Kitchen Remodel Circuit Allocation
A contractor is rewiring a kitchen in a 1970s Anchorage home. The plan shows: a 20 A small-appliance branch circuit feeding four counter receptacles and a refrigerator; a separate 20 A circuit for a 1,200 W microwave; a 30 A circuit for an electric range; a 20 A circuit for a 1,500 W dishwasher; and a 20 A circuit for a 1,000 W disposal. The homeowner wants to add a 1,800 W countertop induction unit on the same circuit as the toaster and coffee maker. The existing panel has two open 20 A spaces. The inspector flags that the refrigerator is on the small-appliance circuit and that the disposal and dishwasher share a circuit.
1. Evaluate the circuit allocations against kitchen branch-circuit requirements and identify which arrangements are noncompliant.
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Small-appliance circuits: The code requires at least two 20 A small-appliance branch circuits for countertop receptacles. A refrigerator may be on a small-appliance circuit only if the circuit also serves countertop receptacles - but the refrigerator is not a countertop appliance, and putting it on the only small-appliance circuit means a single circuit serving both; that is permitted only if there are two or more such circuits and the refrigerator is not the sole load. Here there is only one 20 A small-appliance circuit, which is a violation: minimum two required.
Dishwasher and disposal: Both are fixed appliances. A 20 A circuit can serve both only if the combined load ≤ 20 A and the circuit is not a small-appliance circuit. 1,500 W + 1,000 W = 2,500 W ÷ 120 V = 20.8 A - over 20 A, so they cannot share. Separate circuits required, or a 30 A circuit with proper receptacle/GFCI protection is not typical; separate 20 A circuits are the correct fix.
Microwave 1,200 W: 10 A - fine on a dedicated 20 A circuit.
Range 30 A: acceptable for the range if nameplate ≤ 30 A; verify nameplate.
Induction unit added to small-appliance circuit: 1,800 W = 15 A plus toaster (~1,500 W = 12.5 A) plus coffee maker (~1,000 W = 8.3 A) = ~35.8 A on a 20 A circuit - grossly overloaded. The induction unit needs its own circuit or the homeowner must not run all simultaneously; code does not permit relying on user behavior. Recommend a dedicated 20 A circuit for the induction unit.
2. With only two open 20 A spaces, propose a compliant redistribution and state the GFCI and receptacle requirements for the countertop.
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Available: two 20 A spaces. Needs: second small-appliance circuit, separate dishwasher circuit, separate disposal circuit, dedicated induction circuit = up to four new circuits. Two spaces are insufficient - a subpanel or tandem breakers (if panel listed) are needed.
Compliant redistribution:
- Circuit A: small-appliance (countertop receptacles) - 20 A.
- Circuit B: second small-appliance (countertop receptacles) - 20 A.
- Circuit C: dishwasher dedicated 20 A.
- Circuit D: disposal dedicated 20 A.
- Circuit E: induction unit dedicated 20 A (or combine with microwave if load allows: 1,200 + 1,800 = 3,000 W = 25 A - no, exceeds 20 A; keep separate).
- Refrigerator: dedicated 20 A or on a circuit with other non-counter loads.
GFCI: All 125 V receptacles serving countertop surfaces must have GFCI protection (within 6 ft of sink, and per current code all countertop receptacles). Use GFCI receptacles or a GFCI breaker. Receptacle spacing: no point along the countertop wall more than 24 in from a receptacle; at least one receptacle per island/peninsula. Tamper-resistant receptacles required in dwelling units.
Given the panel limitation, the practical answer is a 100 A subpanel in the kitchen or replacing the panel; the inspector should not approve the plan as drawn.