The widespread adoption of LED lighting has revolutionized how we illuminate our homes, offering energy efficiency and versatility.
When planning an LED lighting project, one crucial consideration is determining how many LED lights you can safely connect to a single circuit.
The answer to this question depends on several factors, including the LED lights’ wattage, the circuit’s capacity, and local electrical codes.
A circuit should never be loaded to more than 80% of its rating. Following the 80% rule (remember that it is a rule and a code), you can load 12 amps onto a 15 amp breaker.
The user can operate more LED bulbs on the same circuit than incandescent bulbs. Still, it’s essential to calculate how many LEDs the user can actually power using a 15 Amp circuit, for example.
Little Bit of Math
A particular safety margin is built into electric circuits; for instance, circuits designed for 15 Amps can withstand even more current, but 15 Amp electric breakers limit the actual current through such circuits.
So, to avoid tripping such electric breakers, an “80% Rule” is applied – instead of 15 Amps, we will do the calculation for 12 Amps:
15 Amps * 0.8 = 12 Amps
If the line voltage is 120 volts, that means that such a circuit can constantly provide 1440W:
P(W) = U(V) I(A) = 120V 12A = 1440 Watts
If we are going to connect only 100W incandescent light bulbs, that means that we can add “only” 14 of them:
1440W / 100W = 14.4
(Of course, 14.4 light bulbs are rounded to 14 light bulbs.)
On average, an LED light bulb with a similar light strength (given in lumens) requires ~14W.
Thus, to calculate how many 14W LED light bulbs we can run on a 1440W line, we write:
1440W / 14W = 102.86
Thus, a 120V 15A circuit can support up to 102 14W LED light bulbs, which are more than 7x more for the same power consumption.
One shouldn’t run so many light bulbs at home, but replacing incandescent bulbs with LEDs can save a lot of energy.
How Many LED Lights Can Go On A 15 Amp Breaker?
In most cases, you need to provide 1.5 amps of power to a bulb or outlet. Considering this, a 15-amp circuit can theoretically accommodate 10 lights and outlets; however, it isn’t always the case.
Many believe a circuit can only support a certain number of lights.
The truth is, though, that isn’t always the case. In that case, how many LED lights would there be on a 15-amp circuit? It will still work if you put more lights on a circuit than usual.
In the case that no other electrical equipment is connected to the circuit, you can use up to 1440 watts (allowing for a small amount of movement in case of a power surge).
That’s enough for fourteen 100-watt lights or twenty-two 65-watt lights.
Amount of LED Lights
If the lights are connected to a 15-amp circuit simultaneously as other items on the circuit, the number of LED lights that can be connected depends on the lamp’s wattage.
When you connect LED lights to a 15-amp circuit, be sure you do not exceed the maximum power of the circuit due to their low power consumption. Using a single circuit, you should be able to connect several lights.
If you Plug Too Much into a Circuit
A circuit might overload if you connect more bulbs and devices than the manufacturer recommends.
All appliances connected to the circuit will automatically turn off and stop. This could result in a fire, explosion, or even an overheating circuit in the wrong hands.
Overload
You must compare the ratings of the receptacles you intend to connect to a circuit with the circuit’s rating. It appears that you have a circuit of 15 amps in this situation. Average bulbs and outlets need 1.5 amps of power.
If this is kept in mind, a 15-amp circuit can theoretically handle up to 10 lights and outlets; however, this isn’t always the case.
Regulations
Neither the NEC (National Electrical Code) nor the International Electrical Code specify how many outlets and lights you can add to a 15 amp circuit.
Regarding lights and outlets, it is your decision how many you wish to install. Alternatively, your municipal government may have implemented laws in this regard. Make sure you double-check with them before you begin.
Max Wattage
Before the breaker trips, the maximum load is either (15A x 120V =) 1800 watts or (20A x 120V =) 2400 watts. The circuit breaker will be designated 15 or 20.
Mathematically How Many LED Lights on a 15 Amp Circuit
A typical LED light uses less than 10 watts of power, as can be seen. It’s approximately the same as a current of one-twelfth of an amp. Hence,
12 bulbs = 1 amp
180 bulbs = 15 amp
So, based on a rough calculation, a 15 amp circuit may safely sustain up to 180 LED bulbs, which can be increased with additional research.
Comparison With Other Bulbs on a 15 Amps Circuit
How can we fit approximately 180 LED bulbs into a circuit with just 30 traditional bulbs of the same luminosity? I’ve made a comparison below.
Efficiency
LEDs are up to 80% more energy efficient than fluorescent and incandescent bulbs.
Energy waste
In contrast, 95% of total energy is converted into light, while only 5% is converted into heat. The reduction of power plant demand from LEDs also reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
Mixing 12 and 14-gauge wire
An integrated 15A breaker will protect both 14 and 12 gauges if mixed with each other.
It appears that a 15A overcurrent device will protect 14GA, while a 20A overcurrent device will protect 12GA. With 15 amp breakers, 14 and 12 volts are OK, but only one can be used at a time.
Amperage
Current or amperage describes the amount of electrical energy flowing through a light fixture at any time. A transparent marking on each fixture will indicate how many amps are present.
Electrical Wire
Electrical wiring transports power from the circuit breaker to outlets or appliances.
Isolators are made from metals, typically copper, that conduct electricity easily. A different type of wire is designed to support another kind of load.
Last Words
Lights can be connected to an unlimited number of circuits on a 15-amp circuit. When it comes to outlets, you are free to add as many as you want.
However, you have to ensure that the appliances you’ve connected won’t consume excessive power. Always keep the National Electrical Code (NEC) along with local standards and regulations in mind.
