Hi,

First of all, let me apolgise for waffling on in this post, I have tried to keep this concise and relevant, and I have researched quite a lot into this and extended my DIY library in the process.I am currently in the process of remodelling my kitchen and have a few questions that I can't find a definitive answer to in the books that I have purchased.

First of all let me explain the setup that is currently in my kitchen. The kitchen has a laundry area framed out in one corner of the room. From what I can see there are the following circuits currently in the kitchen -

1 x 30Amp cct for the electric range (unused as we have a gas oven and range)
1 x 30Amp cct for an electric dryer (unused as we have an electric dryer)
1 x 20Amp cct for a gas range (used for ignition only)
1 x 15Amp cct for Dishwasher and Disposal
1 x 20Amp small appliance cct - only have a kettle plugged in.
1 x 20 Amp laundry cct (this isn't contained in the laundry and has receptacles in the main kitchen area, indeed the fridge is plugged into this cct).

My new appliances are a gas range and separate electric oven (220 V 40Amp reqd), the other new appliances are dishwasher, range hood and cooktop (which are all rated 110v 15A).

So far my plan is to upgrade the 30A breaker to 40 and run 8/3 cable for the new electric oven. The dishwasher and disposal shall stay on the same 15A cct (although the breaker is 20A) shall I run 12/3 and keep the 20A breaker or 14/3 and change the breaker?

The hood requirements are currently being taken from the lighting cct, and I intend to keep this the same.

From what I understand the kitchen area requires two small appliance circuits, now does this have to be two with 12/2 run off two separate breakers? Or like I have read in one book I can run 12/3 cable to provide both circuits?

The current setup is quite old and it appears that they have used another circuit labelled "laundry" as the second circuit, yet this 20Amp receptacle circuit begins and ends outside the laundry area. Would this still be within the code remit? Or does this have to be "only" in the laundry area (which seems daft considering the size of the area).

My concern is with this second appliance circuit and the "Laundry" circuit. I only have a 100amp service, and the panel is full, I REALLY want to avoid a service upgrade, and the 3 out of 4 sparkies that quoted me for the work reckoned an upgrade wasn't required). So if I have to rejig the setup to free up a breaker it is going to be a right pain in the arse.

I would appreciate any answers and to anyone who has managed to read all the way to the end of this post well done :D

I will do the best I can with answering your questions:


1 x 30Amp cct for an electric dryer (unused as we have an electric dryer)
You mean gas dryer?
Here is appliance circuit #1, can have more added to circuit
1 x 20Amp cct for a gas range (used for ignition only)

This is not an appliance circuit unless has #12 wire with a 20 amp breaker
1 x 15Amp cct for Dishwasher and Disposal

Here is appliance circuit #2
1 x 20Amp small appliance cct - only have a kettle plugged in.

This is considered as the required laundry circuit, and cannot be considered as the kitchen applaince circuit.
1 x 20 Amp laundry cct (this isn't contained in the laundry and has receptacles in the main kitchen area, indeed the fridge is plugged into this cct).

The electric cooktop is 115 volts? Are you sure? Never heard of one.
My new appliances are a gas range and separate electric oven (220 V 40Amp reqd), the other new appliances are dishwasher, range hood and cooktop (which are all rated 110v 15A).

OK, just be sure 40 Amp is the correct size for the oven,
So far my plan is to upgrade the 30A breaker to 40 and run 8/3 cable for the new electric oven.

If the wire is #14 then the breaker must be a 15 amp:
The dishwasher and disposal shall stay on the same 15A cct (although the breaker is 20A)

Shall I run 12/3 and keep the 20A breaker or 14/3 and change the breaker?

This is fine:
The hood requirements are currently being taken from the lighting cct, and i intend to keep this the same.

Correct, at least two appliance circuits must be dedicated for the kitchen:
From what i understand the kitchen area requires two small appliance circuits,

Two circuits means a breaker for each circuit:
now does this have to be two with 12/2 run off two separate breakers?

12-3 will provide two 120 volt circuits using a shared neutral, which is allowed:
Or like i have read in one book i can run 12/3 cable to provide both circuits?

There needs to be one circuit dedicated for laundry alone:
The current setup is quite old and it appears that they have used another circuit labelled "laundry" as the second circuit, yet this 20Amp receptacle circuit begins and ends outside the laundry area. Would this still be within the code remit? Or does this have to be "only" in the laundry area (which seems daft considering the size of the area).

See if your panel can accept tandem or half size breakers.
My concern is with this second appliance circuit and the "Laundry" circuit. I only have a 100amp service, and the panel is full, i

Oh well, what ever needs to be done, may need to add a subpanel if the existing panel cannot accept tandem breakers:
REALLY want to avoid a service upgrade, and the 3 out of 4 sparkies that quoted me for the work reckoned an upgrade wasn't required). So if i have to rejig the setup to free up a breaker it is going to be a right pain in the arse.

Thanks for the answers to my post. And yes you were correct, it was a typo, I meant gas dryer.

I see from your post that I currently have two appliance circuits, and a required laundry circuit. I don't know where I got "electric cooktop" from, all I can think of was the beer I was drinking, it is a gas range.

The panel does accept tandem breakers and currently has one in for the two lighting circuits.

Anyway, off to the permit office now, so I shall find out if there are any specifics I need to be aware of for Raleigh.

Thanks