Minimum branch circuit rating for ranges

Status
Not open for further replies.
mshields

mshields

Senior Member
Location
Boston, MA
Per Article 210.19, A (3): "For Ranges of 8 3/4 or more, the minimum branch-circuit rating shall be 40 amperes (for a Household Range and Cooking Appliances)."

Is this stating that if you had say a 12kW range, you could, per code, provide a 40A feeder to it?

Mike
 
Table 220.55 allows use of a 40 Amp circuit for ranges up to 16 kW nameplate rating. Calculation follows:

Table allows an 8 kW load for up to 12 kW nameplate.

Table requires 5% increase in load for each kW nameplate greater than 12 kW, so a 16 kW nameplate requires an increase of 5% x (16-12) = 20%

120% x 8kW = 9.6 kW = 9600 Watts.

9600 Watts / 240 Volts = 40 Amps.

This was discussed extensively in late 2006 and the conclusion that leads to the calculation above was the last position left standing. It has not been refuted since.
 
You can go up to a 16KW range on a 40AMP breaker.
You gonna have to use 8awg wire with that 40AMP breaker, so why not put it on a 50AMP breaker and use a 50AMP receptacle? Doesn't cost anymore.
 
russ__20000 said:
You can go up to a 16KW range on a 40AMP breaker.
You gonna have to use 8awg wire with that 40AMP breaker, so why not put it on a 50AMP breaker and use a 50AMP receptacle? Doesn't cost anymore.
Click to expand...

I sure does cost more-- if you are us nm cable you would have to use #6 to put it on a 50 amp breaker
 
I always run a 50 amp circuit for ranges. I don't want any problems at Thanksgiving...when the turkey is in the oven and all burners are on HI.
 
sparky59 said:
I always run a 50 amp circuit for ranges. I don't want any problems at Thanksgiving...when the turkey is in the oven and all burners are on HI.
Click to expand...


i agree. after all, what is the code. the minimum for safety right. doesnt mean that it is the best way to do something........i also never install a 15 amp houshold circuit, you know it is just going to be overloaded as soon as they put all those electronics on it. oh, and lets not forget the space heaters they cant seem to live without!
 
sethas said:
i also never install a 15 amp houshold circuit, you know it is just going to be overloaded as soon as they put all those electronics on it. oh, and lets not forget the space heaters they cant seem to live without!
Click to expand...
Why not use 20a circuits for receptacles and separate 15a circuits for lighting?
 
sethas said:
i agree. after all, what is the code. the minimum for safety right. doesnt mean that it is the best way to do something........i also never install a 15 amp houshold circuit, you know it is just going to be overloaded as soon as they put all those electronics on it. oh, and lets not forget the space heaters they cant seem to live without!
Click to expand...


So they trip a circuit breaker...whats the big deal? Isn't that the purpose of the circuit breaker? Put in a 15 amp circuit, let them keep tripping the CBer and then come back and install additional circuits. Its the American Way :)
 
sethas said:
i also never install a 15 amp houshold circuit, you know it is just going to be overloaded as soon as they put all those electronics on it. oh, and lets not forget the space heaters they cant seem to live without!
Click to expand...

Is it better to have 10 - 20 amp circuits running a 50 receptacles or have 15 - 15 amp circuits running 50 receptacles?

My choice wold be a larger amount of smaller circuits.
 
sethas said:
oh, and lets not forget the space heaters they cant seem to live without!
Click to expand...

How is that the EC's problem?
Sounds more like poor planning on the heating design.
 
hardworkingstiff said:
I think I would pick the 10 20-amp circuits.
Click to expand...

To each their own but can I ask why?

10 - 20 amp circuits provides 480 watts per receptacle.

15 - 15 amp circuits provides 540 watts per receptacle.

Very few single appliances draw more than the 1,800 watts a 15 amp circuit can provide.

My feeling is you can never guess where someone may want to use a high wattage device so why even try?

Other than kitchen appliances when was the last time you saw a household appliance with a 20 amp plug on it?
 
I like to make it confusing I wire kitchens and baths in 20a circuits, lighting and bedrooms/livingrooms in 15. Ranges are always 50a. I have no clue what range they are going to put in there when I am wiring. I just had a customer that purchased a 5800 dollar range that was gas/220/110 go figure.
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top