Electrical Load Type Explanations « Knowledge Base

Electrical Load Type Explanations

Posted on March 21st, 2014. Last updated on January 24th, 2024.

This article describes the load types you can use in Design Master Electrical.

General Load Types

Load types in the General section are used when calculating panel loads using NEC 220 Part III, Feeder and Service Load Calculations.

These load types should be avoided if you are using NEC 220.82 Dwelling Unit or NEC 220.83 Existing Dwelling Unit. Use the Dwelling Unit load types described below instead.

If you are using NEC 220.84 Multifamily Dwelling, these load types are used as House Loads as described in NEC 220.84(B).

Lighting

Use this load type for light fixtures that you want the actual load to be included in the connected and calculated load totals. The calculated load for this load type is 125% of the connected load.

All light fixtures are automatically assigned this load type.

Single Motor

Use this load type for a single motor on a device. On each panel, the largest single motor will be treated as the largest motor and be calculated at 125% of the connected load. All other motors will be calculated at 100% of the connected load.

This load type is only available when configuring an equipment connection. For more information, visit the Create Equipment page of the user manual.

Largest Motor

Use this load type for the largest motor on a circuit. On each panel, the largest motor is treated as the largest motor and is calculated at 125% of the connected load. All other motors are calculated at 100% of the connected load.

This load type is only available when setting fixed loads on a circuit. For more information, visit the Set Circuit Information section of the user manual.

Multiple Motors

Use this load type to represent multiple motors on a device. This load type should be used when there are three or more motors on a device. Use the Single Motor load type for the largest motor. Use this load type for all the other motors. The calculated load for this load type is 100% of the connected load.

This load type is only available when configuring an equipment connection. For more information, visit the Create Equipment page of the user manual.

Other Motors

Use this load type to represent other motors on a circuit. This load type should be used when there is more than one motor on a circuit. Use the Largest Motor load type for the largest motor. Use this load type for all the other motors. The calculated load for this load type is 100% of the connected load.

This load type is only available when setting fixed loads on a circuit. For more information, visit the Set Circuit Information section of the user manual.

Receptacle

Use this load type for non-dwelling receptacle loads. The calculated load for this load type is based upon NEC 220.47. The first 10 kVA is calculated at 100%, and the remainder is calculated at 50%.

Manually specify a load of 0.18 kVA for receptacles that are covered by NEC 220.14(I) and 220.14(K).

Continuous

Use this load type for any continuous loads not covered by another load type. The calculated load for this load type is 125% of the connected load.

Heating

Use this load type for fixed electric space heating covered by NEC 220.51. The calculated load for this load type is 100% of the connected load.

If heating and cooling loads are included on a panel, the larger of the two values is included at 100% and the other value is not used.

Cooling

Use these load types for cooling loads. If heating and cooling loads are included on a panel, the larger of the two values is included at 100% and the other value is not used.

Cooling, Single Motor: Use this load type for cooling loads that represent a single motor on a device.

If the motor is the largest motor on a panel, it will be listed as the largest motor. The connected load for the largest motor will be equal to the connected load for the motor. The calculated load for the largest motor will be 25% of the connected load. The rest of the calculated load for the motor will be in the cooling calculated load.

This load type is only available when configuring an equipment connection. For more information, visit the Create Equipment page of the user manual.

Cooling, Largest Motor: Use this load type for cooling loads that represent the largest motor on a circuit.

This load type is only available when setting fixed loads on a circuit. For more information, visit the Set Circuit Information section of the user manual.

Cooling, Multiple Motors: Use this load type for cooling loads that represent multiple motors on a device. This load type should be used when there are three or more motors on a device. Use the Cooling, Single Motor load type for the largest cooling motor. Use this load type for all the other cooling motors. The calculated load for this load type is 100% of the connected load.

This load type is only available when configuring an equipment connection. For more information, visit the Create Equipment page of the user manual.

Cooling, Other Motors: Use this load type for cooling loads that represent multiple motors on a circuit. This load type should be used when there is more than one motor on a circuit. Use the Cooling, Largest Motor load type for the largest cooling motor. Use this load type for all the other cooling motors. The calculated load for this load type is 100% of the connected load.

This load type is only available when setting fixed loads on a circuit. For more information, visit the Set Circuit Information section of the user manual.

Heating and Cooling Motor: Use this load type for a motor that is used for heating and cooling, such as a heat pump. The motor is treated like a Single Motor or Largest Motor load type for the purpose of determining the largest motor on a panel. The load is included in both the heating and cooling loads on the panel.

Noncontinuous

Use this load type for any noncontinuous loads not covered by another load type. The calculated load for this load type is 100% of the connected load.

Kitchen

Use this load type for non-dwelling unit kitchen equipment. The calculated load is based upon NEC 220.56. Use the Multiplier field to specify the number of pieces of kitchen equipment the load represents.

Diverse

Use this load type for any loads that are not covered by any of the other load types. The calculated load for this load type is based upon the demand factor you specify for the load.

Custom Load Types

Two custom load types are provided for you to use for situations where you need an additional load type. You can control the name of the load type and the demand factor applied to it in the Circuits, Load Types, and Wire Sizes section of the Options command.

Dwelling Unit Load Types

Load types in the Dwelling Unit section are used when calculating panel loads based upon NEC 220.82 Dwelling Unit, NEC 220.83 Existing Dwelling Unit, and NEC 220.84 Multifamily Dwelling.

