What advantage does separating circuits for lights and receptacles provide during a power interruption?

Separating circuits for lights and receptacles offers the significant advantage of ensuring continuous operation of at least one power source during a power interruption. When circuits are divided in this manner, it minimizes the impact of an outage on different areas of a home. For instance, if a circuit dedicated to receptacles fails or trips, the lighting circuit can remain operational, allowing a space to remain illuminated even in the absence of power to plugged-in devices. This is particularly important in situations where safety is a concern, such as navigating through a home during a power failure.

This approach enhances convenience and ensures that essential functions, like lighting, remain available. In contrast, if both lights and receptacles were on the same circuit, a single fault could lead to a total loss of both light and power sources, creating a more hazardous environment during outages. Therefore, the separation of circuits is a strategic design choice in residential wiring that increases safety and functionality.