What is the VA per laundry branch circuit in dwelling unit load calculations?

What is the VA per laundry branch circuit in dwelling unit load calculations?

• A. 1000
• B. 1500
• C. 2000
• D. 2500

Answer: (B)

The main idea is that a laundry branch circuit contributes a fixed, standardized load to dwelling unit calculations. For each laundry receptacle circuit, you add 1500 VA to the service/load calculation. This standard value is used to reflect typical laundry demand (washers, related outlets, and usage patterns) in a conservative, predictable way, regardless of the actual wattage of the specific appliances. So, if you have one laundry receptacle circuit, you include 1500 VA in the calculation. If there are two separate laundry circuits, you add 1500 VA for each, totaling 3000 VA, and so on. At 120 V, 1500 VA corresponds to about 12.5 A, which is why a 20 A branch circuit is commonly used for laundry outlets—the calculation uses 1500 VA for sizing the service, while the actual circuit rating remains higher to handle peak demand. That’s why 1500 VA per laundry branch circuit is the correct standard value.

The main idea is that a laundry branch circuit contributes a fixed, standardized load to dwelling unit calculations. For each laundry receptacle circuit, you add 1500 VA to the service/load calculation. This standard value is used to reflect typical laundry demand (washers, related outlets, and usage patterns) in a conservative, predictable way, regardless of the actual wattage of the specific appliances.

So, if you have one laundry receptacle circuit, you include 1500 VA in the calculation. If there are two separate laundry circuits, you add 1500 VA for each, totaling 3000 VA, and so on.

At 120 V, 1500 VA corresponds to about 12.5 A, which is why a 20 A branch circuit is commonly used for laundry outlets—the calculation uses 1500 VA for sizing the service, while the actual circuit rating remains higher to handle peak demand.

That’s why 1500 VA per laundry branch circuit is the correct standard value.