Generate a load center from your floor plan

What the generator reads from your plan

Each room’s type and square footage, and every device placed in it. Room types decide which required circuits apply and which protection each breaker needs; square footage sizes the general-purpose circuits; devices decide which appliances get a dedicated circuit.

A room without an area is flagged: Planelico can assume a size to propose a layout, but the plan is not considered complete until the real area is entered.

General-purpose circuits, with lighting

Bedrooms, living areas and hallways are grouped onto 20 A circuits in 12 AWG by default, or 15 A in 14 AWG if you prefer. The NEC does not cap the number of receptacles or the floor area per circuit; Planelico uses a design guide of about 800 sq ft per 20 A circuit (600 sq ft at 15 A), derived from the 3 VA per square foot general lighting load, and shows it as a guide, not a code limit.

Following common US practice, the lighting of a room joins the general-purpose circuit that serves its receptacles. You can switch this off to keep lighting on separate circuits.

Required circuits stay separate

The kitchen, dining room and pantry receptacles go on at least two 20 A small-appliance circuits. Laundry, bathroom and garage receptacles each get their own 20 A circuit, with nothing else on it. Lighting is never added to these circuits: in those rooms it stays on a lighting circuit.

Dedicated appliance circuits in AWG

Fixed appliances get their own circuit, sized with US breakers and NM-B copper at the 60 °C rating:

• Range or cooktop: 240 V, 40 A in 8 AWG (assuming 8.75 kW or more — confirm with the nameplate).
• Dryer: 240 V, 30 A in 10 AWG.
• Water heater: 240 V, 30 A in 10 AWG for a typical 4.5 kW unit.
• EV charger: 240 V, breaker at 125 % of the charging current (40 A for 7.4 kW).
• Dishwasher, refrigerator, microwave: 120 V, 20 A in 12 AWG.

One breaker, one protection

A load center has no row of residual-current devices: each breaker carries its own protection. Planelico assigns GFCI to bathroom, garage and outdoor receptacle circuits, AFCI to bedroom and living-area circuits, and dual function where both apply, such as the kitchen and laundry. 240 V breakers take two spaces, and the panel size is chosen to keep about 20 % spare spaces.

The protection is placed at the breaker by design choice; the NEC also allows GFCI receptacles and some combinations of devices.

What you can export

The panel design pack lists every breaker with its spaces, rating, voltage, wire size and protection — the panel directory required by NEC 408.4 — followed by the circuit schedule and numbered points to check. Download the example generated from a typical 3-bed ranch house below.

Quick method with Planelico

1. 1

   Draw and qualify the rooms

   Room type and square footage for each space.

2. 2

   Place devices and appliances

   Receptacles, lighting, switches, range, dryer, water heater, EV charger.

3. 3

   Open the electrical panel window

   Choose 15 A or 20 A general-purpose circuits and the strategy.

4. 4

   Review the proposal

   Check the circuits, the breaker protection and the points flagged.

5. 5

   Adjust

   Move devices between circuits; the checks update as you go.

6. 6

   Export the panel design pack

   PDF with panel directory and circuit schedule.

Frequently asked questions

Official sources

• NFPA 70, National Electrical Code (NEC)