Small Appliance

Use this load type for small-appliance branch circuits. When you use this load type, the load on each circuit is always 1.5 kVA, regardless of the load of the devices on the circuit. We recommend setting a load of 1.5 kVA on each device, but you can choose any value you want. No matter what device load you use, the circuit load is always 1.5 kVA as required by the NEC.

For panels calculated using the general method, use this load type for NEC 220.52(A) Small-Appliance Circuit Load.

For panels calculated using an optional dwelling unit method, use this load type for NEC 220.82(B)(2), NEC 220.83(A)(2) and NEC 220.84(C)(2).

Laundry

Use this load type for laundry branch circuits. When you use this load type, the load on each circuit is at least 1.5 kVA, or the actual load of the devices, whichever is greater.

For panels calculated using the general method, use this load type for NEC 220.52(B) Laundry Circuit Load.

For panels calculated using an optional dwelling unit method, use this load type for NEC 220.82(B)(2), NEC 220.83(A)(2) and NEC 220.84(C)(2).

Appliance, Continuous

Use this load type for appliances that are fastened in place. The circuit breaker will be sized based upon 125% of the continuous load.

For panels calculated using the general method, use this load type for NEC 220.53 Appliance Load – Dwelling Unit(s). Use the Multiplier field to specify the number of pieces of appliances the load represents.

For panels calculated using an optional dwelling unit method, use this load type for NEC 220.82(B)(3)a and d, NEC 220.83(A)(3)a and d, and NEC 220.84(C)(3)a and d.

Appliance, Noncontinuous

Use this load type for appliances that are fastened in place. The circuit breaker will be sized based upon 100% of the noncontinuous load.

For panels calculated using an optional dwelling unit method, use this load type for NEC 220.82(B)(3)a and d, NEC 220.83(A)(3)a and d, and NEC 220.84(C)(3)a and d.

Appliance Motor

Use this load type for appliances that are fastened in place that are also motors. The motor is treated like a Single Motor or Largest Motor load type for the purpose of determining the largest motor on a panel.

For panels calculated using the general method, use this load type for NEC 220.53 Appliance Load – Dwelling Unit(s).

For panels calculated using an optional dwelling unit method, use this load type for NEC 220.82(B)(3)a and d, NEC 220.82(B)(4), NEC 220.83(A)(3)a and d, NEC 220.84(C)(3)a and d, and NEC 220.84(C)(4).

Electric Dryer

Use this load type for electric clothes dryers in a dwelling unit.

For panels calculated using the general method, use this load type for NEC 220.54 Electric Clothes Dryers – Dwelling Unit(s). Use the Multiplier field to specify the number of dryers the load represents. The minimum load of 5 kVA will be used if the load on the device is less than that.

For panels calculated using an optional dwelling unit method, use this load type for NEC 220.82(B)(3)c, NEC 220.83(A)(3)c, and NEC 220.84(C)(3)c.

Electric Cooking

Use this load type for household electric cooking appliances.

For panels calculated using the general method, use this load type for NEC 220.55 Electric Cooking Appliances in Dwelling Units and Household Cooking Appliances Used in Instructional Programs. Use the Multiplier field to specify the number of appliances the load represents.

For panels calculated using an optional dwelling unit method, use this load type for NEC 220.82(B)(3)b, NEC 220.83(A)(3)b, and NEC 220.84(C)(3)b.

Heating

Use this load type for fixed electric space heating.

For panels calculated using the general method, use this load type for NEC 220.51. If heating and cooling loads are included on a panel, the larger of the two values is included at 100% and the other value is not used.

For NEC 220.82(C)(3), use this load type for the supplemental electric heating. The calculated load for the heating will be 65% of the connected load.

For NEC 220.82(C)(4) and (5), use this load type for the electrical space heating. Use the Multiplier field to specify the number of heaters the load represents.

For NEC 220.83(B), use this load type for the electric space heating.

For NEC 220.84(C)(5), use this load type for the fixed electric space heating.

Cooling

Use these load types for cooling loads.

For panels calculated using the general method, the type of motor will be taken into account when calculating the largest motor load. See the General Load Types, Cooling descriptions above for more information about each specific load type. If heating and cooling loads are included on a panel, the larger of the two values is included at 100% and the other value is not used.

For panels calculated using an optional dwelling unit method, use this load type for NEC 220.82(C)(1), NEC 220.83(B), and NEC 220.84(C)(5). The motor type used for the load does not matter for these calculations.

Heating and Cooling Motor

Use this load type for a motor that is used for heating and cooling, such as a heat pump. The motor is treated like a Single Motor or Largest Motor load type for the purpose of determining the largest motor on a panel. The load is included in both the heating and cooling loads on the panel.

Use this load type for NEC 220.82(C)(2) and (3), NEC 220.83(B), and NEC 220.84(C)(5).

If you are modeling a heat pump compressor will not run at the same time as supplementary heating, per NEC 220.82(C)(3), do not use this load type. Define the heat pump as a cooling load instead.

Marina / Mobile Home / RV

Use this load type when you are using one of the corresponding load calculation methods.

For the Marina load calculation method, use this load type for the load on shore power receptacles according to NEC 220.120. Use the Multiplier field to specify the number of receptacles the load represents.

For the Mobile Home Park load calculation method, use this load type for the load on mobile home lots according to NEC 550.31. Use the Multiplier field to specify the number of lots the load represents.

For the RV Park load calculation method, use this load type for the load on recreational vehicle sites according to NEC 551.73. Use the Multiplier field to specify the number of sites the load represents.

Awesome, share it: