Kitchen SABC wiring

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jeff48356

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Livonia, Michigan
When wiring a kitchen in a new house, are the two SABC's supposed to be wired so that the outlets alternate between circuits (A B A B A B, etc)? Also, are the circuits supposed to be wired to opposite legs in the service panel? Just curious, because I always wire them like that regardless. If there is no such Code requirement, there should be one for both of those techniques, in my opinion.
 
You need a minimum of two circuits feeding the receptacles serving the counter tops. You could put one receptacle on one circuit and the rest on the other if you want. There is no code specific way to do this.
 
jeff's method isn't a bad one. You could take it to a whole other level and split each duplex between the circuits.
 
There is no requirement to do either, however if you use a multiwire branch circuit than you are going to have both legs used. I think the important thing really is to have loads balanced fairly evenly, especially if you're going to install a generator.
 
Even if you alternated the circuits along the counter top there is no way of knowing what the end user will plug and in where. They might use every other one and end up with everything on the same circuit.
 
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No, alternating circuits is not required. I place them on opposing lines as I make up the panel as logical placement, 20-a circuits first, then 15s, on the side next to the neutral bar.

I place 2-poles on the side away from the neutral bar, highest to lowest working away from the main breaker or lugs, so 2-poles never share the same stabs.

For example, down one side, 1-poles: Kitchen 1, Kitchen 2, Laundry, Microwave, Disposer, Dishwasher, etc.

Down the other side, 2-poles: 60a, 50a, 40a, 30a, 30a, 30a, 25a, 20a, etc.
 
Is there a Canadian spark in the house?

Yes i know it's an NEC forum, but for the sake of enlightenment
I believe the CEC might address this in a tad more detail

~RJ~
 
romex jockey said:
Is there a Canadian spark in the house?

Yes i know it's an NEC forum, but for the sake of enlightenment
I believe the CEC might address this in a tad more detail

~RJ~
Click to expand...

Best I recall it was a 15 amp MWBC split for every X receptacles or counter space. With GFCI requirements it tends to now be 1 20amp per X receptacle or counter space.

An Canadian spark will have to fill in the rest.
 
North Dakota amendment

North Dakota amendment

In North Dakota is an amendment to the NEC kitchen counter receps.
They do have to be alternating (A,B,A,B,etc).

Also requires 3 - 20 amp circuits, 2 of which have to serve counters only. The third can serve dining area, etc.

Our load calcs have to reflect 3 small appliance branch circuits (3@1500va)
 
sw_ross said:
In North Dakota is an amendment to the NEC kitchen counter receps.
They do have to be alternating (A,B,A,B,etc).

Also requires 3 - 20 amp circuits, 2 of which have to serve counters only. The third can serve dining area, etc.

Our load calcs have to reflect 3 small appliance branch circuits (3@1500va)
Click to expand...

Interesting Amendment... Do you know what brought it about? Especially the three small appliance Branch circuits?
 
My guess: coffee makers, microwave ovens, toasters, toaster ovens, George Foreman grills, waffle irons, etc. in addition to the refrigerators.
 
LarryFine said:
My guess: coffee makers, microwave ovens, toasters, toaster ovens, George Foreman grills, waffle irons, etc. in addition to the refrigerators.
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My initial thought was along an entirely different line... was thinking that space heaters may be plugged into the dining room receptacles since North Dakota winters can be brutally cold. One of them would effectively kill one of the normally two small appliance Branch circuits, hence the requirement for a third.
 
Not sure why...

Not sure why...

I'm not sure the reason or when it was enacted.
I've been licensed in this state since 2011 and it's been that way since I moved here.

Additional side note- our load calcs require heating loads to be calculated at 125% not 100%!

Maybe it does have to do with our climate? We had a lot of -10 to -25 temps this winter!
Friday's high is suppose to be 20 with snow! I'm tired of it!

As was mentioned before there's no way to predict which outlet/circuit an appliance will be plugged into!
 
LarryFine said:
My guess: coffee makers, microwave ovens, toasters, toaster ovens, George Foreman grills, waffle irons, etc. in addition to the refrigerators.
Click to expand...
If you run all those at the same time three circuits probably isn't enough, better put in at least 6. Tiny apartment with only couple feet of counter - you need at least a six plex outlet box of some sort.:blink:
 
kwired said:
If you run all those at the same time three circuits probably isn't enough, better put in at least 6. Tiny apartment with only couple feet of counter - you need at least a six plex outlet box of some sort.:blink:
Click to expand...

I always thought the dinning room rule was silly. I used to run #14 and include it in the general lighting circuit before I knew better. I doubt anything will happen- majority people (like 99%) stick a china hutch in there- at most.
 
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