Hi folks,

I've done quite a bit of searching and haven't quite found the exact answer I'm looking for (with all these loads). I'm planning electrical requirements for a new kitchen and, as it stands, here's my plan. Can someone please validate or make suggestions?

(1) 15 amp for refrigerator.
(2) 20 amp for counter-top appliances w/ GFI breaker.
(1) 15 amp for all lighting, vent hood and ceiling fan. There will be perimeter, task at a peninsula and under-cabinet lighting (all LED). Not designed yet but the hood may have a separate task light for the range. Also, the sink may have a couple of separate work lights directly over it. Again, all lights will be LED.
(1) 20 amp for built-in microwave.
(1) 20 amp for dishwasher & disposal.
(1) 20 amp for sink point-of-use water heater.

How it all look?
Thanks!
Biederboat

 

Sounds good.

The GFI protection does not need to be from a breaker. The GFI receptacle can be used at a considerable difference in price and if it were to trip easier to reset instead of running to the panel.

Do you have a stove or oven?

 

Thanks, it will be a "range" (stove top and oven combined). We're not certain whether or not it will be gas or electrical (induction elements) so I'm going to run both for flexibility. We're also not certain of the location of the microwave yet.

Is there any advantage to having the GFI either in the breaker or at the outlet?

Biederboat

 

As previously written by PCBoss price and convenience. You only need one GFCI receptacle per circuit. It protects the rest when you daisy chain off the load side.

 

Personally, I like GFI receptacles. It's easy to test them occasionally (once a month) and if one does trip, you see it and can reset it right there.

Also, most point of use water heaters (the ones that provide near-boiling water from a separate tap) are around 6-7A. So you can easily use a 15A circuit if desired.

 

Thanks Ray, I had the volume turned down on my keyboard. Grin.

 

Having two small appliance branch circuits (SABC) is the minimum; I strongly advise that you have at least three such circuits. Maximum distance between counter top receptacles is four feet.

You do not want to have ALL your lighting on one circuit. If that circuit were to trip the circuit breaker for any reason it would leave you in the dark.

Refrigerator can use a receptacle on one of the SABCs. I have NEVER had a problem with a refrigerator plugged into a GFCI circuit. A gas range may also use the SABC for ignition and accessory power.

If your "point-of-use" water heater is a hot water dispenser I strongly urge you to incorporate a switch with a pilot lamp in this circuit. It is wasteful to leave such a heater connected 24/7 on the off chance that you want a cup of tea or cocoa at 3 AM.

 

I like to wire first to the refrigerator off one SABC circuit and first to the controls for gas cooking appliances off a second SABC circuit, if the GFCI protection will be in the first countertop receptacle in each set.

If you choose an all-gas range, you will need a 120V outlet for the controls. If you choose an all-electric or dual-fuel range, you will only need a 240V outlet - the 120V for the controls will come from one of the hot legs plus neutral.

 

Just to be different, I think that two 20 amp appliance circuits are more than adequate. How often are you going to be running that much of a load. One GFI per ckt is enough.

I would not plug a refrigerator into a GFI. My refrigerator runs off a dedicated 20 amp non GFI circuit. That's based solely on an incident where a GFI feeding a sump pump popped and I got back from vacation facing a basement that had been flooded for several days. I will never trust a GFI in a critical curcuit again.

I use spots in a pot light as task lighting over the sink.

 

Thanks a bunch everyone. Sorry I didn't catch the detail about the GFI receptacle earlier, my bad and I will use as recommended. I do think I'll stick w/ just the 2 20-amp give the microwave will have it's own circuit. I'll also look into another circuit for the lighting (2 separate ones) but I am starting to run out of room on the panel.

The circuit for the fridge is already in and pretty much not going anywhere else. I did forget about the controls circuit for a gas range, should/could this be a dedicated 15 amp? I would think it's a small load.

Thanks again,
BB

 

Does your panel accept tandem breakers? If so, how many of those do you have now?

A subpanel is also an option.

 

Thanks again, sorry for not catching all of this the first time, I promise I'm usually more thorough in reading post replies!

BB

 

The 20 amp small appliance circuit can serve the gas stove receptacle.