ECN Forum Forums Code Related Discussion NEC & other Code issues Whats the most number of circuits you installed in a kitchen?

Whats the most number of circuits you have installed in a residential kitchen?

It depends on what you have in the kitchen. You are required to have a minimum of 2-20 amp circuits for the countertop receptacles and a standard refrigerator can be connected to one of these circuits. Microwaves and other appliance should be on their own dedicated circuits. Some areas will let you connect the disposal and dishwasher to 1-20 amp circuit but in many areas they are required to be on separate 15 amps circuits. The lighting can not be connected to any of the circuits feeding the countertop receptacles or appliances.

Do most sparkys reccomend putting the refrigerator on a seperate circuit or including it on one of the countertop circuits?

So the kitchen lights could be put on a circuit with convienence outlets, as long as it's not the two (minimum) countertop ones?

I suppose a convienence wall outlet might be next to the kitchen table where a coffee pot or something might get plugged into it, so would it be better to just keep the kitchen lights off of any circuit with a kitchen outlet? The kichen lights could be combined with lights and receptacles from an adjacent room, right?

The lighting should be connected to a general lighting circuit and may be on the same circuit with other lights and receptacles in the house. The "convenience" outlets in the dining room/breakfast nook should be connected to the 20 amp circuits feeding the countertop receptacles or be on their own dedicated 20 amp circuit but should not be connected with the lights. If the refer. is a built-in type then you need to put it on is own circuit but if it is standard unit it can be connected to one of the circuits feeding the countertop receptacles. If its easy to run a separate circuit for the refer. its definitely not a bad idea.

All the new homes I do are custom homes and I always have a minimum of (6)20A circuits in the kitchens.
(1) Fridge
(1) Microwave
(2) counter top receptacle
(1) Dishwasher/disposal
(1) Lighting
If there is a trash compactor it will be dedicated 20A as well.
I know some will say this is over-kill but that's just me.

Over kill?! You should see the way I wire.. Then again there are rather elaborate homes. In some cases if it is a gas stove it still require a 20 amp 220 circuit.. (Commercial unit in a residence.)

12 - 110/120 20amp
2 - 220/240

2 - Counter Tops
1 - Range Hood
1 - Heat Lamps
1 - Microwave
1 - Refrigerator
2 - Electric Range (220) Counts as 2?
2 - Electric Wall Oven (220)
1 - Lighting Circuit
1 - Ceiling Fan (Eat in kitchen)
1 - Dishwasher #1
1 - Dishwasher #2
1 - Sink Disposal
1 - Garbage Compactor

Wow, 16 CB slots for JMicheal. Wonder if anyone can top that?

By the way, is there a minimum horizontal distance specified from the edge of the sink to a countertop outlet?

[This message has been edited by AC (edited 06-10-2002).]

I would think 24", due to 210.52(C)(1).

I usually use three small appliance circuits and dedicated fridge, micro, dishwasher, disposal, and lights for usually 8 kitchen circuits, plus range. 10 slots, 11 if there's a garbage compactor.

Let's see:
1 - Wine Frig
1 - Frig
1 - DW
1 - Disposal
4 - Countertop Recepts (3 per circuit)
2 - Cooktop
1 - Double Oven
1 - Microwave
1 - Compactor
4 - Lighting (5 Undercabinet, 16 recessed & one 24-lamp chandelier

17 - Total (19 spaces)

One 40 cicuit panel & two 20 circuit subpanels for thr entire house.

I'm with Fred on this one. I don't catch anything but counter top recepts on my kit counter circuits (with a min of two). I went into another companys job the other day and they had fridge to hood, dish to disposal to sink light, and fastened in place micro to GFI to five other recepts. Hope the home owner never wants to heat up his danish in the micro while making a pot of coffee.

As for the most I have ever done in one kitchen:

4) 20A kit counter
1) 20A Built in Micro
1) 20A Ice maker
1) 20A Subzero Ref
2) 20A Thermador Warming Trays
2) 20A 1hp diposal
1) 20A Themador Remote Blower Hood
2) 20A Thermador Dishwashers
1) 50A DP Double Turbo Convection Oven
1) 50A DP Five burner cooktop
50) Advil to get it trimmed out

[This message has been edited by arseegee (edited 06-10-2002).]