Refrigerator Circuit

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Praedatus1

Praedatus1

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Portland, Oregon
I have been researching your forum topics and I think I already know the answer to this, but here goes:
I have a city inspector who SWEARS he has NEC information (code(s)) that SPECIFY a refrigerator requiring a DEDICATED branch circuit, either 15 or 20 amp. All I can find is 210.52 (B) (1) - (3). So, masters of electricity, is there any other code(s) you can tell me about that he may be thinking of? Of course, I am aware of 422.16 (B) (4) which specifies an individual branch circuit for a cord-connected hood, but I see nothing about a fridge. We of course already put it on a 20a with dining room recepts only.

Thanks guys, this forum is the best resource ever.
Tim
 
What art. is the inspector citing? You are correct-- 210.52(B). In lieu of putting the refrig on the SABC you can install an individual 15 amp cir. 210.52(B) except. 2
 
I take this is a household -20 reffer. I don't see this as a safety issue and I
don't see the NEC addressing it as a safety issue either. IMO your inspector
is wrong.
 
I keep thinking he is wrong, he has not cited any code articles, but supposedly he is coming in our shop tomorrow with his "presentation", but I have a suspicion he is only mandating this as a local code
 
Dennis Alwon said:
What art. is the inspector citing? You are correct-- 210.52(B). In lieu of putting the refrig on the SABC you can install an individual 15 amp cir. 210.52(B) except. 2
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A while back this raged on for pages...15A or 20A....sure code says 15A - but the question was: Is 15A enough?

I personally did the research and found no refrig. for the home requiring more than 15A.

Time goes by and things may have changed in appliance world....but IMHO, you won't find a resi. frig rated for more than 15A - of course, anyone that has the time can update us all :smile:
 
Praedatus1 said:
I keep thinking he is wrong, he has not cited any code articles, but supposedly he is coming in our shop tomorrow with his "presentation", but I have a suspicion he is only mandating this as a local code
Click to expand...

That's what I would have expected. Is the "Local Code" made public?
 
celtic said:
A while back this raged on for pages...15A or 20A....sure code says 15A - but the question was: Is 15A enough?

I personally did the research and found no refrig. for the home requiring more than 15A..........
Click to expand...

Try installing Vikings or SubZeros. Many spec a dedicated 20a.
 
Karl H said:
That's why I asked if this a -20 (Common household fridge). Almost
all Vikings and SubZeros spec a ded circuit.
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The op was asking what the NEC stated obviously if the equipment specs something else then we must follow the manufacturers spec. I personally think this is a bunch of bunk.

I wired a wine cooler that used 3 amps and called for a dedicated cir-- that's trash.
 
480sparky said:
Try installing Vikings or SubZeros. Many spec a dedicated 20a.
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I remember a past discussion about this. I promised a full steak dinner for anyone who could find a Viking or Subzero that spec'd a 20 amp circuit. As far as I can recall, there were no takers on my offer because none could be found.

And furthermore, did the ones that spec'd a 20 amp circuit have a 20 amp cord cap?
 
Dennis Alwon said:
Yeah but I bet they don't draw more than 8 or 10 amps.
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I don't care what they actually draw. I care about that the spec sheet says they need. If it says it need a dedicated 20a circuit, it gets a 20a dedicated circuit.

If it says it needs a 100a 3-phase circuit, then by golly it's gonna get a 100a 3-phase circuit.
 
480sparky said:
I don't care what they actually draw. I care about that the spec sheet says they need. If it says it need a dedicated 20a circuit, it gets a 20a dedicated circuit.

If it says it needs a 100a 3-phase circuit, then by golly it's gonna get a 100a 3-phase circuit.
Click to expand...

I always pull a 20 amp dedicated for the refrig and I did not say to go around this requirement. I was just trying to point out that it is a bogus requirement, IMO, on the side of the manufacturer. CYA deal
 
peter d said:
And furthermore, did the ones that spec'd a 20 amp circuit have a 20 amp cord cap?
Click to expand...
Excellent point. I wired a viking gas stove that required a 20 amp dedicated circuit. The cord had a 15 amp cap on it. I made Viking change it to a 20 amp cap and they did. :D
 
Dennis Alwon said:
The op was asking what the NEC stated obviously if the equipment specs something else then we must follow the manufacturers spec. I personally think this is a bunch of bunk.

I wired a wine cooler that used 3 amps and called for a dedicated cir-- that's trash.
Click to expand...

I completly agree with you. The NEC governs the SABC's, the Manufacture
Governs it's power requirments. What do you do? If the load is not known
you follow the NEC minium. If the manufacture spec's a minium Ckt.Ampacity
you follow that. Maybe the inspector looked at the detail sheet and the
installer didn't,but I doubt it.
 
Karl H said:
I completly agree with you. The NEC governs the SABC's, the Manufacture
Governs it's power requirments. What do you do? If the load is not known
you follow the NEC minium. If the manufacture spec's a minium Ckt.Ampacity
you follow that. Maybe the inspector looked at the detail sheet and the
installer didn't,but I doubt it.
Click to expand...

Sounds to me like the inspector is calling for it on all refrigerators. I pull #12 dedicated then I won't be surprised even if it comes in at 220V which has happened to me with a washing machine.
 
480sparky said:
I don't care what they actually draw. I care about that the spec sheet says they need. If it says it need a dedicated 20a circuit, it gets a 20a dedicated circuit.

If it says it needs a 100a 3-phase circuit, then by golly it's gonna get a 100a 3-phase circuit.
Click to expand...

I do the same thing if the spec sheet says,"Supply a dedicated 20 amp ckt."
That's exactly what I do even ,though it only pulls 30Ma.
 
peter d said:
I remember a past discussion about this. I promised a full steak dinner for anyone who could find a Viking or Subzero that spec'd a 20 amp circuit. As far as I can recall, there were no takers on my offer because none could be found.

And furthermore, did the ones that spec'd a 20 amp circuit have a 20 amp cord cap?
Click to expand...

Make mine well done.
Baked tater, green beans, iced tea and home-made icream, please.

Viking20.jpg
 
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