I want to update the upstairs electrical in my house. The 2nd story is currently on one circuit, knob and tube. How many circuits should I run from my basement to my attic? I don't have a good place to install a sub-panel, so I'm not looking at that as an option. I have 4 bedrooms and 1 full bath upstairs. I'm thinking minimum 4 circuits (2 bedrooms/circuit and 2 circuits for bath). I want the bathroom to be ready for future installation of exhaust fan and wall heater. I'm planning on running 12/2 AWG. Can I run the wiring using those plastic cable stackers, or is that too many runs of wiring, too close together?

I would suggest two circuits for bedroom receptacles, split up evenly, one circuit for bedroom and bathroom lighting, one circuit for bath GFI receptacle and fan. The heater will need a circuit alone.

Any window air conditioners should have their own circuits.

All bedroom wiring will need Arc Fault breakers, so only pull 2 wire circuits, no 3 wire using a shared neutral.

Bathroom circuits do not need Arc Fault, only the receptacle needs to be GFI.

Each bedroom will need one smoke detector, with a 5th one in the common area of that level, all interconnected with 3 wire cable, and interconnected with the other required detectors on the other levels of the home.

You do need to check local codes. National code requires smoke detectors be Arc Fault protected, some local codes waive this requirement, which makes more sense to me.

The stackers are for the purpose of supporting multiple cables on a vertical framing member so they have ample clearance to prevent screws/nails from damaging the cables. They should work fine for these runs up the walls to this level.

I can't see your answer, tkrussell. I got a notice saying you answered my question but I click on the link and it says, "sorry, no answers yet"

OK, now I see the answer. Must have been a glitch

Thanks for your quick response. This information will be helpful in planning the update.