ICC Residential Electrical Inspectors Practice Exam

What is the maximum load permitted for a 240 volt branch circuit rated at 30 amperes?

1. 4800 VA

2. 5760 VA

3. 7200 VA

4. 8000 VA

The correct answer is: 5760 VA

To determine the maximum load permitted for a 240-volt branch circuit rated at 30 amperes, you use the formula for calculating power in volt-amperes (VA), which is given by the equation: Power (VA) = Voltage (V) × Current (A). In this case, the voltage is 240 volts and the current is 30 amperes. Plugging in these values gives us: Power (VA) = 240 V × 30 A = 7200 VA. This figure represents the maximum power that can safely be drawn from the circuit without risking overloading it. In residential electrical installations, it's important to adhere to the National Electrical Code (NEC) standards, which may also suggest considering a demand factor or continuous load, typically limiting the use of the circuit to 80% of its capacity if it's used for continuous loads over three hours. However, the question specifically asks for the maximum load allowed, hence calculating directly results in 7200 VA, aligning with the rated current and voltage without applying additional restrictions. Therefore, the provided answer is derived correctly from the straightforward application of power calculations and adheres to the basic principles of electrical systems.