Code Yes or No...

Status
Not open for further replies.
1793

1793

Senior Member
Location
Louisville, Kentucky
Occupation
Inspector
I looked at a situation today, Customer called with a breaker problem, her husband could not turn off a kitchen circuit off while replacing a Hood fan with a Microwave.

I found that the original electrician(s) connected two different 15A circuits together, they happened to be on the same "phase".

So now the Microwave is on with the Kitchen and Foyer lighting and when all is on the circuit has a 17.4A draw.

A new circuit would be near impossible to run, so I was thinking about combining the DW & Disposer on 1 and use the other for the Microwave. The Microwave nameplate is 16.5kW, so a 15A should hold.

See photo below for routing of possible solution.
 
Is there going to be tile installed? If so, can you cut a slot across the drywall above the countertop and run horizontally?
 
1793 said:
I looked at a situation today, Customer called with a breaker problem, her husband could not turn off a kitchen circuit off while replacing a Hood fan with a Microwave.

I found that the original electrician(s) connected two different 15A circuits together, they happened to be on the same "phase".

So now the Microwave is on with the Kitchen and Foyer lighting and when all is on the circuit has a 17.4A draw.

A new circuit would be near impossible to run, so I was thinking about combining the DW & Disposer on 1 and use the other for the Microwave. The Microwave nameplate is 16.5kW, so a 15A should hold.

See photo below for routing of possible solution.
Click to expand...



What do you mean near impossible? What is stopping you from bringing a new circuit up behind the stove, from there fish it behind microwave to cabinet above? or is the wall not fishable? like drywall on block?
 
mcclary's electrical said:
What do you mean near impossible? What is stopping you from bringing a new circuit up behind the stove, from there fish it behind microwave to cabinet above? or is the wall not fishable? like drywall on block?
Click to expand...

the house is on a slab, two story, panel in the garage, finished, on the opposite side of the house on outside wall.
 
1793 said:
the house is on a slab, two story, panel in the garage, finished, on the opposite side of the house on outside wall.
Click to expand...

Standard tools and material on my truck. Painting by others.


20minutemud.jpg
 
I thought going up from Microwave come out above cabinet across the top of cabinets then fish back down to switches and pick up circuit there. Just a little drywall compound at the exit & entry point, quick and less labor.
 
Run a new circuit best you can a 15 ampere won't work in the long run. ]
I bet all that was on the circuit before was a hood.
I see this all the time.
When the wire gets melted because the throw a 20 amp breaker in the panel then they call you.
 
I agree with SierraSparky and add this: time to tell them this is a pay me now or pay bigtime later, possibly. Don't go all dramatic, but point out that the available (or nearly available) circuit simply IS NOT designed for the loads they want to put on it.

A microwave of that size must have it's own circuit; nevermind what will hold. Give them what they really need, and sell it as a need. And check out Pierre's comment: NEC 210.23
 
1793 said:
I thought going up from Microwave come out above cabinet across the top of cabinets then fish back down to switches and pick up circuit there. Just a little drywall compound at the exit & entry point, quick and less labor.
Click to expand...
I've done it, and wouldn't lose any sleep over it.
 
iMuse97 said:
I agree with SierraSparky and add this: time to tell them this is a pay me now or pay bigtime later, possibly. Don't go all dramatic, but point out that the available (or nearly available) circuit simply IS NOT designed for the loads they want to put on it.

A microwave of that size must have it's own circuit; nevermind what will hold. Give them what they really need, and sell it as a need. And check out Pierre's comment: NEC 210.23
Click to expand...

So you are saying that the 15A circuit that was intended for the say Disposer would not work for the microwave?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top