FAQ
28
Material taken from the National Electric Code
®
 is reprinted with permission 
from NFPA 70
®
, 2023 edition. National Electrical Code
®
, Copyright 2022, 
National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA. All rights reserved.
NEC
®
 Text 
There are additional places in the 2023 NEC where 10 
Amp circuits and aluminum wire are added, however due 
to space limitations in this guide we only cover these. 
We think that this is adequate to convey the intent.
Change Summary 
• The NEC is introducing text to recognize 10 Amp   
  circuits with limitations.
  Article 210 Branch Circuits Not Over 1000 Volts ac,   
  1500 Volts dc, Nominal
210.23 Permissible Loads, Multiple-Outlet Branch 
Circuits. In no case shall the load exceed the branch-circuit 
ampere rating. A branch circuit supplying two or more 
outlets or receptacles shall supply only the loads specied 
according to its size in accordance with 210.23(A) through 
(E) and as summarized in 210.24.
(A) 10-Ampere Branch Circuits. A 10-ampere branch 
circuit shall comply with the requirements of 210.23(A)(1) 
and (A)(2).
(1) Loads Permitted for 10-Ampere Branch Circuits.
A 10-ampere branch circuit shall be permitted to supply one 
or more of the following:
(1) Lighting outlets
(2) Dwelling unit exhaust fans on bathroom or laundry room 
lighting circuits
(3) A gas replace unit supplied by an individual branch 
circuit
(2) Loads Not Permitted for 10-Ampere Branch Circuits. 
A 10-ampere branch circuit shall not supply any of the 
following:
(1) Receptacle outlets
(2) Fixed appliances, except as permitted for individual 
branch circuits
(3) Garage door openers
(4) Laundry equipment
210.24 Branch-Circuit Requirements — Summary. 
The requirements for circuits that have two or more outlets 
or receptacles, other than the receptacle circuits of 210.11(C)
(1), (C)(2), and (C)(3), are summarized in Table 210.24(1) 
for copper conductors and Table 210.24(2) for aluminum 
and copper-clad aluminum conductors. Table 210.24(1) 
and Table 210.24(2) provide only a summary of minimum 
requirements. See 210.19, 210.20, and 210.21 for the 
specic requirements applying to branch circuits.
Article 240 Overcurrent Protection
240.4 Protection of Conductors.
(D) Small Conductors. Unless specically permitted in 
240.4(E) or (G), the overcurrent protection shall not exceed 
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