Free exam prep

Minnesota Journeyman Electrician

Practice Questions Study Guide Flashcards

6.1 Article 120 Basics: Dwelling Lighting, Small-Appliance & Laundry Loads

Q: Under the 2026 NEC, what general lighting load is used for a 1,800 ft² single-family dwelling in the standard feeder and service calculation?

3,600 VA. Section 120.41 of the 2026 NEC sets the dwelling general lighting load at 2 VA per square foot, so 1,800 × 2 = 3,600 VA. The 5,400 VA value uses the 3 VA per square foot from the 2023 edition, which in 2026 applies only to counting general-purpose branch circuits under 120.13.

Q: A dwelling has a combined general lighting, small-appliance, and laundry load of 10,500 VA. What is the demand load after applying Table 120.45?

5,625 VA. The first 3,000 VA is taken at 100%, and the remaining 7,500 VA at 35%, which is 2,625 VA. The demand load is 3,000 + 2,625 = 5,625 VA. Taking 35% of the entire 10,500 VA gives 3,675 VA, and taking 75% gives 7,875 VA; neither follows the table.

Q: How many 20 A, 120 V general-purpose branch circuits does 120.13 require for a 3,000 ft² dwelling, not counting the required small-appliance, laundry, bathroom, and garage circuits?

4 circuits. Section 120.13 uses 3 VA per square foot to count branch circuits: 3,000 × 3 = 9,000 VA, and 9,000 ÷ 120 = 75 A. Dividing by 20 A gives 3.75, which must be rounded up to 4 circuits. Three circuits results from wrongly using 2 VA per square foot, and five circuits is the answer for 15 A circuits, not 20 A circuits.

Key Takeaways

The 2026 NEC 120.41 sets the dwelling general lighting load at 2 VA per square foot for feeder and service calculations, down from 3 VA per square foot in the 2023 edition.
Section 120.13 still uses 3 VA per square foot to determine how many general-purpose branch circuits a dwelling needs.
Each 2-wire small-appliance branch circuit and each laundry branch circuit adds 1,500 VA under 120.52.
Table 120.45 takes the first 3,000 VA of the combined dwelling lighting, small-appliance, and laundry load at 100%, the next 117,000 VA at 35%, and the remainder at 25%.
Section 120.5(E) states that load calculations do not apply the 125% continuous-load multiplier; that factor is applied when sizing conductors and overcurrent devices.

Last updated: October 2026

Where load calculations live now

The 2026 NEC relocated branch-circuit, feeder, and service load calculations from Article 220 to Article 120 in Chapter 1, because they apply to every installation. Section numbers mostly kept their old endings: 220.55 became 120.55, 220.82 became 120.82, and so on. DLI's exam guide refers candidates to Annex D of the NEC for worked examples of more complex calculations, so practice with the 2026 Annex D examples.

General rules (120.5)

Rule	Requirement
Voltages (120.5(A))	Unless other voltages are specified, use nominal system voltages such as 120, 120/240, 208Y/120, 240, 480Y/277, and 480 V
Fractions of an ampere (120.5(B))	Round to the nearest whole ampere; fractions smaller than 0.5 may be dropped
Floor area (120.5(C))	Use the outside dimensions; for dwellings, exclude open porches, garages, and unused or unfinished spaces not adaptable for future use; the 2026 NEC also confirms that nonhabitable detached spaces such as detached garages are excluded
DC loads (120.5(D), new)	For dc equipment, volt-amperes equal watts
Continuous loads (120.5(E), new)	Load calculations do not apply the 125% continuous-load factor; that multiplier belongs to conductor and OCPD sizing rules such as 210.19, 215.2, and 230.42

Branch-circuit loads and circuit count

Section 120.13, new in 2026, keeps the older 3 VA/ft² value for one purpose: determining the number of general-purpose branch circuits in a dwelling. Section 210.11(A) and (B) then require enough circuits to carry that load, evenly proportioned among multioutlet circuits.

