That’s what I was trying to convey in post 2. You said it better!
Laundry Dedicated circuit
- Thread starter WA_Sparky
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That’s what I was trying to convey in post 2. You said it better!
Fred B
Senior Member
- Location
- Upstate, NY
- Occupation
- Electrician
HO will do what a HO will do, can't stop them. A Forest Gump, "Stupid is as stupid does." Just do your best to make it less likely or unnecessary for the HO from doing an unsafe or noncompliant (from perspective of Code) thing.
This thread isn’t about what the user will or will not do. It’s about where to place the required receptacle for the washing machine when wiring the house.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
Did it only have a cold water inlet and heated water as needed?
Fred B
Senior Member
- Location
- Upstate, NY
- Occupation
- Electrician
Replying with Larry's comment as highlighted in my comment, not addressing any electrical professional.
rnatalie
Senior Member
- Location
- Catawba, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Engineer
Actually, I'll disagree for this. While the washing machine is going to be plugged in there, the reason for the 20A circuit is likely because they fear you're going to run an iron there.
I realize that, was being a wise guy
- Location
- Wisconsin
- Occupation
- PE (Retired) - Power Systems
Except for when the laundry is in basements I think usually there is barely enough room to move much less set up an ironing board.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
maybe. many different people out there that live differently. laundry in my house isn't in basement, but not a lot of extra room in the "closet" that the laundry is in. The basement is finished living space other than one storage room and a mechanical room. One end of it does have grade level access though making it seem less like a basement.
Greg1707
Senior Member
- Location
- Alexandria, VA
- Occupation
- Business owner Electrical contractor
This thread is very timely. I just received a call yesterday from a customer that is purchasing a new washer/dryer and needs a 120 volt outlet. This is a photo of a condominium that was built in 2004. I am surprised at the missing 20 amp outlet.
James L
Senior Member
- Location
- Kansas Cty, Mo, USA
- Occupation
- Electrician
I think the laundry circuit has been required since about the 1950s, back when people used ringer washers that were built like tanks and probably used 13 to 14 amps.
rnatalie
Senior Member
- Location
- Catawba, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Engineer
I didn't say it was likely, I just figured that was what the code writers were thinking. We were just as likely to iron in our bedroom on its shared 15A circuit, just as my daughter couldn't be convinced to run her 3 KW blowdrier in the bathroom rather than her bedroom.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
You have a 3kW blow dryer? And if so with a 5-15 plug?
The designer of the condo likely spec’d a combo unit with a single 240V connection.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
And the EE as well as the inspector should know there is a required 20 amp 120 volt laundry circuit in code. If there is a preliminary plan review it should even been caught then.
No argument there!
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
You trust the information on that one? at one point they claiming the motor is 3500 W. That be like almost a 5 hp motor.
No, I don’t trust much of anything on Amazon without good investigation.
I posted that to show where some information may come from and why someone thought they had a 3000 watt HD
I think the 3000 watt hair dryer comment was a tongue-in-cheek comment meant to be funny rather than taken as serious.
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