Just a few 2002 NEC Code questions on new residential construction:

1. What single electrical devices are required to have its own dedicated circuit (e.g., refrigerator, stove, etc.).

2. What single electrical devices do you recommend having its own dedicated circuit, from a practicality point of view?

3. Please point me to the relevant sections of the NEC code for the above; I cannot find them!!

4. Does it change the situation if the construction is for apartments, as opposed to house residence?

Thanks in advance,
Ed

 

Ed,
Did you get an apprenticeship?It sounds like you are fishing for homework answers.

 

(1) No appliance that I can think of is specifically required to have its own circuit. However, branch circuit requirements dictate that some things are going to need their own circuit by virtue or how much power they consume. No one thing cord-and-plug appliance is allowed to consume more than 80% of a circuit capacity, and no one fastened-in-place appliance is allowed to consume more than half when other equipment is on the same circuit.

Certainly most 240-volt loads are on their own circuits: clothes dryers, oven, cooktop, hot tub, etc. It is normally necessary to have just one of these on a circuit in order to comply with manufacturer instructions, and the NEC requires you to follow manufacturer directions.

(2) There are a lot of things that do not specifically require their own circuit, but it is a good idea to give them their own circuit. This includes the refrigerator, but that is often placed on one of the small appliance circuits. Dishwasher and disposals are often placed on the same circuit, but I prefer to give each their own circuit anyway. I would also dedicate a circuit to any other large power user (e.g., window air conditioner, washing machine, jacuzzi, freezer).

(3) Read article 210. It contains tons of very useful information.

(4) Not much.

 

TEXSPARKY--

I wish I were so fortunate to get an apprenticeship as a 2nd career. I do not have an apprenticeship (but I do enjoy fishing on Long Island Sound).

The question does stem from home-work: I'm helping an electrician on this bathroom where we could supply a light-fan via wall swithch from a washing machine, which is 4' away. Or, we could open up the ceiling, drill through rafters and source it thereby--much more work. So I searched the NEC Handbook and this forum, without finding the answer as to whether the washing machine must be on a dedicated circuit. Also, in redoing my own kitchen & bathroom I was told Code requires various electrical devices must be on their own dedicated circuit, again not able to where in the NEC book.

Well, now I'm going to look at the washing machine rating and that plus the fan-light combo better not be over 16 amps (breaker's rated at 20 amps) to take the shorter route...and have a full cup of expresso to read section 210.

Thanks John. The answers sound very logical!
Ed

 

EDTA,
I'll bet the fishing is more akin to ice fishing now(temperature wise anyway).I beleive I'd have to stay in next to the fireplace.
Anyhoo..Look at 2002 art.210.11(C)(2) It will not allow the laundry circuit to serve any other outlets.

 

Hey,
Check out this site www.codecheck.com

 

As you now see, you asked the wrong question. As tex says, the washing machine does not need to be on its own circuit, but then again, you cannot feed the bathroom light/fan from the same circuit. We give much more applicable advice with a question specific to the situation than a general question.

 

Art. 210.11,(C), Dwelling Units----(2),Laundry Circuits--"One 20 amp circuit shall supply the laundry receptacle outlets(s).This circuit shall have no other outlets."-----(3),Bathroom branch-circuits----"at least one 20 amp branch-circuit shall supply the bathroom receptacle outlet(s).Such circuits shall have no other outlets" EXCEPTION-----"Where a 20 amp circuit supplies a SINGLE bathroom,outlets within the SAME BATHROOM shall be permitted to be supplied----"-----Refer to Art 210.52 for required receptacle outlets and required small-appliance branch-circuits in dwelling units.Refer to Art 210.8 (A) for required GFI protection for receptacle outlets in dwelling units.

 

Is there any way to know how long ago the above code took effect? My 30 year old house has six receps (including one each for washer & gas dryer), and three fluorescent lights on the same 15-amp "laundry" circuit.

 

If anyone has there old code books they can research it back to when it applied the first
time, I don't, Sorry.
The code book is revamped every three years, and each time it could include over a
thousand changes. After it is changed then the states that recognize it will adopt it as law.