Journeyman Electrician Exam (NEC)Equipment and DevicesMedium
A residential garage requires a new 120-volt, 20-ampere branch circuit for general-purpose receptacles. According to the NEC, how many such circuits are minimally required for a one-car attached garage of a dwelling unit?
- AOne 15-ampere circuit
- BZero, if other dwelling unit circuits are extended
- CTwo 20-ampere circuits
- DOne 20-ampere circuit
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. One 20-ampere circuit
NEC 210.11(C)(4) requires that at least one 120-volt, 20-ampere branch circuit be installed to supply the receptacle outlets in attached garages and in detached garages with electric power of dwelling units. This circuit cannot supply other loads outside the garage.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. The circuit must be 20-ampere, not 15-ampere.
- B. This is incorrect; a dedicated circuit is required.
- C. While more circuits are allowed, one is the minimum required by the NEC.
Garage Receptacle Circuits (Dwelling Unit)
Dwelling unit garages (attached or detached with power) must have at least one 120-volt, 20-ampere branch circuit dedicated to supplying receptacle outlets within the garage, and it cannot supply other loads.
- NEC 210.11(C)(4) specifies this requirement.
- Minimum of one 20-ampere, 120-volt circuit.
- Circuit must be dedicated to the garage receptacles.
- Applies to attached and detached garages with power.
Memory trick: Garage needs its own strong circuit, just one for all the plugs.