Countertop Receptacles - Two Circuits?

Status
Not open for further replies.
S

sparky1967

Member
Location
Seattle, WA, USA
I really hope this hasn't been covered multiple times here because I'm getting crosseyed reading everything I can find about the SABC two circuit requirement and haven't found this specific question discussed:

210.52 (B) (3) - Receptacles installed in a kitchen to serve countertop surfaces shall be supplied by not fewer than two small-appliance branch circuits....

If I read that literally, it means that each receptacle has to have two (or more..??) circuits feeding it. So, quite literally, you'd bring both SABC circuits into the box, break the tab between the two halves of the duplex receptacle, wire one circuit to the top half and the other circuit to the bottom half. Really? Is that really what the code is saying?

OR -

Is it saying that you need to have at least two receptacles (which could be duplex), each one fed by a different SABC?

On a related note: Do you guys type out the section of code you're talking about each time you make a reference to it? I haven't been able to find an online source to the code book that can be copied and pasted but I'm seeing a lot of posts here with code text that looks like it's been pasted or quoted from somewhere.

Thanks for helping a noob out!
 
You need two SABC's. You need to provide receptacles according to the spacing requirements in Article 210. How you divide up those two circuits is up to you. Many of us have the NEC or NECH on our computers which you can search and copy/paste various code sections.
 
If you look at the make up of the Code Making Panels you will find few English majors.
:D
"wording" often makes the Code it bit more confusing.
As with the CMP folks, I'm unsure how the specific wording of this section might be clarified and I see how you read "that", however, I believe you will find it is most often interpreted that the the countertop receptacle outlets as a group (the total of) shall be served by the two or more SABC and not that each outlet be served by the two circuitsl


As to quoted section, I have a CD copy of the '08 installed. I know of no on-line copy that permts copy-paste.
 
Augie - thanks! That's kind of what I figured by "reading between the lines" but just wanted to be sure. @ infinity - I understand about the requirement for a minimum of 2 SABCs & which receptacles need to be on those circuits but the way that specific part reads it could be interpreted that each individual receptacle had to be fed by two circuits.

So - in a related question:

The kitchen I'm working on is in a small cabin and doesn't have enough counter space to warrant two receptacles. Further complicating things is the arrangement of the windows - the bottom sills are literally 2" above the countertop. There is space between two windows to surface mount a 4-square or maybe even a 4-11/16 box, but there's just no reasonable way to install more than one box and by 210.52 (C) (1) I don't need more than one receptacle anyway since the countertop is only about 3' wide and the single receptacle will sit about 1' in from the end of it.

In this situation is it acceptable to use one SABC for the small under-counter fridge and the other for the single receptacle that's needed? If that's not acceptable, what about a double-duplex arrangement with two circuits in it, one of which feeds the fridge first?

Thanks again for any input!
 
You need two circuits to serve the counter top. The fridge can go on one of the circuits.

Even though the counter top is small I could see four things being plugged in; coffee pot, toaster, small microwave. One 12-3 home run and you are done.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top