wiring basement

[skyhiarcher]

i'm putting outlets in my basement (new house) i'm putting them 1 foot off floor and running 6 per breaker about every 5.5 feet
do they have to be gfi?
thanks for any help

[LazyPup]

Hayzee would be the final authority on this one, but it is my understanding that all electrical outlets in a basement, garage or on the exterior of the house that are less than 8' above the floor or finished grade are required to be on GFCI.

[skyhiarcher]

can i put one gfi as the first outlet and run the other five off that one?

[HayZee518]

sure, that's ok. code says no unbroken wall space from outlet to outlet no more than 6 feet apart. you can run 10 on one 20 amp circuit.

[WVslottech]

10 outlets on 1 20 amp breaker? how many lights and switches can go on that same 20 amp breaker??

[HayZee518]

For general lighting in a dwelling unit you calculate 3 watts per square foot. say a room 12X12=144 square feet - multiply this figure by 3 and get 432 watts. Take 432 and divide by 120 and you get 3.6 amps. 432 divided by say a 75 watt lamp fixture = 5 fixtures. Combined they wouldn't draw more than 3 amps.

[WVslottech]

thanks alot

[Speedy Petey]

OK, some very ambiguous info here in this thread. Let's clarify.

1) Residentially there is NO, that's right NO, legal limit to the number of receptacles on a circuit. We just use common sense. Typically on a 20A circuit in a general use area we put 8-12 receptacles. Kitchens I generally do 3-4.

2) The code for spacing is "so that no point along the wall is more than 6' from a receptacle." This means point to the wall, there needs to be ONE receptacle from that point, in EITHER direction. The maximum spacing between them can be 12'...NOT 6'. Again, common sense prevails. Most times closer, sometimes exactly 12'. You situation dictates this. IMO 5.5' is WAY too close unless this is shop of some sort.

3) The calculated load has NOTHING to do with the actual installation of fixtures and devices. Receptacles are as above. Lighting is done by the actual wattage of the fixtures. Recessed lights for example, if they can have a MAX lamp of 150 watts, regardless of the trim selection, you can have 8 on a 15A circuit.

4) If this a finished space the receptacles DO NOT need GFI protection. Unless there is a written local amendment to this the AHJ cannot make you install GFIs. You can do it if you like, there is nothing prohibiting using them, especially if the area is still subject to getting wet.

[HayZee518]

There was no mention other than this gentleman was putting outlets in his basement of a new house. One could assume he's finishing the basement but this isn't the case as stated. the general lighting thing out of the book says for dwellings, general lighting is 3va per square foot. (watts) Outlet spacing - you're correct face the wall - 6ft to your left a receptacle, 6ft to your right a receptacle - 12 ft or wherever pratical. pete 150 divided by 120 gives 1.25 amps. 15amp divided by 1.25 ( assuming 150 watts) equals 12 fixtures.

[Speedy Petey]

This is why I prefaced #4 with "If this a finished space...".
I can only assume since he is putting them at 12" AFF that this area will be finished. A foot off the floor is quite impractical for an unfinished area.
If this is an unfinished area then yes, as has been stated the GFI protection IS required.

The thread went way off course after that and I simply clarified some information.

The 3va rule is for load calculations. This has nothing to do with the actual installation of wiring other than the number of circuits required in a dwelling.

While not much in a residence can be considered a "continuous load", lighting can.
I must admit my math was wrong. I used 1500 watts instead of 15a. Sorry.
The answer is nine or ten 150w fixtures.

15a x 80% = 12a
12a x 120v = 1440w
1440w ÷ 150w = 9.60 fixtures

[skyhiarcher]

the basement will be finished but it might be a year or more before its done
i was putting the outlets every 5.5 feet because i don't know how the basement is going to be set up (family room,bedroom,archery shop my own not comercial) i just want to make sure i have enough outlets and there in the right places
more is better than not enough?

[HayZee518]

more is always better in electrical - not so in cooking! LOL