Kitchen Split Receptacle Circuit
For split receptacle wiring you will need to use 14 3 or 12 3 wire.
Kitchen split receptacle circuit. Another application for split receptacles is to wire them so that they are fed by different electrical circuits as is sometimes done in kitchen wiring where one small appliance circuit controls the top receptacle in each outlet while another small appliance circuit controls the bottom receptacle in each outlet. It is the only outlet on the circuit. It has the same wires as the regular plug but now there is a red wire in the mix. It is wired as a split receptacle with 12 3 wire 2 pole 15a at breaker.
The nec requires the kitchen to have at least two 120 volt 120v 20 ampere 20a small appliance branch circuits for receptacles. Wall receptacles provided in a kitchen are required to be supplied by a separate circuit. So if you are using a toaster plugged into the top half and it is using 8a on circuit 1 and the coffee maker plugged into the bottom half using 6 amps then the neutral will only be carrying 2 amps of current back to the panel. If so do i label the capped disconnected reds on either end.
Split receptacle with 2 circuits. Given that many kitchens are now used as general living areas and that receptacles are now required to be provided along the kitchen wall in the same fashion as a living room there is no longer a need for a. I have one outlet on the kitchen counter wall near the sink. Split receptacles are examined in depth including the wiring of a 3 wire split receptacle circuit from the breaker to the device.
One strategy is to wire the switched outlet to one circuit and the always on outlet to a different circuit altogether. Most of these receptacles are on the walls above the countertops and because they are likely to see a lot of use they must be split evenly between the two circuits to prevent overloading. However this requirement predates the requirement for counter receptacles and circuits. To avoid a 150 gcfi breaker can i install a gcfi receptacle cap off the red disconnect the red at the panel and change the breaker to 20a.
Applications for split outlets. Turn the power off before starting this or any wiring project. Depending on the make and model of your electrical panel you may be able to obtain a two pole gfci circuit breaker for it. Because the two circuits are from opposite sides of the panel the neutral will only carry the unbalance load.
A split receptacle also requires a 2 pole breaker. Such a configuration is often used in kitchens where two circuits power several split receptacles above the countertop with one circuit powered the top halves the other circuit powering the lower halves. Although cheaper it is not a good way to get a new hairstyle. As mentioned a receptacle can be split and receive power from two circuits.