$\text{Circuits} = \frac{\text{Area} \times 3\ \text{VA/ft}^2}{120\ \text{V} \times \text{circuit rating}}$

For a 2,400 ft² house: $2400 \times 3 = 7200$ VA, and $7200 \div 120 = 60$ A. That is four 15 A circuits ( $60 \div 15$ ) or three 20 A circuits ( $60 \div 20$ ), in addition to the required small-appliance, laundry, bathroom, and garage circuits.

Other branch-circuit loads under 120.14 include 180 VA per single or multiple receptacle on one yoke (in other than dwelling units), the nameplate rating of specific appliances, and 5,000 VA or the nameplate rating, whichever is larger, for each household electric clothes dryer.

Feeder and service general lighting load (120.41)

For one-family, two-family, and multifamily dwellings, the minimum unit load is 2 VA/ft² of floor area in the 2026 NEC, down from 3 VA/ft². DOE studies of modern LED lighting and receptacle use supported the change. The general-use receptacles and lighting outlets are included in this unit load, so you do not add 180 VA per receptacle in a dwelling.

Small-appliance and laundry loads (120.52)

Load	Value	Note
Small-appliance circuits (120.52(A))	1,500 VA for each 2-wire small-appliance branch circuit required by 210.11(C)(1), at least two	An individual 15 A or larger refrigerator circuit permitted by 210.52(B)(1) may be left out
Laundry circuit (120.52(B))	1,500 VA for each 2-wire laundry branch circuit required by 210.11(C)(2), at least one	—

Both loads may be added to the general lighting load and reduced together using Table 120.45.

Lighting load demand factors (Table 120.45)

Occupancy	Portion of load	Demand factor
Dwelling units	First 3,000 VA	100%
	3,001 to 120,000 VA	35%
	Over 120,000 VA	25%
Hotels and motels, including apartment houses without cooking provisions for tenants	First 20,000 VA	50%
	20,001 to 100,000 VA	40%
	Over 100,000 VA	30%
Warehouses (storage)	First 12,500 VA	100%
	Over 12,500 VA	50%
All others	Total VA	100%

Worked example: 2,400 ft² dwelling

General lighting: $2400 \times 2 = 4800$ VA.
Small-appliance circuits: $2 \times 1500 = 3000$ VA.
Laundry circuit: $1500$ VA.
Total before demand: $4800 + 3000 + 1500 = 9300$ VA.
Table 120.45: first 3,000 VA at 100% = 3,000 VA; remaining $9300 - 3000 = 6300$ VA at 35% = 2,205 VA.
Net lighting, small-appliance, and laundry demand: $3000 + 2205 = 5205$ VA.

Under the 2023 NEC the general lighting line would have been $2400 \times 3 = 7200$ VA, giving a net demand of 6,045 VA. Be sure to use the 2026 value on the exam.

Common mistakes

Adding 180 VA per receptacle in a dwelling; dwelling general-use receptacles are included in the 2 VA/ft² unit load.
Counting the garage or an open porch in the floor area.
Forgetting the second small-appliance circuit: at least two are required, even in a small kitchen.
Applying Table 120.45 to fixed appliances, ranges, or dryers; those loads have their own rules in 120.53 to 120.55.

Warning

Do not mix the two unit loads. Use 3 VA/ft² only for counting general-purpose branch circuits (120.13) and 2 VA/ft² for the dwelling feeder and service calculation (120.41).

Test Your Knowledge

Under the 2026 NEC, what general lighting load is used for a 1,800 ft² single-family dwelling in the standard feeder and service calculation?

5,400 VA

2,700 VA

1,800 VA

3,600 VA

Test Your Knowledge

A dwelling has a combined general lighting, small-appliance, and laundry load of 10,500 VA. What is the demand load after applying Table 120.45?

5,625 VA

3,675 VA

10,500 VA

7,875 VA

Test Your Knowledge

How many 20 A, 120 V general-purpose branch circuits does 120.13 require for a 3,000 ft² dwelling, not counting the required small-appliance, laundry, bathroom, and garage circuits?

3 circuits

5 circuits

4 circuits

8 circuits

Sections you finish are checked off in the contents.

Up Next

6.2 Dwelling Standard Method: Appliances, Dryers, Ranges, Heating, EVSE & Neutral

Continue learning