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Electrical Wiring FAQ (Part 2 of 2)
Section - What kind of outlets do I need in a kitchen?

( Part1 - Part2 - Single Page )
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Top Document: Electrical Wiring FAQ (Part 2 of 2)
Previous Document: How to wire 3-way and 4-way switches
Next Document: Where must outlets and switches be in bathrooms?
See reader questions & answers on this topic! - Help others by sharing your knowledge

	The NEC requires at least two 20 amp ``small appliance
	circuits'' for kitchen counters.  The CEC requires split-duplex
	receptacles.  Outlets must be installed such that no point is more
	than 24" (NEC) (900 mm CEC) from an outlet.  Every counter wider
	than 12" (NEC) or 300 mm (CEC) must have at least one outlet.
	The circuit these outlets are on may not feed any outlets except
	in the kitchen, pantry, or dining room.  Furthermore, these circuits
	are in addition to any required for refrigerators, stoves, microwaves,
	lighting, etc.

	New rule (1996 NEC): all counter outlets must be GFCI protected.

	(Old NEC rule for historical purposes) Non-dedicated outlets within
	6' of a sink *must* be protected by a GFCI.

	Split duplex receptacles are fed with a 220V circuit.  The tab
	is broken on the hot side of the outlet, and one hot goes to
	the upper outlet, and the other hot goes to the lower outlet.
	The neutral connects to both outlets through one screw.  When
	"carrying through" to another outlet, the neutral must be
	pigtailed, such that removing the outlet, or having the neutral
	connection fall off or burn out doesn't cause the neutral to
	disconnect from downstream outlets ("loose neutral" problems -
	see "What does it mean when the lights brighten...").

User Contributions:

1
Dev
In a fire protection circuit, circuts are shown witha no example 6,8,4etc. what it mean?these circuits are connected between smode detector,junction box etc
2
kevin
My daughter dropped a small necklace behind her dresser. The necklace crossed a plug terminal and shorted the receptacle.
I bought a new receptacle and installed the same. I still have no power I suspect there could be a bigger problem,this is aluminum wiring.
I've killed the breaker and call an electrician but am curious as to what happened.P.s. there is a dimmer switch on the same circuit.
3
dennis
Regarding new construction wiring and running 12/2 and 14/3 wire in the same box.

I have multiple switches to lights. Ran 12/2 and 14/3 into switch box and inspector wrote correction needed.

What should I have done instead?

thank you
dennis
4
Robert
Does a grounding electrode facilitate the operation of a OCPD, to clear a ground fault ?
5
@dennis
Assuming you are installing two switches in a two switch box, you probably should have used 14/2 and 14/3 instead of replacing 14/2 with 12/2. If you are only installing one switch in a one switch box, you should only have one cable in the box.
6
P k
I prefer to use nothing smaller than12 awg /the smallest sized wire on a circuit determines the allowable ampacity
Ex: 15 amp-14awg. 12awg-20amp only rule for thumb other factors such as continuous load,heating and others if you do not know the safe NEC rules then please call a qualified journeyman Electrician better be safe

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Top Document: Electrical Wiring FAQ (Part 2 of 2)
Previous Document: How to wire 3-way and 4-way switches
Next Document: Where must outlets and switches be in bathrooms?

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Last Update March 27 2014 @ 02:11 PM