What is a Circuit Breaker?
A circuit breaker is practically a safety barrier between you and your electricity. Usually, it’s stored in the laundry room and is a little, closed-off panel with lots of wall switches.
Its main job is to disconnect power when the electricity passing through exceeds the maximum load of a single circuit. It’s not just meant for the kitchen. The circuit breaker covers everything from the lighting fixtures down to the vacuum cleaner.
15 vs. 20-Amp Outlets: Which is Best?
Kitchens, in order to follow electrical code, are required to have at least two 20 amp, 120-volt countertop outlets.
Why?
Because most kitchen appliances require a minimum of 20 amps. Small appliances that require a 20 amp outlet are mixers, blenders, microwave ovens, and toasters. Large appliances should never be plugged into less than a 20 amp circuit.
With this knowledge under our belts, the question is no longer “Which is best” but rather “What do you need?”
How many outlets your kitchen has is somewhat up to you. 15 amp circuits are usually reserved for electrical devices and light fixtures such as under-cabinet lights. Most people prefer at least two outlets for devices of this kind and then several 20 amp outlets to power appliances.
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The Role of 20 Amp Circuit in Your Kitchen
Most of your kitchen appliances draw power from 20-amp circuits. Yes, that ranges from your blender to heavy-duty appliances such as a dishwasher or stove hood. Having multiple 20 amp outlets will not only protect your appliances from crowding but also even out the distribution of your countertop space.
National Electrical Code: Guiding Principles for Kitchen Outlet Safety
We did say that you get to choose how many outlets are in your kitchen, but there are home electrical circuit requirements that you must abide by.
The national electric code states that every kitchen counter over 12 inches wide must have an outlet over it. As you can already tell, how many outlets your kitchen will have isn’t entirely yours to decide.
Your kitchen must have at least two outlets for 20 amps on each countertop and at least two circuits. This is so that if a breaker trips, you still have power. Theoretically, each circuit should be able to handle as many outlets as you desire without overloading the circuit breaker, but multiple circuits will spread out your appliances and offer better protection against increased electrical demand.
According to the NEC (National Electrical Code), the breaker shouldn’t be handling more than 80% of the rated maximum power draw.
So, the total current that a 20-amp circuit draws shouldn’t be more than 16 amps. This ensures that the breaker can manage any surge in power that occurs when it has to power high-voltage appliances.
The Role of Circuit Breakers in Safeguarding Your Electrical Network
Overload Protection
Circuit breakers are designed to protect your kitchen equipment and every other electrical appliance (including all the lighting) from overheating and causing electrical fires. They do this by tripping or breaking the circuit when the current exceeds the safe maximum draw.
Short Circuit Protection
Circuit breakers also provide protection against short circuits.
They detect surges in the current caused by a short circuit and trip the circuit to prevent further damage.
Circuit breakers protect every circuit from shorting, even the dedicated circuits. A dedicated circuit is when a high-demand appliance has its own circuit. These are for things such as wall heaters.
Preventing Electrical Fires
An electrical fault can cause electrical fires if they’re not dealt with. Circuit breakers prevent this and other hazards from happening by tripping the circuit before it’s an issue.
Over the last few years, the National Electrical Code has increased the number of requirements for circuit breaker safety. Newer circuit breakers are designed with advanced safety features such as arc fault detection, which can detect and interrupt arcs before they’re a fire hazard.
Isolating Faulty Circuits
Having an organized circuit breaker allows you to access separate circuits in the event of a failure. Make sure that your circuits are all labeled clearly so that you have all the information readily available should you need it.
Easy Resetting and Restoration of Power
Oftentimes, a problem with one of your electrical outlets is as simple a fix as flipping a switch. When the breaker detects a problem with one of the circuits, it trips it to prevent any damage to your electrical appliances. You can go in and reset that same circuit with a flick of the finger.
Calculating the Number of Kitchen Outlets on a 20-Amp Circuit
Assessing Load Requirements
When determining how many receptacles you are going to have, it’s important to understand what the balance will look like for each electrical outlet. A coffee maker, for example, uses 6.25 amps, while an LED lamp uses .08 amps.
Applying the 80% Rule
Remember this rule? You shouldn’t be loading your 20 amp circuit with more than 16 amps just so that you are ensuring the breaker can handle any surges that might occur. That does limit your options a little bit, but it is best to be safe.
Considering Continuous vs. Non-Continuous Loads
Continuous loads are ones that are running at maximum expectation for three hours or more. Non-continuous loads are anything less than that.
When calculating circuit loads, it’s important to think about what you’re putting on it, not just how many amps each thing will use. For example, you won’t want to put your refrigerator on the same circuit as your lighting circuit because of the continuous, high demand necessary for each.
Ensuring NEC Compliance
When installing electrical outlets, it is standard practice to put ten outlets per circuit. This allows room for failure or surges in a way that the breaker could handle.
On top of being conscious of the NEC, you also need to be aware of any local codes that might be enforced in your area. Do your research before beginning any installation.
Ensuring Electrical Safety and Code Compliance in Your Kitchen
Generally speaking, older homes are not required to update their wiring when simple updates to the kitchen are done. However, the older systems are often undersized for the demands of a modern kitchen. If you live in an older home or are considering purchasing one, you should consider having an electrician out to look at your wiring.
Make sure you have GFCI outlets. These ground fault interrupting receptacles have been required in kitchens, bathrooms, garages, and crawl spaces by NEC since 1990. You can tell if your outlets have GFCI protection by checking the outlet faceplate. Typically, these outlets will have a red or white reset button between the receptacles.
Take Expert Suggestions
There is so much that goes into electrical and wiring. Hiring or simply consulting with a professional electrician is highly recommended. They will have years of experience to back them up, and they will be up to date on all the recent national and local electrical codes.
If you’re not comfortable working with electricity, it is better not to risk it and to call a professional.
You can search for electricians in your area by using sites such as Angi’s or Yelp. A lot of companies offer free consultations where you can get updated and informed about your choices.
Final Thoughts
The number of outlets and circuits in your kitchen is something that has several factors that go into it, as you have seen. There are a lot of somewhat tricky factors that a lot of people don’t even know to consider when designing a kitchen. However, with this article covering all the terms and a step-by-step walkthrough of the process, you can walk away feeling confident.