⚡ QUESTION OF THE WEEK (2026)⚡
A single-family dwelling qualifies for the optional calculation method under NEC 120.82. The service is rated 200 amperes, 120/240 volts, 3-wire. The following data applies:
- Floor area: 2,400 sq ft
- 2 small-appliance branch circuits + 1 laundry branch circuit
- Fastened-in-place appliances: dishwasher (1,200 W), garbage disposal (800 W), water heater (4,500 W)
- Electric range: 8,000 W nameplate
- Electric clothes dryer (not on the laundry circuit): 5,000 W nameplate
- Central air conditioning: 4,000 W nameplate
- Electric space heating: 2 separately controlled units, 10,000 W total nameplate
- No EVSE installed
Explain what method is used via the NEC 2026, and calculate what the total calculated load for this dwelling is, in volt-amperes. Show work in the comments.
💬 Comment your answer and identify the NEC sections you used.
⚡ 2026 NEC
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B is the answer via 2026 NEC, coming to this conclusion by following 120.82 through (A) to (C) excluding the EVSE, we list out the math needed for our general load, then we did the heating and air condition load, this became a crucial part of the math problem because if you missed the demand factor calculation step (such as 65 percent from bulletin 4 on 120.82(C)) it can change your output quite a lot and make you think you were wrong when really you just missed a step, its all about reading all the steps. taking both totals and tallying them together results in the answer of 22,820, for my heating and air load i had 6500VA for out 10kva space heating units and those were easy to figure out since they are quiet a lot larger than the air cooling, so that math should have been easy if I just read more.