15 or 20 amp for microwave?

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ritelec

ritelec

Senior Member
Location
Jersey
I'm in belief that as of 210.52 (B)(1) a 15 amp circuit would NOT be permitted for a microwave circuit.

True or False?

Thank you
 
If you had a hardwired microwave circuit, or a dedicated receptacle that wasn't one of the receptacles required by 210.52(A) or 210.52(C), then I don't see why it couldn't be a 15A circuit provided it could handle the load.
 
david luchini said:
If you had a hardwired microwave circuit, or a dedicated receptacle that wasn't one of the receptacles required by 210.52(A) or 210.52(C), then I don't see why it couldn't be a 15A circuit provided it could handle the load.
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I agree. That said, when I had my kitchen renovated, I had them put in a 20A dedicated for the microwave.
 
A 15 amp individual branch circuit is fine for a non-continuous load up to 15 amps.
 
ritelec said:
I'm in belief that as of 210.52 (B)(1) a 15 amp circuit would NOT be permitted for a microwave circuit.

True or False?

Thank you
Click to expand...

As others have said, false. Do I understand you to say that the microwave is fastened in place and you propose to connect it to a SABC? That would be a violation in itself.
 
infinity said:
A 15 amp individual branch circuit is fine for a non-continuous load up to 15 amps.
Click to expand...

True, and it's difficult to imagine anything being cooked for 2-3 HOURS in a microwave. The kitchen renovation was preceded by a panel upgrade, all of it to remedy a whole house light flickering condition every time an AC window unit kicked on or the washing machine agitator started turning. I figured better safe than sorry. I was having them home run the circuit anyway so the cost adder was trivial.
 
I always wire these as 20-amp circuits. And I usually wire them on the same circuit as a 120V outlet for a gas range ignition/electronics. This is convenient because the microwave is always directly above the range, and neither outlet needs to be (or should be) GFI protected. Besides, the manufacturer's directions call for a separate 20A circuit, and the NEC has a requirement that manufacturer's directions need to be followed. The City of Livonia inspector said that the gas range outlet is allowed to be on the same circuit as the microwave, but both need to be 20A.
 
Personally I use a 20, but I have seen 15 amp circuits run without issue. FWIW, I have never seen an over the range unit with a NEMA 5-20r.
 
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