I am doing a remodel and am thinking of adding a sub-panel for the kitchen loads (the kitchen is on the opposite side of the house from the main panel). Where would I look for info on sizing for sub-panels?

Loads on the sub-panel would be and over-the-range microwave and fan, a fridge, a dishwasher, counter plugs (total of 4), gas cooktop, and an eating area receptacle. The big load (the 240V electric oven) I was planning to leave on the main panel.

I was planning on 6 circuits on the sub-panel:

1 - dishwasher (20A)
1 - microwave (15A)
1 - fridge (15A)
1 - gas cooktop and eating area receptacle (15A)
1 - 2 of the counter receptacles (15 or 20A)
1 - the other 2 of the counter receptacles (15 or 20A)

Thanks for any info or direction that you can give me.

 

Outlets over the countertop should be 20 amp, as required by code, and GFCI protected. Other than that, what you are proposing is ok.

My preference is for any circuit that has outlets to be 20 amps, and any circuit that has no outlets and a known fixed load of less than 1440 watts can be 15 amps.

 

Most small panels, main lug are 100A anymore. That would be plenty, even fed with a 60A breaker.

 

Thanks for the quick response. I missed the 20A kitchen receptacle requirement - thanks for pointing it out. I will probably also increase the gas cooktop and eating area receptacle circuit to 20A also.

sberry27's answer makes me think that the question I was really trying to ask is:

What size should the main panel breaker for this sub-panel circuit be? 60A as mentioned? I would also be interested to know how this is determined, or direction as to where to read about it myself.

Thanks again folks, this is a fantastic resource.

 

There are formulas for doing load calcs and most of them are for whole house and I am not sure how one might do it for those circuits. I tend to use a 60 and there is a 70 by Sq D that is as cheap. About 13$ for QO, even less for Homeline. For those loads I can tell just from expeience that 60 would be plenty, remember, not all of them will run at the same time. Bigger breakers get pricey and are overkill for this type of application. http://www.homewiringandmore.com/index.html