Quick Hits

EPISODE 13 — 265.20

Overcurrent Protection

SLIDE 1 — 265.20

OVERCURRENT PROTECTION

Article 265 now brings together branch-circuit conductor and equipment protection requirements.

The OCPD must comply with:

265.20(A)
265.20(B)
265.20(C)

SLIDE 2 — 265.20(A)

SIMULTANEOUS LOADS

The OCPD rating or setting must not be less than:

100% OF THE SUM OF ALL LOADS

that will operate simultaneously on the branch circuit.

Notice something interesting?

265.19(A) used 125% for conductor ampacity.

265.20(A) says 100% for the OCPD minimum rating/setting.

SLIDE 3 — COMPARE THEM

265.19(A)

Conductor ampacity:

125% × designed potential load

265.20(A)

OCPD:

≥ 100% × simultaneous loads

Different requirements.

Different questions.

Don't automatically apply one rule to the other.

SLIDE 4 — REVIEW ⚡

A branch circuit has 80A of simultaneous load.

Under 265.20(A), the OCPD rating/setting cannot be less than:

A. 60A

B. 80A

C. 100A

D. 125A

ANSWER: B — 80A

⚡ FOLLOW FOR MORE DAILY QUICK HIT STUDY NOTES

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