Quick Hits

🎬 NEC 2026 ARTICLE 120 SERIES
PART 6 OF 30 — NEC 120.7(C)(1) | PCS MONITORING ONLY CONTROLLED LOADS

NEC 120.7(C)(1) EXPLAINED ⚡
WHEN A PCS CONTROLS ONLY ITS LOADS
joshthesparky4 · Josh The Sparky

⚡ OPENING HOOK

When a PCS only monitors what it controls...

The calculation changes. ⚠️

🧠 CORE IDEA

⚡ NEC 120.7(C)(1) allows a different load calculation method when a Power Control System (PCS) monitors ONLY the controlled loads within its system.

Instead of adding all connected loads together...

⚡ The PCS control setting is used.

This reflects how the system will actually operate in real time.

⚡ CODE CONNECTION

When conditions are met:

✅ The PCS monitors only controlled loads
✅ No uncontrolled loads are included in that system

Then:

⚡ The PCS control setting replaces total connected load in calculations

Because the system will automatically limit demand before overload occurs.

📌 REAL-WORLD EXAMPLE

🔌 EV Charger #1 = 40A
🔌 EV Charger #2 = 40A
🔌 EV Charger #3 = 40A

⚡ Total connected load = 120A

But the PCS limits operation to:

⚡ 80A maximum control setting

📌 For calculations:
➡️ Use 80A
❌ Not 120A

Because the PCS will never allow the system to exceed that value.

📌 CORE TAKEAWAY

⚡ PCS-controlled systems can replace connected load with control settings.

⚡ This only applies when ALL monitored loads are controlled.

⚡ The system’s actual limit becomes the design value.

⚡ FINAL LINE

You don’t calculate what’s connected...

You calculate what’s allowed to run. ⚡

#NEC120 #Article120 #PCS #PowerControlSystem #LoadCalculations #Electrician #ElectricalCode #CodeStudy #ElectricianLife #NEC2026