What year did the NEC require that washing machines must have their own dedicated 20 Amp circuit?

[Rgator53]

Trying to figure out when the requirement for a dedicated 20 amp circuit per residential washing machine was added to the NEC?

I no longer have my old codebooks to look this up myself, but I am pretty sure this has been a requirement since 1978.

Thanks in advance,

R

 

[Greentagger]

Not for the specifically for the washing machine, but for the “laundry area”.

 

[goldstar]

I am pretty sure this has been a requirement since 1978.

I think you may be correct. In fact, in looking at the wiring in my own house (which was built in the 60's), the EC wired my dishwasher, family room, laundry area and master BR on the same 15A circuit. I want to find him and hang him from the highest tree on my property :-(
Not sure he was compliant at the time.

 

[infinity]

1968: {220-3(b)}

 

[mbrooke]

I think you may be correct. In fact, in looking at the wiring in my own house (which was built in the 60's), the EC wired my dishwasher, family room, laundry area and master BR on the same 15A circuit. I want to find him and hang him from the highest tree on my property :-(
Not sure he was compliant at the time.

Way back when, when everything wasn't fast passed (laundry, vacuum, dishwasher, air fryer, ect) all running at the same time getting the kids to after school activities might have been adequate.

Remember that the mom was usually at home in the 50s. So she would do the laundry before noon, make lunch, then vaccuum, then make dinner while the kids played outside, then turn on the DW, then everyone would sit around the TV later that night after the DW was done with its 30 minute cycle.. In short the same 15 amp circuit never over loaded.

 

[goldstar]

Way back when, when everything wasn't fast passed (laundry, vacuum, dishwasher, air fryer, ect) all running at the same time getting the kids to after school activities might have been adequate.

Remember that the mom was usually at home in the 50s. So she would do the laundry before noon, make lunch, then vaccuum, then make dinner while the kids played outside, then turn on the DW, then everyone would sit around the TV later that night after the DW was done with its 30 minute cycle.. In short the same 15 amp circuit never over loaded.

Understood, but I still want to hang the guy

 

[goldstar]

1968: {220-3(b)}

I knew you would come through !!!

 

[mbrooke]

Understood, but I still want to hang the guy

I've learned to let go, though I have to admit for me that is tough struggle. I still want to find the guy that just losely twisted all the grounds in my house with no wire nut, crimp or even soldier.

 

[infinity]

I knew you would come through !!!

My wife regularly asks me why I have a shelf full of code books that I never use. I told her don't say never.

 

[mbrooke]

My wife regularly asks me why I have a shelf full of code books that I never use. I told her don't say never.

Your wife has no idea how lucky she is to be married to you. Being an electrician carries on orders of magnitude more accomplishment than an olympian or a curer of disease.

 

[infinity]

Your wife has no idea how lucky she is to be married to you. Being an electrician carries on orders of magnitude more accomplishment than an olympian or a curer of disease.

She is lucky but I wouldn't go that far.

 

[retirede]

Way back when, when everything wasn't fast passed (laundry, vacuum, dishwasher, air fryer, ect) all running at the same time getting the kids to after school activities might have been adequate.

Remember that the mom was usually at home in the 50s. So she would do the laundry before noon, make lunch, then vaccuum, then make dinner while the kids played outside, then turn on the DW, then everyone would sit around the TV later that night after the DW was done with its 30 minute cycle.. In short the same 15 amp circuit never over loaded.

The average home didn’t even have a (non-human) dishwasher in the 50s. There were some, but mostly just the very wealthy. They started becoming more widely adopted in the 60s, and by the early 70s almost every average home had one.

Still, your point is valid!

 

[mbrooke]

The average home didn’t even have a (non-human) dishwasher in the 50s. There were some, but mostly just the very wealthy. They started becoming more widely adopted in the 60s, and by the early 70s almost every average home had one.

Still, your point is valid!

Yup, that is true. Simpler times.

 

[mbrooke]

She is lucky but I wouldn't go that far.

People take way to much for granted.

 

[DBoone]

I've learned to let go, though I have to admit for me that is tough struggle. I still want to find the guy that just losely twisted all the grounds in my house with no wire nut, crimp or even soldier.

I’ve learned to let that go. It is so common I have become desensitized to it

 

[jmellc]

The average home didn’t even have a (non-human) dishwasher in the 50s. There were some, but mostly just the very wealthy. They started becoming more widely adopted in the 60s, and by the early 70s almost every average home had one.

Still, your point is valid!

We got our first dishwasher about the mid 70's.

 

[kwired]

Way back when, when everything wasn't fast passed (laundry, vacuum, dishwasher, air fryer, ect) all running at the same time getting the kids to after school activities might have been adequate.

Remember that the mom was usually at home in the 50s. So she would do the laundry before noon, make lunch, then vaccuum, then make dinner while the kids played outside, then turn on the DW, then everyone would sit around the TV later that night after the DW was done with its 30 minute cycle.. In short the same 15 amp circuit never over loaded.

That was about the time washers became more of an automated multi-cycle machine and you didn't have to be there while it was running though. So you could get it started then go do some other task while it automatically ran through it's cycles.

 

[Smash]

Way back when, when everything wasn't fast passed (laundry, vacuum, dishwasher, air fryer, ect) all running at the same time getting the kids to after school activities might have been adequate.

Remember that the mom was usually at home in the 50s. So she would do the laundry before noon, make lunch, then vaccuum, then make dinner while the kids played outside, then turn on the DW, then everyone would sit around the TV later that night after the DW was done with its 30 minute cycle.. In short the same 15 amp circuit never over loaded.

You mean it didn’t blow the fuse.