I'm working on this job where this motel is being converted to a studio dwelling. Instead of adding a circuit for the new cooktop, and a new circuit for the microwave, we are putting in 2 selector switches. On one switch you can use either the window A/C unit or the cooktop. The other switch allows you to use either the microwave or the refrigerator. Does this seem right? I thought you had to have a separate circuit for the A/C unit, one for the cooktop, one for the microwave, and then one for the kitchen refrigerator. My boss call them non con-incidental loads. Please help settle this argument, Thanks
Wow- so the food can be hot in the microwave, or warm in the fridge?
From a moral standpoint it would be so mean to do this it would almost be funny. No, it doesn't seem right.
From a NEC standpoint.... for load calc's, they sure would seem noncoincidental, by design. One problem is that noncoincidental loads are allowed to be calculated such in Section 220.60. That is for feeders and services, not branch-circuits. So he could be called on that.
Refrigerators are not required to be on individual circuits, they can be on one of the two Small Appliance Branch-Circuits.
Seems possible, but unlikely that the AC and the cooktop will be allowed on the same type of circuit (20 or 25 amp Max OCP for instance for AC, 30 amp min for cooktop, or similar).
But I wouldn't call the inspector, I'd call a newspaper reporter.
Welcome to the forum. Good luck. :roll: