Oh, we forgot to mention the disposal??

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electricmanscott

electricmanscott

Senior Member
Location
Boston, MA
Occupation
Massachusetts Master Electrician, one man show.
Last day on a new house job just finishing up kitchen details. I see a garbage disposal and I know I didn't wire for it. Batch feed, no switch needed that's a good start.

Asked for appliance list and specs at rough and no disposal included.

Under sink I have duplex for dishwasher on 15 amp circuit.

Disposal name plate says 10.2 amps. DW says max 9 amps.

There is absolutley no new circuit going in woth out major holes, patching and repainting.

What would you do??
 
Bottom line, it's an addition. You know what they'll say... "well why didn't you notice this issue in the beginning, you being an electrician and all?" or "why the hell didn't you recommended it to us if you saw it earlier?" They might even question whether or not you have the competence to be working on their home.

Regardless, it wasn't on the plans, and subsequently wasn't wired for. Do it and charge 'em.
 
well - its pretty common 'round here for d'washer and disposal to be on a 15 amp circut together from the start - if no disposal was on the cut sheet or print - charge them accordingly for the add
 
electricmanscott said:
Last day on a new house job just finishing up kitchen details. I see a garbage disposal and I know I didn't wire for it. Batch feed, no switch needed that's a good start.

Asked for appliance list and specs at rough and no disposal included.

Under sink I have duplex for dishwasher on 15 amp circuit.

Disposal name plate says 10.2 amps. DW says max 9 amps.

There is absolutley no new circuit going in woth out major holes, patching and repainting.

What would you do??
Click to expand...

I'd ask them if they want to go through the patch/paint pain, or put in a switch (3-way) that will allow them to use the disposal or the dishwasher but not both at the same time.
 
electricmanscott said:
Under sink I have duplex for dishwasher on 15 amp circuit.

Disposal name plate says 10.2 amps. DW says max 9 amps.

There is absolutley no new circuit going in woth out major holes, patching and repainting.

What would you do??
Click to expand...

10.2 + 9, sounds like the only sensible thing is to run a new circuit and charge them if it wasn't on your proposal or on the plans they gave you, or if they didn't tell you. However some areas require a disposal by Code, if so you might have to explain yourself on that one. It's not uncommon to use both the dw & disp at the same time. The 3-way switch idea might be a last resort but, would you want that in your home? IMO
 
electricmanscott said:
Last day on a new house job just finishing up kitchen details. I see a garbage disposal and I know I didn't wire for it. Batch feed, no switch needed that's a good start.

Asked for appliance list and specs at rough and no disposal included.

Under sink I have duplex for dishwasher on 15 amp circuit.

Disposal name plate says 10.2 amps. DW says max 9 amps.

There is absolutley no new circuit going in woth out major holes, patching and repainting.

What would you do??
Click to expand...

Pretend I'm just a homeowner and plug the thing in...
 
donselec said:
The 3-way switch idea might be a last resort but, would you want that in your home?
Click to expand...

No, I'd take it out as soon as I moved in. Dishwasher only pulls the 9-amps when heating water or drying (don't know which) and the load on the GD is usually less than 30-seconds. Personally (not a NEC interpretation) I don't think it's a big deal to run them both off of the 15-amp circuit.
 
Scott,

I would do just what you are going to do, how long do you run a disposer for ? one or two

min.s at the most. Maybe next time there is 'not going to be a disposer' a 12/2 to the D.W.

may be the ticket.
 
electricmanscott said:
Last day on a new house job just finishing up kitchen details. I see a garbage disposal and I know I didn't wire for it. Batch feed, no switch needed that's a good start.

Asked for appliance list and specs at rough and no disposal included.

Under sink I have duplex for dishwasher on 15 amp circuit.

Disposal name plate says 10.2 amps. DW says max 9 amps.

There is absolutley no new circuit going in woth out major holes, patching and repainting.

What would you do??
Click to expand...
I'd seriously consider running a 14-3 homerun next time so if this happens you can still charge for the circuit or at least the hookup and ride the gravy train all the way home! :)
 
peter d said:
This very thing happened to me a few months back. Same situation too...one 15 amp circuit for the dishawasher and it would be major work to add another circuit.

I plugged in the disposal and called it a day. :cool:
Click to expand...
so did you have to fish in a switch for it or was it one of those fancy batch feed ones that scott was talking about?
 
steelersman said:
so did you have to fish in a switch for it or was it one of those fancy batch feed ones that scott was talking about?
Click to expand...

I don't quite remember now that you ask. :-? I think I ended up doing it the "cheap way" and installing a switch for it under the sink (near the front for easy access of course.)
 
I measured the load at the panel. the 10.2a disposal never went over 5 amps.

The 9 amp dw never went above 6 amps and when it was just runing through the cycle was just over 2. The higest combined ampere total was under 11 amps.

Plug 'em in....Done.

Side note there were three 15 amp MWBC's in the kitchen for all the appliances.
 
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