Practice question · NEC Table 220.55

What Is the Demand Load of a 12 kW Electric Range?

By Mason Garry, Master Electrician · October 5, 2026 · 2 min read

Answer: C) 8 kW.

Where to Find It

Open your Code book to Table 220.55. One household range, 12 kW nameplate — read across Column C: 8 kW demand. Tab this table; it shows up constantly.

Why 8 kW

A range doesn't draw its nameplate rating continuously — the elements cycle on and off as the oven holds temperature. The Code recognizes that reality and lets you demand-factor a single 12 kW range down to 8 kW. The exam isn't testing whether you can read “12 kW” off the nameplate; it's testing whether you know the demand rules exist.

The Trap

Choice A (12 kW) is the nameplate staring you in the face. Every apprentice's first instinct is to circle it and move on. But the question asks for demand load, not connected load — and demand load always runs through Table 220.55 first.

Exam Tip

Whenever a service or feeder calculation includes a household range, your first move is Table 220.55, not the nameplate. Burn this one in: one 12 kW range always demands 8.

Keep Drilling

This is one of 33 NEC topics. Sparky's 1,087 codebook-first questions drill all of them — every question a lookup rep with your book open, 15 minutes a day.