Hotel / Guestroom combined circuits?

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stuartdmc

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I am trying so hard to find a way to cut down on the number of circuit?s necessary to feed each guestroom of the Hotel that I am designing and I need your help. My scenario is I have an Espresso machine that draws 1500va and a small refrigerator that draws 750va, (2250va - 18amps total) I want to combine both of them on a single 20amp (2400va circuit). My thinking is that they both are non-continues loads also may simultaneously be on. I have checked section 430-110(c)(1) and 430.22 but am not satisfied with moving forward.
My question is can I load my OCPD (20ampCB) to 100% if the combined non-continues connected loads of 2250va?
 
Stickboy I like your reference better, I was going to say 210.3 and 210.19(A)(1), missed 210.23.

Looking at it those are for conductors anyhow...
 
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stuartdmc said:
I?m away from any code books at this time; does anyone care to elaborate on what the sections referres to? I would appreciate it.
It's 2:30am and I can't sleep... Sure, I'll look 'em up, you can read in the AM.

210.3 -- just says that circuit rating is based on OCPD, not wire size. Not germane to your issue AFAICS.

210.19(A)(1) -- 125% (80%) continuous load rule. You've already examined this (mentally, without having to read the text).

210.23(A)(1) -- any one piece of cord & plug utilization equipment can't exceed 80%. Not an issue here unless "they" come up with a 1920kva espresso maker.

210.23(A)(2) -- total rating of "fastened in place" utilization equipment can't exceed 50%. Will the espresso maker be bolted onto the countertop/desk? :-? Clearly "fastened in place" would apply to disposals and the like. I would view it as a stretch to apply it to something that is merely secured in order to keep it from walking away at checkout time, but it ain't my call:smile:

It is worth noting, however, that the phrase "permanently connected" is not used -- so out in the field there may be an interpretive distinction between the two that would make "fastened in place" apply to decidedly non-permanent cord-and-plug items. I'd be willing to bet you could get Pierre, cowboy, et al to venture opinions on that.

Another thought (caveat: completely uninhibited by knowledge of hotel construction)...

If you have a fridge in the room and an espresso maker on a countertop (I typically see them on the vanity outside the bathroom in hotels that do not have suites, otherwise it is in the kitchenette), will the AHJ require them to be on an SABC? If so, wouldn't you then be required to have the minimum two SABCs anyway? See 210.52(B)(1). Or to put the fridge on a dedicated (aka "individual") branch circuit? See Exception #2.

I don't see an exception for hotel rooms to the 2 SABC rule. How much kitchen-like equipment can you put into a hotel room before it becomes a "kitchen... or similar area of a dwelling unit"??
 
LawnGuyLandSparky said:
I don't think a hotel room IS a dwelling unit, nor does an expresso maker and refrigerator a kitchen make.
I agree on both counts. I also agree that the two components can share a circuit.
 
The wording in 210.18
...
...with permanent provisions for cooking shall have branch circuits ....to meet the rules for dwelling units .

The question then becomes what is a permanent provision for cooking?

I don't think it is what the appliances being discussed here are .
 
Thanks again for your help. We have established not only through the NEC and CBC but with the locale electrical code jurisdiction which we both agree that there is no permanent prevision for cooking and thus is not classified as a dwelling unit.

Untill next time.
Stuart, SoCal.
 
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