Home electrical question

[ADChevy4x4]

Originally Posted by Screwzer2

I dunno, I haven't priced wire in a while, but on a 20A 12ga circuit you can have more receptacles, right?

I did one of my places that way and it didn't cost much more, if at all.

I like knowing a can run a 1 hp motor in any room of the house.

More receptacles on a 20 amp circuit? Not really in a residence.Aside from the required outlets for the kitchen,bath etc,it's a minimum of one circuit per 500 square feet.

[Screwzer2]

Originally Posted by ADChevy4x4

More receptacles on a 20 amp circuit? Not really in a residence.Aside from the required outlets for the kitchen,bath etc,it's a minimum of one circuit per 500 square feet.

You can have 13 receptacles on a 20 amp circuit. I think its only 8 (without checking my book) of 15 amp.

[wizard_Drd]

Originally Posted by Screwzer2

You can have 13 receptacles on a 20 amp circuit. I think its only 8 (without checking my book) of 15 amp.

That's commercial. No limit on residential in the NEC. Edit: of course up to interpretation by your AHJ.

[Travis Waldher]

Originally Posted by fourlofirst

Travis, code says 20A circuit for bathrooms. You can share bathrooms on 1 circuit (I never do) or put the bathroom lights on it, but not both.

I've seen 14/2/2, but rarely here. I thought it was a neat idea considering all the AFCI bullshit we have to do now (no more sharing neutrals, wich isn't an issue normally anyway ).

House wiring isn't that hard, but it easy to overthink it and make it a lot more complicated than it has to be.

Really? Heh, learn something new every day.

Not that it matters to me, everything in this house is 12ga wire, damn near every circuit has a 20A breaker behind it.

[Hiapo]

So the plugs and lights in a bathroom need to be on their own circuit? I'm remodeling a bathroom right now, and pulled 12/2 for everything, which is better than it was before. They had two bathrooms and a master bedroom on one circuit.

[Grim Reaper]

Originally Posted by Hiapo

So the plugs and lights in a bathroom need to be on their own circuit? I'm remodeling a bathroom right now, and pulled 12/2 for everything, which is better than it was before. They had two bathrooms and a master bedroom on one circuit.

I'll raise you a Kitchen, exterior floods and a garage on one circuit till I put the sub box in and pulled the outlets off it.
The original design however was for a carport with no outlets. The builder enclosed it but never updated the electric to reflect a garage.

[ADChevy4x4]

All this code requirements are for work being inspected and or you're doing it for money.
On your own house you can do as you please within reasonable limits.The limits being the correct size wire on the correct breaker or fuse and proper outlet devices. And most important is good workmanship on wire joints and terminations.
If you run a few extra things on the bathroom circuit and it's done correctly,no big deal.
However,keep in mind,if there a fire or personal injury and the cause is determined to be building electrical....An insurance company can limit their damage payments if they find shit faced wiring that you were aware of.

[fourlofirst]

Originally Posted by Hiapo

So the plugs and lights in a bathroom need to be on their own circuit? I'm remodeling a bathroom right now, and pulled 12/2 for everything, which is better than it was before. They had two bathrooms and a master bedroom on one circuit.

The plugs need a 20A circuit, the lights can be on a local lighting ckt. You can share bathroom plugs on one ckt, but not lights and plugs. If you put the lights on the 20A bathroom ckt, it can't leave that bathroom.
Confused now? sorry!

Best idea is to run a 12/2 home run to each bathroom for it's plugs. If more than 1 plug in a bathroom then you can load out of the first gfi to the second plug. Don't waste $ on a 20A gfi

Run the fan and lights off the local (15A) lighting ckt.

In Ca (at least) you need a fan now whether there's an operable window or not. I like to put them on timers, people seem to use them more if they don't have to remember to turn them off.

[fourlofirst]

Originally Posted by ADChevy4x4

All this code requirements are for work being inspected and or you're doing it for money.
On your own house you can do as you please within reasonable limits.The limits being the correct size wire on the correct breaker or fuse and proper outlet devices. And most important is good workmanship on wire joints and terminations.
If you run a few extra things on the bathroom circuit and it's done correctly,no big deal.
However,keep in mind,if there a fire or personal injury and the cause is determined to be building electrical....An insurance company can limit their damage payments if they find shit faced wiring that you were aware of.

But if you know the "right way", why not try to do it, inspections or not?
Start loading up circuits, then the next guy buries a j box or two, then...

Slippery slope

[Soundguy]

Can we somehow stop Screwzer and Piggy from ever posting in the same electrical related threads? Both of them together is just too much stupid for one conversation.

[toymoto]

My house burned down just reading this thread.

[Soundguy]

Originally Posted by toymoto

My house burned down just reading this thread.

I've spent the last 48 hours pulling romex so I can get every outlet in my house on it's own breaker, this afternoon I'm going to start driving my 8 new ground rods just to make sure I have everything covered.

[Hiapo]

Originally Posted by fourlofirst

The plugs need a 20A circuit, the lights can be on a local lighting ckt. You can share bathroom plugs on one ckt, but not lights and plugs. If you put the lights on the 20A bathroom ckt, it can't leave that bathroom.
Confused now? sorry!

Best idea is to run a 12/2 home run to each bathroom for it's plugs. If more than 1 plug in a bathroom then you can load out of the first gfi to the second plug. Don't waste $ on a 20A gfi

Run the fan and lights off the local (15A) lighting ckt.

In Ca (at least) you need a fan now whether there's an operable window or not. I like to put them on timers, people seem to use them more if they don't have to remember to turn them off.

No, i got it. I also just read the NEC on branch circuits, and as I understand it, I can wire it just as you said. I'm just going to leave it like it is, the bathroom has its own dedicated circuit and does not leave the bathroom, so everything can be on that circuit.

[hogcat]

If you want to be real safe, have every outlet on a separate circuit and install a sub panel in every room to hold all the breakers you will need and have a 500 amp main service. (3 phase of course!)

[fourlofirst]

Originally Posted by toymoto

My house burned down just reading this thread.

So you're the reason I gotta put in $40 AFCI breakers on everything not GFCI'd or dedidacted huh?!?!

[toymoto]

Originally Posted by fourlofirst

So you're the reason I gotta put in $40 AFCI breakers on everything not GFCI'd or dedidacted huh?!?!

They make a combonation AFCI/GFCI breaker now.

[Soundguy]

Originally Posted by toymoto

They make a combonation AFCI/GFCI breaker now.

I personally can't wait for the new 21amp AFCI/ATF/GFCI/NAACP/AARP breaker.

[fourlofirst]

Originally Posted by toymoto

They make a combonation AFCI/GFCI breaker now.

You shaddup!

Originally Posted by Soundguy

I personally can't wait for the new 21amp AFCI/ATF/GFCI/NAACP/AARP breaker.

We are in Ca, I wouldn't be surprised if its in next year's title 24 requirements

[Travis Waldher]

Originally Posted by fourlofirst

But if you know the "right way", why not try to do it, inspections or not?
Start loading up circuits, then the next guy buries a j box or two, then...

Slippery slope

you find 42 j-boxes within 5-10' of the panel, wired up in what appears to be a mesh network, and the wire capped wires left inside of insulated walls with no box.

Originally Posted by Soundguy

I've spent the last 48 hours pulling romex so I can get every outlet in my house on it's own breaker, this afternoon I'm going to start driving my 8 new ground rods just to make sure I have everything covered.

Now, if you (or any of us) were thinking ahead, you would have driven those 8 new ground rods while your ground was saturated.