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Residential electrical wiring circuit question?
Only answers from actual electricians please.
First, I'm in rural MN.
When roughing in my new home, do I run a separate circuit for the bathroom lights and fan, or link it to the GFI breaker circuit for the receptacles?
Same Question for the Arc detect breakers for bedrooms, do I put bedroom ceiling fan/lights on a different circuit?
Answer:
OK, you got it! :D
The GFCI in the bathroom and Arc Fault detectors are only required by code for the receptacles. I would recommend against putting any lights on these circuits, especially the AFCI ones, as standard toggle light switches can arc a little when being turned off, causing the system to shut down...
When I spark up a house, I run ONLY lights and ceiling fans off that particular breaker. This keeps any lights from shutting off if someone, say, runs the microwave while a space heater is on (I hate stumbling in the dark to reset breakers :). Use a 20 amp breaker, 12 gauge wire, and if all your bulbs are compact flourescent, you will never come close to capacity (you've got 20 amps times 112.5 volts = 2250 watts, times 80% safety margin, 1800 watts to play with That's a lotta compact flourescents!). Keep in mind, though, that each light fixture you install is ASSUMED by code to have a 100 watt load. Per bulb. The inspector will most likely check this. Oh, and on that note, the code assumes each receptacle you install will have a 150 watt load. You are allowed 12 receptacles max per 20 amp circuit, I install less! Except! AFCI breakers can only have 6 max.
However, if you are running a light/fan/heater in the bathroom, it will want a breaker of its very own...
I will admit, when I wire a house, I tend to go a bit overboard. I give the fridge and the microwave dedicated circuits (each gets its very own breaker), along with any freezers. I also make sure the garbage disposal is on a GFI circuit, or at least has a GFI receptacle, cause it's under the sink with the supply lines, and if one of those springs a leak... Last I checked, this is not required by code (which may have changed), but, better safe than sorry.
"Hey, I'm a professional. I do this for a Lii-ii-iiving!"
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