Poll on branch circuit design

[wbalsam1]

I used to wire 1 family dwellings and would intermix receptacle outlets and lighting outlets within the same branch circuit. Now that I look back on those years, I wonder how many electricians do the same.

I've started a poll to get an idea on the popularity of each method.
Thanks for taking the poll. :smile:

 

[ivsenroute]

Yeah, bedrooms on AFCI. Throw in the smokes too.

 

[mdshunk]

I generally keep them separate, with a few minor deviations here and there. I mostly do that because I do all my recs in #12, and lighting in 14.

 

[wireman3736]

dido

 

[wireman3736]

I generally keep them separate, with a few minor deviations here and there. I mostly do that because I do all my recs in #12, and lighting in 14.

dido

 

[Buck Parrish]

We put the lights and outlets seperately when convienent.
Except when afci's came a long for the bed rooms. Then bedroom outlets and bedroom lights are on the same circuit.

 

[e57]

I generally keep them separate, with a few minor deviations here and there. I mostly do that because I do all my recs in #12, and lighting in 14.

Same here - but will do 12's for lighting depending if I am forced for other reasons to do so - like Homeworks where the OCP would be 20 for the module...

 

[e57]

We put the lights and outlets seperately when convienent.
Except when afci's came a long for the bed rooms. Then bedroom outlets and bedroom lights are on the same circuit.

I still do those separate - same way.

 

[peter d]

Lights and outlets on the same circuits, #14 wire, 50 amp breakers.

 

[mdshunk]

Lights and outlets on the same circuits, #14 wire, 50 amp breakers.

Just one big circuit for the whole house. Cool.

 

[480sparky]

Mix 'em up. Why keep them seperated?

 

[e57]

Mix 'em up. Why keep them seperated?

Dimming of lighting with higher loads - like say motors starting etc.

 

[480sparky]

Dimming of lighting with higher loads - like say motors starting etc.

What motors do you have on a GPBC that would do that?

 

[e57]

Just one big circuit for the whole house. Cool.

Ring circuit anyone?

 

[wbalsam1]

Lights and outlets on the same circuits, #14 wire, 50 amp breakers.

Handle ties, of course. :wink:

 

[480sparky]

Ring circuit anyone?

POCOs 'round here usually do just that in new underground installs, but they don't terminate both ends. This way, if there's a fault somewhere along the circuit, they just isolate the damaged portion, and refeed the dead side from the other end. Gets everyone back on-line, and they can come back next week to trace & fix the problem.

Handle ties, of course. :wink:

Why not a single-pole 50?

 

[e57]

What motors do you have on a GPBC that would do that?

Who knows what the HO will do post de facto - they might decide their toes are cold, and pull out a space heater, or when hubby decides it's time to do some woodworking and dimms the lites everytime he fires up the router - who knows...

 

[mdshunk]

POCOs 'round here usually do just that in new underground installs, but they don't terminate both ends. This way, if there's a fault somewhere along the circuit, they just isolate the damaged portion, and refeed the dead side from the other end. Gets everyone back on-line, and they can come back next week to trace & fix the problem.

Often they'll "loop feed" the primary with a reclosers, install sectionalizers (sorta like fuses) here and there along the loop, then only a small section is without power if there's a primary fault. It's a pretty sweet system.

 

[peter d]

Handle ties, of course. :wink:

I use double pole 50's and I cut the plastic handle tie off with my dykes.

 

[480sparky]

Who knows what the HO will do post de facto - they might decide their toes are cold, and pull out a space heater, or when hubby decides it's time to do some woodworking and dimms the lites everytime he fires up the router - who knows...

It's a new home. Why not call the HVAC folks if it's cold? If I were to plan for the worst case scenario every time, each receptacle would have to be a dedicated 20a.

Momma aint' gonna like Pop running his router in the lving room. If he uses it in the garage or basement like he's supposed to, there's no light dimming because the lights aren't on that circuit.