Every major appliance requires its own circuit and breaker. But can another outlet share the neutral? Specifically, would it be acceptable to run 14-3 to the outlet box for the fridge, use it as an accessible junction box (sufficiently large and competently connected), and run to another outlet?
Replies
"Every major appliance requires its own circuit and breaker. "
Only for those appliacnes that draw 10% or more of the rated circuit.
But to your question. Yes, it is called a multi-wire circuit.
There are a number of requirements. Two important are that it has to be supplied by breakers on different legs.
And that you have to pigtail the neutrals, can't just the receptacle for the junciton.
Do a search on multi-wire and you will find a number of reasons that many electricans don't like them.
Thanks for quick reply and I did find a lot more through search. Shoulda remembered to search first of course.
You might want to check with your local inspector, but were I live the Fridge does not require a dedicated circuit. It is just part of the kitchens branch circuits. Mike.
Take a look at your appliance loads before either pulling 14/3 circuits to them,or ganging them up on the 2 small appliance circuits required in the kitchen by Code.
My refrigerator draws 11.2 amps and the microwave 13 amps.Why push the ampacity of #14 wire,what are you really saving?
I don't have any problem with running a 12/3 w/g for two 20 amp circuits.
Again, just plumb forgot to do advanced search first, but thanks so much for replies.
"What are we saving?" Just enough time fishing and repairing plaster holes to take 5 minutes to ask if it is necessary. We could ensure all the details are checked today, and get away with it. But then someone in the future could omit to keep the two hots on opposite legs of the panel, or innocently upgrade an appliance....
Nope, we're perfectly happy to take the extra effort and won't get annoyed at the extra effort because (thanks to Breaktimers) we know why.
Besides, we love being on the right side of "holier than thou" when a friend says, "you guys wasted time and money, all I did was..." and one can come back with a proper explanation.