How Many Lights on a 15 amp Circuit?

Bill_in_NY

No ceiling fans. Maybe 1 plug in fan if it gets too hot in there in the summer. I don't know what you would actually call these light fixtures. It's just a single socket receptacle that you screw a lightbulb into (like you might see in the closet of an old house). I just plan to run several of them along the same wire controlled by a single light switch.

I think the wire is connected to a ceiling light downstairs, so I am taking that into consideration.

I may just go with a couple track lights, not sure yet.

I just didn't want to install 10 lights in the attic to find out that it would keep tripping the breaker. They might be on for 3 to 4 hours at a time, as I am setting up a small workshop in there. Any electrical needs other than the lights would be on a seperate outlet.

Thanks for the help!

DIY_JC

What max wattage value is used for receptacles & ceiling fans... when performing the calculations?

also- bathroom exhaust fan (no lights)

Scuba_Dave

Ceiling fan can vary depending upon the fan
You need to find out the model & look it up
I don't mix receptacles with lights/fans
There isn't a real calculation for receptacles
But considering a bathroom outlet could have a 1600w hair dryer plugged in that doesn't leave a lot of extra power for lights & fans

DIY_JC

There isn't a standard used? What if it is being done before the lights/appliances are purchased by the builder? As for my particular fan, I can't get to it as the ceilings are too high (and I don't have a way to get to it safely).

Scuba_Dave

My existing fan light is rated for a 100w light bulb
My replacement light fixture is rated for (2) 60w bulbs
I think that would be MAX - 120w
My fan I don't know

Actually I just checked & the new one uses 2 candelabra lights
So its going back, I want to use 2 13w CFL's

jogr

Brings up an interesting Friday afternoon question. Since incandescent bulbs between 40 and 150 watts won't be manufactured after 2014 does this or will this affect your approach to designing residential lighting circuits?

Many fixtures are currently rated for 60 watt bulbs based upon incandescent. I guess for now you still assume the use of 60 watt incandescent. Come 2014 the fixture manufacturers will probably still be putting out the same fixtures rated at 60 watts so do you assume that customers will be putting in a high wattage CFL (say 27 or 42) to get increased brightness or do you assume they will put in 14 watt cfls to get equivalent brightness? Or maybe it just doesn't matter cause you probably don't max out too many residential lighting circuits.

Scuba_Dave

Actually they are coming out with new energy saver incandescent bulbs. Lower wattage use, same lumens. Only took 100+ years to make a better light bulb

Due out "By 2010"

http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-6162567-7.html

You have to go by the fixture rating, not by the bulb

13w CFL = 60w reg
23w CFL = 100w reg

We have put in larger wattage CFL's to make rooms brighter
If your fixture is rated for 60w, its not based on incandescent
So it seems you can put a 23w CFL (100w equiv) into a 60w fixture. Since it is the same bulb base & it is not using the 60w rating

Scuba_Dave

Oops, maybe not:

Looks like the anticipated bans have caused GE to dump all research
That's too bad since CFL's have Mercury
Instead they are concentrating on LED's
After cutting hundreds of jobs

http://cleantechnica.com/2008/12/02/...omment-page-2/