What is the practice in your area?
Run an individual branch circuit?
Connect it to one of the 20-ampere small-appliance branch circuits?
The correct answer and explanation is :
The correct practice is to run an individual branch circuit.
Here’s the explanation:
In residential electrical systems, the National Electrical Code (NEC) provides guidelines on how circuits should be designed and implemented to ensure safety and efficiency. A common practice for providing power to specific appliances or equipment is to run an individual branch circuit. This involves creating a circuit dedicated to a specific appliance or device rather than sharing a circuit with other devices.
Reasons for running an individual branch circuit:
- Code Compliance: According to the NEC, appliances like refrigerators, dishwashers, and certain other major appliances need to have their own dedicated circuits. This is crucial because these appliances often require more power and could cause overloading or interference if connected to a shared circuit.
- Safety: An individual branch circuit reduces the risk of overloading a circuit, especially when the appliance draws a significant current. Overloaded circuits can lead to overheating, fire hazards, or tripped breakers.
- Preventing Disruptions: If an appliance is connected to a shared circuit and it malfunctions or is turned off, it may disrupt power to other appliances on the same circuit. This is avoided when an appliance has its own dedicated circuit.
- Capacity and Efficiency: A dedicated circuit can be sized appropriately for the device’s power requirements. For instance, a 20-ampere circuit is typical for small appliances, ensuring that the circuit can handle the load safely without frequent tripping.
Why not connect it to a 20-ampere small-appliance branch circuit?
While it may seem convenient to connect certain appliances to an existing small-appliance branch circuit, it’s not always the best practice. Connecting multiple devices to the same circuit can easily exceed the circuit’s load capacity. For example, a microwave or toaster could easily cause overloading when used alongside other small appliances like toasters or coffee makers on a shared 20-ampere circuit.
Thus, running an individual branch circuit ensures that each appliance receives the proper power supply without overloading or safety risks.