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#76996 04/10/01 10:57 PM
Joined: Oct 2000
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What is the minimum # of circuits that a single family Home must have and what are they? Talking about circuits that are required by the NEC.

Bill


Bill
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#76997 04/11/01 12:29 AM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 2,725
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Broom Pusher and
Member
I seem to remember this being done somewhere before - but I'll take a shot at it! [Linked Image]

Minimum 2 small appliance circuits,
Minimum 1 Laundry circuit,
Minimum 1 Dedicated Bathroom circuit,
At least 1 Lighting circuit,
At least 1 Receptacle circuit.

So I would say - No less than 6 circuits for bare bones minimum.
I would wonder if the smoke detectors need a dedicated circuit, plus the bedroom[s] circuit would need to dedicated when the AFCIs come into effect in 2002 NEC.

Other things would be Washer / Dryers, Disposal / Dishwashers, Instahots, garage door openers, yadda - yadda - yadda - but at least the min. 6 [for a small 400 sq. ft house, maybe?? [Linked Image]].

As always - I must include this disclaimer!!
I really am unsure to Residential codes over the US, let alone what's going on locally - due to limited involvement in Residential installations. Others more involved can explain details more correctly.

Reading the above disclaimer removes all liability from me, and allows me to track your credit card usage on-line and run it up for my personal use without fear of prosecution. Also, I am allowed to sell your user profile to hundreds of Advertisers for large profits to me, and endless bombardment of junk E-Mail from Spambots to you, without possibility of any legal suits made on me.

[now that's a real dumb joke [Linked Image]...]

Scott SET


Scott " 35 " Thompson
Just Say NO To Green Eggs And Ham!
#76998 04/11/01 05:29 AM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,393
S
Member
does lighting and receptacle need to be separate?....220-3(b)(10), i think 3 watts per sq covers all...

i guess i'm bidding against ya Scott!

[Linked Image]

#76999 04/11/01 07:15 AM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,145
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Scott,

Yes, It's been done before and I wasn't satisfied with the results. So I thought I'd bring it up again.

The outcome of that thread (according to others) was that the following were Required by code and nothing else.

OK >> Minimum 2 sm appliance cir, (Kitchen)
OK >> Minimum 1 Laundry circuit,
OK >> Minimum 1 Dedicated Bathroom circuit,

Total of 4

Comments?


Bill
#77000 04/11/01 09:53 AM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,148
R
Member
Bill,
210-52(a)(1) will require at least one more circuit as the receptacles required by this section can not be connected to any of the circuits in your list.
Don(resqcapt19)


Don(resqcapt19)
#77001 04/11/01 05:21 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,044
Tom Offline
Member
Take a look at Appendix D, example 1 "Minimum # of branch circuits required" covers things quite well. Note that the minimum number of general purpose circuits for lighting loads (this includes most receptacles) works out to one 15 amp circuit for every 600 square feet or one 20 amp circuit for every 800 square feet.

Tom


Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example.
#77002 04/11/01 09:38 PM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,148
R
Member
Tom,
An appendix is not a code rule. Where in the code does it say that we must provide those circuits?
Don(resqcapt19)


Don(resqcapt19)
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#77003 04/12/01 05:56 AM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,393
S
Member
the appendix(B) does start off stating it is purley informational.
so why would it give you bad info?
[Linked Image]
given the provisions of 220-3(b)(10)

#77004 04/12/01 09:52 AM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,148
R
Member
Sparky,
The question is the minimum number of circuits and still meet the code. You don't find code rules in the appendix. The calculations in 220 tell me how to size the service, but do not tell me how many circuits I must provide. 220 also tells me how to calculate the branch circuit load but does not tell me that I must install those circuits. Should any one ever build a house and use only 5 circuits??, of course not, but I think that the code would permit it.
Don(resqcapt19)
Don(resqcapt19)


Don(resqcapt19)
#77005 04/12/01 01:09 PM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,145
Likes: 4
Member
Well,

This is quite a different response than the last time this was discussed. My opinion was expressed exactly by Don:
Quote
210-52(a)(1) will require at least one more circuit as the receptacles required by this section can not be connected to any of the circuits in your list.
Don(resqcapt19)

I was looking for the other thread but couldn't find it. There seemed to be several people insisting that there were no requirements in the code for this. I couldn't convince them otherwise. I'm glad to see that the people here have what it takes to see past the words (or lack of them) and see the overall 'Big Picture'

In other words, It does not say anywhere in the code (I think) that a General purpose lighting circuit is required. It does say that Lighting and certain outlets are required by code, and as Don pointed out,( [Linked Image] ) these cannot go on any of the other circuits.

[Linked Image] [Linked Image]
Bill


Bill
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