I am finishing my basement in my house that was built in 2004 in Cheyenne WY. I have reviewed wiring diagrams and am now questioning my work to be sure it will be fine. Our basement will have three rooms (Bath/Laundry Room (11'x11'), Family Room(24'x11') and a Bedroom(11.5'x14.5'). For the outlets there is one 12ga wire coming from the panel, 15amp breaker, to the Washer outlet (GFI). I have branched off that with 14ga wire to power 11 outlets total throughout the basement on this one circuit, is this OK? Off another 15a circuit for the lighting throughout the basement I have 11 lighting (60w) fixtures total powered off one circuit, is this OK? Also, do light switches count as a fixture?

The washer needs to be a separate dedicated circuit, with no other outlets on it.

Washer does not need to be GFI.

Since your using all #12 wire, I would use 20 amp breakers.

The family room and bedroom needs Arc Fault circuit breakers.

The bedroom needs a smoke detector, the family room needs another, and these two need to interconnect with others in the home.

Switches are not counted as outlets, such as receptacles and light outlets.

For the outlets there is one 12ga wire coming from the panel, 15amp breaker, to the Washer outlet (GFI). I have branched off of that with 14ga wire to power 11 outlets total throughout the basement on this one circuit, is this ok?


Tk, with this quote, would you still use a 20 amp breaker? I'm just curious. Thanks

Oh crap, good catch PT.

Sorry there Kev, you got #14 wire in the circuit, why I do not know if you started with #12, therefore you are now limited to the 15 amp breakre you mentioned.

Or, if the #12 can be dedicated to the washer, it can be a 20 amp CB, and since you need to separate the remining circuit it can be the 15 amp.

Thanks guys! The #12 wire was originally there for the washer, I added the GFI outlet because I wanted to add two outlets to my laundry/bathroom, now that I am eduacted that these need to be isolated to this room only I will separate the connections for the other rooms. I will add the arc breaker for the family room and bedroom. My power panel is full but I think I can reduce another normal 15a for two skinny 15a breakers. I am alos being told that my lighting set up is good to go? I called the local inspectors.