service call and installing a new circuit aren't the same thing either though. That don't mean service call at times doesn't turn into running a new circuit in which case it probably should be done to current code. But just troubleshooting and replacing a component, other than a few cases where NEC specifies replacements be in accordance with current rules, you normally do just replace the bad component.
Don’t I need a 20 amp dedicated circuit by code
I believe this is a false statement. Please cite the code. As far as I know, receptacles and lighting for dwelling units is not considered continuous.
While no one is likely to do this, you, nothing says you have to distribute the required circuits evenly. You could put one outlet on each of 2 circuits and all the rest on the third circuit.
No it can be on with one of the two required SABC's. However if you add a separate circuit it is an additional SABC and is calculated at 1500VA.
Again this is not correct because you are still using 80%. 1800 watts which means 600 sq.ft. Nowhere does it state use 80%
So if you were called because the GFCI for a swimming pool kept tripping and found that the pool was not bonded and grounded to the requirements of the NEC, would you not propose to your customer that be remedied or just leave it as it is? It is a fact of life that some electricians or handymen either don't know the code or just don't care. As an inspector for a city that required licensed electricians and inspections for electrical work, I learned fairly early that a lot of work is performed by unqualified individuals including homeowners. As an electrician, I found myself continually coming across improper, non-code-compliant work. If the customer doesn't want me to fix it, I walk away. If you're the last qualified individual to work on an electrical circuit and you find it deficient in some way, where do you draw the line? You could be liable for other people's mistakes if something should occur subsequent to your work. How would you feel if someone subsequently was injured or died because of a defect that you didn't address? Of course, you can't be held responsible for anything that is concealed but sometimes it's better to walk away with a clean conscience than it is to worry when that relatively minor job will come back to bite you. It's a tough line to walk but if you plan on being an electrical contractor as your career, you have to protect yourself from liability. Sometimes, you have to decide to walk rather than incur liability or even worse, guilt over not remedying a hazardous condition because the customer wouldn't pay. I'm not criticizing you. I'm merely responding to the above quote.
210.11(B) Load Evenly Proportioned Among Branch Circuits.
If all the outlets are on separate breakers, then you can use any combination for the number of circuits you want. However, if the outlets are on the same breaker, then you should probably use one 15 amp circuit for the 3 outlets, and put the lights on another circuit. If you don't have dedicated breakers for the outlets, then you can only use 1 circuit for the outlets, and you'll have to figure out which one doesn't have the outlet you need, and then you can use that circuit for the lights. If you don't have enough outlets to use one circuit, then you'll have to run a new circuit to reach the new outlets, and then run it to the old ones to make the old circuits reachable while you do the work.
It was my practice when wiring a remodel or new construction that I would place bedroom receptacles on exterior walls on one circuit and receptacles on interior walls on a different circuit. That way, if you lost one circuit, you still had power available to the room. Lighting was always on a separate circuit.
