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Kitchen Outlets and Circuit Wiring

Guide to Wiring Kitchen Electrical Circuits:Electrical Circuit Requirements for Kitchen Outlets, 120 Volt Small Appliance Circuits, 120 Volt Outlet Circuits, 240 Volt Dedicated Circuits.


Home Electrical Wiring Video

How to Wire a GFCI Outlet
without a Ground Wire

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Guide to Wiring Kitchen Electrical Circuits

[ad#block]Electrical Question: Everything I read about kitchen outlets on the internet and in the NFPA says that the outlets serving the counter tops in a kitchen in my case this all of the outlets in the kitchen except the dedicated circuit for the refrigerator must be supplied by at least 2 circuits.

However, the electrician and inspector says that the entire kitchen must be supplied by 2 circuits and there are no separate requirements for the outlets.
Am I totally off base?

This electrical wiring question came from: Sue, a Homeowner from Rockville, MD.

Additional Comments: very helpful

Dave’s Reply:
Thanks for your electrical wiring question Sue.

How to Wire Kitchen Outlet Circuits

Electrical Circuit Requirements for Kitchen Outlets
Sue, this may be a matter of interpretation, however the NEC electrical code requires the following:

Electrical Circuits for the Kitchen area are also required for large appliances such as:

All of these items having their own specific circuit requirements in addition to the counter top outlets.

More about Kitchen Electrical Wiring

outlet-wiring
Wiring Electrical Outlet for the Home
Home electrical wiring includes 110 volt outlets and 220 volt outlets and receptacles which are common place in every home.
See how wiring electrical outlets for the home are done.

Electrical circuit
home-electrical-circuits
Electric Circuit Listing
The size of the home electrical service panel is designed by calculating the square footage of the home and factoring in the code requirements for the electrical circuits that are required.

How to Install Kitchen Electrical Wiring
kitchen-electrical-wiring
Kitchen Electrical Wiring
Fully Explained Photos and Wiring Diagrams for Kitchen Electrical Wiring with Code Requirements for most new or remodel projects.

For more information about Circuit Wiring
Circuit Wiring
Circuit Wiring
Electrical Circuit Wiring
This article looks at common 120 volt and 240 volt house wiring circuits and the circuit breakers that are installed identifying the types and amperage sizes used in most homes.

This link is helpful as a Homeowner
Do-It-Yourself Electrical


The following may also be helpful for you:

Dave's Guide to Home Electrical Wiring:

» You Can Avoid Costly Mistakes! «

Here's How to Do It:
Wire It Right with the help of my Illustrated Wiring Book

Great for any Home Wiring Project.
  electrical wiring  

Complete Guide to Home Electrical Wiring

Perfect for Homeowners, Students,
Handyman, Handy Women, and Electricians
Includes:
Wiring GFCI Outlets
Wiring Home Electric Circuits
120 Volt and 240 Volt Outlet Circuits
Wiring Light Switches
Wiring 3-Wire and 4-Wire Electric Range
Wiring 3-Wire and 4-Wire Dryer Cord and Dryer Outlet
How to Troubleshoot and Repair Electrical Wiring
Wiring Methods for Upgrading Electrical Wiring
NEC Codes for Home Electrical Wiring
....and much more.


Learn more about Home Electrical Wiring
with my Online Video Course:
Basic Home Electrical Wiring by Example


Be Careful and Be Safe - Never Work on Energized Circuits!
Consult your Local Building Department about Permits and Inspections for all Electric Wiring Projects.

Electrical Tips to Help You Wire it Right

The Safest Way to Test Electrical Devices and Identify Electric Wires!

The Non-Contact Electrical Tester
This is a testing tool that I have had in my personal electrical tool pouch for years, and is the first test tool I grab to help identify electrical wiring. It is a Non-contact tester that I use to easily Detect Voltage in Cables, Cords, Circuit Breakers, Lighting Fixtures, Switches, Outlets and Wires. Simply insert the end of the tester into an outlet, lamp socket, or hold the end of the tester against the wire you wish to test. Very handy and easy to use.

The Quickest Way to Check for Faulty Electrical Wiring!

The Plug-In Outlet Tester
This is the first tool I grab to troubleshoot a problem with outlet circuit wiring. This popular tester is also used by most inspectors to test for power and check the polarity of circuit wiring.
It detects probable improper wiring conditions in standard 110-125 VAC outlets Provides 6 probable wiring conditions that are quick and easy to read for ultimate efficiency Lights indicate if wiring is correct and indicator light chart is included Tests standard 3-wire outlets UL Listed Light indicates if wiring is incorrect Very handy and easy to use.

Strip Off Wire Insulation without Nicking and Damaging the Electric Wire!

The Wire Stripper and Wire Cutter
My absolute favorite wire stripping tool that I have had in my personal electrical tool pouch for years, and this is the tool I use to safely strip electrical wires.
This handy tool has multiple uses:
The wire gauges are shown on the side of the tool so you know which slot to use for stripping insulation.
The end of the tool can be used to grip and bend wire which is handy for attaching wire onto the screw terminals of switches and outlets..

The wire stripper will work on both solid and stranded wire. This tool is Very Handy and Easy to Use.


More articles about Counter Top Outlets and Home Electrical Wiring:
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FAQs Frequently Asked Questions and Comments

4 Responses to “Kitchen Outlets and Circuit Wiring”
  1. frank says:

    Hi,
    I replaced a defective 20 amp ground fault duplex outlet in my kitchen with a new 15 amp ground fault duplex outlet on a 20 amp circuit.
    Am I going to have a big problem?
    Frank

  2. Dave Rongey says:

    Hi Frank,
    No, that will not cause any problems at all, you just will not be able to plug in a 20 amp device that has the angle prong and that is usually not a problem, in fact I can’t remember the last time I have seen a 20 amp plug on anything used in the kitchen. You may have noticed that the 15 amp GFI receptacle had a 20 amp feed through rating, most of the name brands do, so it’s not a problem. The electrical code says you can install a 15 amp receptacle on a 20 amp circuit, but you cannot install a 20 amp receptacle on a 15 amp circuit because that could cause the circuit to become overloaded.
    Dave

  3. Leah says:

    Hi,
    I have a chef spitfire stove to put in. My connection has the two hot wires that are black, red and the green earth ground wire. I’m not sure where the red and black wires go the back of the stove.
    It says 1 A / 2 N / A
    Thanks

  4. Dave Rongey says:

    Hi Leah,
    A standard 240 volt stove circuit typically has a black and red wire which connect to the corresponding leads provided on the stove. The bare ground and green earth ground are connected together as well. For specific connection details and the circuit requirements please consult the installation manual which came with the chef spitfire stove.
    Dave