ECN Forum Forums Code Related Discussion NEC & other Code issues branch circut

thanks for the input guys i talked home owner into running a home run for that an a freezer in the garage hahaha


thanks again
Charlie

" The draw of the vac and the staring current of the fridge could possibly trip the breaker."
Ian

While I am a strong advocate of a dedicated refrigerator circuit I think it unlikely a vac & frig (startup current for each) would trip even a 15A breaker [and we are talking about a 20A breaker in this scenario].

I say this because this is an issue of 'overload' current on a circuit breaker.

Overload is a time-line consideration...the greater the load, the shorter the time before the breaker opens.

However, a 15A breaker will hold 28A for several minutes without tripping. (My bathroom receptacles used to be on a 15A breaker...and would hold an 11A elect. floor heater, a 1440W hair dryer, a curling iron, a rack of curlers, a radio-clock and the bathroom lights without tripping the breaker...both my wife and I could blow-dry our hair [several minutes] and not trip the breaker....I was not aware of all these loads on the 15A circuit until my wife replaced the 1440W hair blow dryer with an 1875W blow dryer...then the circuit tripped...I now have two 20A ckts for these loads and the lights are on a 15A lighting circuit).

The point I'm getting at: a circuit breaker will carry a small overload almost indefinitely without tripping.

210.52(b)(1) Receptacle Outlets Served.
...and receptacle outlets for refrigeration equipment."

Exception NO. 2: The receptacle outlet for refrigeration equipment shall be permitted to be supplied from an INDIVIDUAL BRANCH CIRCUIT rated 15 amperes or greater.


If the refriderator you are talking about is located in the kitchen, than it receives it's supply from the Small Appliance Branch Circuit, or has to be supplied from an individual branch circuit which is defined in Art 100.
If the refriderator is not located in the kitchen, than follow the other code citations that have been posted.

Pierre

There is no requirement for a "refrigeration outlet" though, so the fridge could be plugged into a general lighting circuit.
Note it says "shall be permitted", not "shall be required".
This only says if you have a refrigeration outlet it can be 15a, not 20 like the small appliance circuit.

Not if it is in the kitchen.

Where is the requirement for the refrigeration circuit? Where is the prohibition against a general lighting circuit in the kitchen as long as it does not serve the counter top?

There is a difference between shall be permitted and shall be required isn't there?



[This message has been edited by gfretwell (edited 02-14-2005).]

Greg the general requirement is to feed the refrigeration from the small appliance branch circuit look at the last part of 210.52(B)(1).

2002 NEC

Then comes the 'shall be permitted exception'.


So the refrigerator is either on one of the small-appliance branch or it shall be on an individual branch circuit rated 15 amperes or greater.

No other options, at this point with the lower draw of refrigerators it may be overkill. IMO

Bob

Greg,
Don

Glenn, 210.52(B)(1) mandates the refrigerator be fed from one of the SA branch circuits unless a dedicated circuit is supplied per exception # 2.

Roger

All at once now

Roger