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Serving Lawrence, Butler, Mercer & Beaver Counties

In Western Pennsylvania

Code question faq

Residential

Question = How many small Appliance circuits our needed in your kitchen?

First we need to understand the definition of a small appliance the NEC states, SMALL APPLIANCE BRANCH CIRCUIT. A circuit that supplies electrical energy to one or more outlets to which appliances are to be connected is called an appliance branch circuit. These circuits are not to have any permanently connected lighting fixtures that are not a part of an appliance.

With that said the answer is 2 or more 20 amp circurts per NEC Section 210.52 (B).Section 210.52(B) of the 2017 National Electrical Code (NEC) requires that two or more 20- ampere small appliance branch circuits be provided to serve the receptacle outlets in the kitchen, pantry, breakfast room, dining room or similar area of a dwelling unit.

Commercial

Question how many wires can you install 3/4 conduit?

Answer This question is a little tricky, the amount of wires would depend on the size of the wires that you will be pulling into the conduit. The most common wires for a 3/4 conduit would be number 12, 10, and 8 gauge wire.  (16) number 12 wires, (10) number 10 wires and (6) number 8 wires can fit.  However de-rating the wires have to occur for any wires over 3 current carrying conductors.  The Definition of a current carrying conductor, is any hot or neutral wire, the ground wire is not counted. De-rating is necessary to adjust for the heat created by the circuits.  Taking this into consideration we will need to visit the NEC Table 310.15(B)(3)(a) which shows the percentage you will need to calculate per amount of current carrying conductors in the conduit. You will also need the NEC ampacity table 310.15(b)(16).  looking at these 2 tables it shows that number 12 thhn wire is rated at 30 amps, If we want to use this wire on a 20 amp circuit we can only install up to 9 wires in the conduit reducing our ampacity to 21 amps, if more wires would be necessary than we would have to increase the size of the wire.

Pools and Hot Tubs

Where should I place my spa panel

Answer 680.12 Maintenance Disconnecting Means. One or more means to simultaneous disconnect all ungrounded conductor shall be provided for all utilization equipment other than lighting. Each means shall be readily accessible and within sight from its equipment and shall be located at least 1.5m (5ft) horizontally from the inside walls of a pool, spa, or hot tub unless separated from the open water by a permanently install barrier that provides a 1.5m (5 ft) reach path or greater. This horizontal distance is to be measured from the water's edge along the shortest path required to reach the disconnect.