True or False: A receptacle on a dwelling unit small-appliance branch circuit may be used to supply an electric clock.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Only in kitchens
• D. Not specified

Answer: (A)

Small-appliance branch circuits are meant to serve receptacle outlets in living areas of a dwelling, and they can supply normal plug-in loads found in those spaces. A clock that plugs into a receptacle is just another small, general-purpose device using that receptacle. There’s no NEC restriction that would prohibit powering a clock from one of these circuits, since the clock is not a fixed lighting load or a hard-wired appliance. As long as the outlet is within the areas allowed for small-appliance circuits, using it to run an electric clock is permitted.