2020 National Electrical Code

Bathroom Branch Circuits in the 2020 NEC

Bathroom branch circuit requirements have changed for the 2020 Code cycle. The one 20-amp branch circuit traditionally required by NEC Section 210.11(C)(3) to feed only receptacles in dwelling unit bathroom(s) is now restricted to feeding only countertop receptacles in those same bathroom(s).

The receptacles permitted on this newly defined branch circuit include any countertop receptacles required to be within 3 feet of the bathroom’s sink basin and any other receptacle(s) installed to serve countertops or similar work surfaces in these bathroom(s).

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Bathroom Branch Circuits in the 2020 NEC

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Affordable Residential Generator Installation

The need for a residential backup generator can vary in different areas of the country. The generator size and installation technique can also vary depending on your level of needed convenience and budget. Let’s take a look at a few different generator installation packages so you can decide what could be the best option for you and your family.

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National Electrical Code Articles 701 and 702 Legally Required and Optional Standby Systems

Chapter 7 of the 2020 National Electrical Code (NEC), also known as NFPA 70, covers special conditions and their specific requirements. These requirements modify the general requirements found in Chapters 1-4. Article 700 covers emergency systems, such as hospitals or similar settings where a power outage would put lives in jeopardy. Article 701 covers legally required standby systems and Article 702 covers optional standby systems.

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Kitchen Island, Peninsular-Countertop, and Work Surface Receptacle Requirements

The 2020 National Electrical Code (NEC) has ushered in a brand-new method for determining the number of receptacle outlets required to serve island countertops; peninsular countertops; and work surfaces located in kitchens, pantries, breakfast rooms, dining rooms, and similar areas of a dwelling unit.

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Splicing NM Cable in Walls and Other Concealed Spaces

If you are an electrical contractor that has ever wired a room addition, you will likely be familiar with this process.
Before ever attempting to provide an estimate, you must first determine how to get power from the home’s existing breaker panel to the new lighting and receptacle outlets in the addition. Bidding the individual outlets for the new addition is relatively easy, but bidding power to feed them can take some investigation and imagination.

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Receptacle Outlet Requirements for Balconies, Decks, & Porches. 2020 NEC 210.52(E)(3)

The 2020 Code Making Panel (CMP) has revised the 2017 NEC rules regarding receptacles serving dwelling unit balconies, decks, and porches – specifically, the requirement that an accessible outdoor receptacle must be installed to serve attached balconies, decks, and porches. The revised Code now requires that a receptacle be installed to serve the balcony, deck, or porch when the balcony, deck, or porch is within 4 inches of the dwelling unit. If the balcony, deck, or porch is within 4 inches of the dwelling, the 2020 NEC considers that close enough so that it now requires a general use 120-volt receptacle.

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How to Find Your Next Electrical Lead Man

In the electrical industry we sometimes see the term “lead man”. This “leader of men”, or foreman, is the key to a successful project and a successful company. This person can be the most difficult employee to find and the most important person in the field. Today’s company must be prepared and knowledgeable about the foreman hiring processes in order to capitalize on today’s booming electrical industry. Let’s look at how to find your next lead man – your foreman.

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Derating Current-Carrying Conductors for Conditions of Use

If you ask a seasoned electrician how many No. 12 AWG conductors will fit into a 3/4″ EMT conduit system, you may get a response such as “one more!” While this is amusing (and typically true), there are precautions that must be taken according to the NEC whenever conductors are bundled together in a raceway, cable, or even in a ditch in the earth.

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Should I Stay or Should I Go? – Navigating Your Electrical Career

In today’s electrical construction industry there are so many opportunities available. It is fairly easy to leave a company today and start with a new company tomorrow. A couple of generations ago it was quite common to stay with an employer for a long time and sometimes even your entire career. Depending on your career goals it might be in your best interest to stay or maybe you should go? Let us take a look at a couple examples and you be the judge.

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The Grounded Conductor – New Informational Note Article 100 – 2020 NEC

In this 2020 Code cycle a new Informational Note now accompanies the term Grounded Conductor where it is defined in Article 100. The Note has been added to help electricians identify functional differences between Grounded and Grounding Conductors.

In defense of all who have struggled with these terms in the past, both grounded conductors and grounding conductors are in fact grounded. They just have different jobs.

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