Kitchen Remodel Circuit ?'s

[Chris75]

In my opinion, a "dream" kitchen would have its own subpanel, each counter outlet a 4-plex, and each 4-plex on its own 20 amp breaker. There can be a high concentration of energy hogs in a kitchen such as...

Hot Plate - 1500 Watts
Coffee and Espresso Makers - 1500 Watts
Electric griddle - 1500 Watts
Bread machine - 600 Watts
Deep fryer - 1500 Watts
Microwave - 1000/1200 Watts
Etc.

Compared with a living room which might have a 200 watt TV, and several 100 watt lamps (25 watts if CFL). For the living room I would wire all the outlets on one 20 amp circuit.

Your kidding right?

[Scuba_Dave]

Thank you all for the helpful info. My main question was how many countertop outlets per circuit. I know the frustration about living in an older home, ours was built in 1914 and there's only two outlets in the kitchen right now.

How many outlets you need depends upon your counter(s) & room size. Someone posted the below diagram on another thread.
Say you had a 6' counter & that was it. I'd put an outlet at either end & one in the middle. I don't like the look of quads so it would be a duplex. I'll actually have 3 counter circuits + a 4th circuit for the sunroom (open to kitchen)
On one 5' counter I'll have 2 outlets - each on a different circuit
Across the room will be a 4' counter with 2 outlets - each on a separate circuit. Then the counter that borders the sunroom will have 3 more outlets - each on a different circuit

I've seen some high end TV/Audio setups that one 20a circuit would not be enough to supply the room. I'd run a dedicated circuit just for the Entertainment setup. When we wer hsopping for a new TV I was surprised at some 42" plasma TV's that used 500 watts!! We quickly ruled out plasma for a TV. Our 42" LCD used 205w out of the box, 95-110 watts after picture adjustment

[Billy_Bob]

Your kidding right?

No I'm not!

There are all sorts of different people and all sorts of different kitchens. I've seen some upscale large home kitchens with two side by side refrigerators and two ranges.

I heard of one house (mansion) which had 60 employees (staff, maids, butlers, gardeners, etc.) working there. I heard about that 15 years ago and am still trying to figure out what all those people would do????

For myself I only have two countertop circuits, but I am not a "Julia Child" cook by any means! (I have burned boiled chicken )

Anyway the idea is to find out how the customer/person will likely be using the kitchen and design it for *their* needs.

[jar546]

Scuba, just split them in half, 4 & 4. You can make it 7 & 1 if you want, as long as you have 2 separate 20A receptacles. If you know how you will be using your countertops then plan ahead accordingly. What you are showing looks good if your measurements are correct.

[Scuba_Dave]

Scuba, just split them in half, 4 & 4. You can make it 7 & 1 if you want, as long as you have 2 separate 20A receptacles. If you know how you will be using your countertops then plan ahead accordingly. What you are showing looks good if your measurements are correct.

Actually there will be 3 circuits (that diagram is not my kitchen - just an example someone posted
I know what I typed makes it seem like a lot of circuits
But the 5' countertop will share both circuits with the 4' counter top & the countertop that borders the sunroom. I know its more wire to run across the room, but I want 2 circuits on each counter instead of 1 circuit.
It will be a big improvement over the 1 circuit that used to run everything including the fridge
I seperated the fridge onto its own 15a circuit
Then I seperated the 2 (yes only 2) outlets each onto a 20a circuit
I then added the 3rd circuit

We had the toaster (800w) & microwave (1100w) plugged into a surge protector & it kicked out. Turns out of course it was only 15a surge. So now the toaster is on the surge plugged into the 3rd circuit. The microwave is plugged into the 2nd circuit. Our toaster oven (1500w) is plugged into the 1st circuit
This doesn't even count the coffee maker, cappuccino machine, pancake hotplate, blender, can opener, crock pot & other items that may be plugged in

I think 2 circuits as the minimum is fine. But it makes sense to have 3 circuits given the appliances we use
Usually its only when you are having a party, Christmas, Thanksgiving etc that you need the extra power. But that's what I am planning for

This is a friends house in Ohio - over 12,000 sq ft
I haven't been out to visit, but I am sure they have quite the electric setup

[Billy_Bob]

...Usually its only when you are having a party, Christmas, Thanksgiving etc that you need the extra power...

Yes, that is what all the circuits are for! Those one or two days a year.

As to the picture of the house above, I once went on a service call to a house something like that. The people said they wanted to get the repairs taken care of before they left for their "summer home"!

[Scuba_Dave]

Yes, I try to plan for "events", between the 200 main & a 100a sub I have plenty of room to spread circuits out & still have empty spaces. So it makes sense to do so for the possible heavier use areas

Yeah, they bought the property - the house that was on it was maybe 1/2 million - 700k. It was bulldozed. It took a while for the new house to be built = imported this, imported that
My wife took the pics, one day I'll see it in person