Are individual branch circuits defined?
If I supply my refrigerator with a 20 amp individual branch circuit and the Rec. Is placed at counter hieght just over the counter next to the refrigerator, can I supply the rest of the counter Rec. With just one additional 20 amp counter circuit.?
I am in the camp that says the small alliance branch circuit is a 20 amp branch circuit.
If I supply my refrigerator with a 15 amp individual branch circuit and the Rec. Is placed at counter hieght just over the counter next to the refrigerator, can I supply the rest of the counter Rec. With just one additional 20 amp counter circuit.?
The answer to this question becomes easy, no the counters are required to be supplied by two or more 20 amp circuits with the small appliance branch circuit restrictions applied to these circuits.
To me the answer to both questions, no matter if the individual branch circuit is a 15 amp or a 20 amp is no.
By definition the individual branch circuit is dedicated to a specific outlet, and by the exception the refrigerator outlet.
In a dwelling you could have two exactly the same refrigerators one served by an individual 15 amp branch circuit, And one served by a 20 amp individual branch circuit.
Or you could take those two exactly the same refrigerators and supply them by two different individual 15 amp branch circuits.
You also could take those two exactly the same refrigerators and supply them with two individual 20 amp branch circuits.
At a later date it is decided to add another dining room receptacle next to the kitchen you could extend from one of the individual 20 amp circuits that where designed to supply those refrigerators and supply the newly added dining room receptacle but you no longer have a individual branch circuit for that refrigerator / dinning room circuit you have a small appliance branch circuit.
Could you have called both of these individual 20 amp circuits at the start small appliance branch circuits, yes because the where both 20 amp circuits supplying receptacle?s in the areas described.
There is no restriction from the individual 20 amp circuits from being extended and becoming a small appliance branch circuit there is however restrictions placed on the individual 15 amp branch circuits in the exact same locations.
The individual branch circuit is defined, and I also believe it is clear that a small appliance branch circuit has to be a 20 amp circuit
So why are we calling the defined individual branch circuit a small appliance branch circuit when all the exception is saying is an indivdual branch circuit can supply an outlet that other wise was required to be supplied by a small appliance branch circuit?