 hours or more -
you'll need to use a multiplier of 125%.

If the receptacle is a part of a multi-outlet assembly, such as a surface, flush, or

freestanding raceway, you will have to follow a slightly different path to arrive at
the total VA. Let's try to calculate the VA for a general-purpose receptacle load.
First, examine the use for each receptacle. Count the number of receptacles that
will serve continuous-operation loads, and multiply that number by 125% for
your new total. Then, count the number of receptacles that will serve non-
continuous-operation loads and add this to the previous total. Multiply the
results of that addition by 180VA to get your answer.

Example: What is the load in VA for 55 general-purpose receptacles that serve

non-continuous loads and 55 more that serve continuous loads?

Step 1: Calculate the continuous load, per Secs. 220-3(b) (9), 215-2(a), and 230-
42(a) (1)
55 receptacles x 125% x 180VA = 12,375VA
Step 2: Calculate non-continuous load, per Secs. 220-3(b) (9), 215-2(a), and 230-
42(a) (1)
55 receptacles x 180VA = 9900VA
Solution: The continuous load is 12,375VA and the no continuous load is
9900VA. Therefore, your total load is 12,375VA + 9900VA = 22,275VA.

You can't apply the demand factor in Table 220-13 to the continuous load of
12,375VA, even though this value exceeds 10,000VA. Let's look at how you can
apply demand factors.

Applying demand factors

You calculate general-purpose receptacle outlets for cord-and-plug connected loads (non-
continuous operation), per Sec. 220-3(b) (9) and Table 220-13. If the VA rating of the receptacle
load exceeds 10,000VA, you can apply a demand factor of 50% to all VA exceeding 10,000VA, per
Table 220-13. Don't make the mistake of applying the demand factor to the first 10,000VA as well.
Example: What is the VA rating for 225 general-purpose receptacle outlets to
cord-and-plug connected loads used for non-continuous operation?

Step 1: Calculate the load, per Sec. 220-3(b) (9). 225 x 180VA = 40,500VA
Step 2: Apply demand factors, per Table 220-13. The first 10,000VA x 100% =
10,000VA. The remaining 30,500VA x 50% = 15,250VA
Solution: The total load is 25,250VA.

Fixed Multi-outlet Assemblies

As we mentioned above, calculating the load for multi-outlet assemblies is a bit
different from calculating the load for general-purpose receptacles. For connected
loads not operating simultaneously, divide the length of the multi-outlet
assembly by 5 ft and then multiply the result by 180VA. For connected loads
operating simultaneously, multiply each foot of the multi-outlet assembly by
180VA.

You can add the multi-outlet assembly load to the non-continuous receptacle load and demand
factors applied, per Table 220-13.

Example 1: What is the load in VA for 200 ft of multi-outlet assembly used to

cord-and-plug connected loads not used simultaneously? Calculate load not
used simultaneously, per Sec. 220-3(b) (8) (a).

VA = (length/5 ft) x 180VA. VA = (200 ft/5 ft) x 180VA. VA = 7,200VA

Example 2: What is the load in VA for 200 ft of multi-outlet assembly used to

cord-and-plug connected loads used simultaneously? Calculate load used
simultaneously, per Sec. 220-3(b) (8) (b).

VA = length x 180VA. VA = 200 ft x 180VA. VA = 36,000VA

Now let's look at a slightly more complex example.

Example 3: What's the total load when you have 200 ft of multi-outlet assembly
(for cord-and-plug connected loads used simultaneously) and 225 general-purpose
receptacle outlets (for cord-and-plug connected loads used in non-continuous
operation)?
Step 1: Compute load used simultaneously, per Sec. 220-3(b)(8)(b). Load = length
x 180VA. Load = 200 ft x 180VA. Load = 36,000VA
Step 2: Compute load for receptacles, per Sec. 220-3(b)(9). 225 outlets x 180VA =
40,500VA
Step 3: Add multi-outlet assembly and receptacle loads. Multi-outlet assembly =
36,000VA. Receptacle load = 40,500VA. Total load = 76,500VA
Step 4: Apply demand factors, per Table 220-13. Because you have no continuous
loads, your entire load is factorable.
Factorable load = 76,500VA. The first 10,000VA x 100% = 10,000VA. The
remaining 66,500VA x 50% = 33,250VA.
Solution: The total load = 33,250VA + 10,000VA = 43,250VA
Let's add another twist to the calculation.

Example 4: If the multi-outlet loads in the previous example were continuous, you
would have to arrive at the answer differently. You would exclude the 36,000VA
of continuous load from the demand factor calculation.

Factorable load = 40,500VA. The first 10,000VA x 100% = 10,000VA. The

remaining factorable 30,500VA x 50% = 15,250VA. Therefore, total load =
36,000VA + 10,000VA + 15,250VA = 61,250VA

Appliance loads
You calculate appliance loads by multiplying the VA rating of each load by
100% for non-continuous operation and 125% for continuous operation. To
determine the classification, appliance loads operating for less than 3 hrs are
non-continuous operation loads. An appliance load operating for 3 hrs or
more is a continuous operation load. Let's run through a couple of examples to
familiarize us with these types of calculations.

Example 1: What is the VA rating for a 208V, 3-phase, 165A appliance load
operating for 10 hrs and supplied by an individual branch-circuit?
Step 1: Compute VA, per Sec. 220-2. VA = V x I x 1.732
VA = 208V x 1.732 x 165A
VA = 59,400
Step 2: Compute continuous load, per Secs. 215-2(a) and 230-42(a) (1)
59,400VA x 125% = 74,250VA
Solution: The load at continuous operation is 74,250VA. Why did 1.732 enter into
the calculation? When doing 3-phase calculations, you must multiply by the square
root of 3, which is 1.732.
Example 2: What is the VA rating for an appliance load of 82A operating at 480V,
3-phase, for 2 1/2 hrs every 4 hrs?
Step 1: Compute VA, per Sec. 220-2. VA = V x 1.732. VA = 480V x 1.732 x 82A.
VA = 68,142
Because this is a non-continuous load, you have your answer.
Sec. 215-2(a) and 230-42(a) (1) require you to multiply non-continuous loads by
100%, which won't change your results. If you were working with continuous
loads, you would multiply by 125% to arrive at 85,178VA.

When doing any of these calculations, always determine which portions of your
total load is continuous or non-continuous. Calculate all loads as though they were
non-continuous, and then multiply the continuous loads by 125% and add your
non-continuous loads and continuous loads together. Remember: You can't apply
demand factors to continuous loads - by definition, they are always in demand.