A few questions about wiring:

I'm about to replace my old 1950s wire from my bathroom and kitchen; from what I read, code requires that I run a 20 amp circuit with GFCI plugs dedicated just to the bathroom. The concern is that my bathroom is very minimal and only has one plug and one sconce light. That seems like a lot of overkill for the situation. My question is, can I steal some of that juice to also run a couple of plugs in my kitchen?

Number 2: Is it OK to run two 15 amp receptacles on a 20 amp breaker? Or should I switch it over to a 15 amp breaker?

Lastly, is it OK to run one leg of 14 gauge wire out of a junction box that has 12 gauge everything else? I ran 12 gauge from breaker box to a junction box, then 12 gauge to a few receptacles, but then ran 14 gauge to a series of rarely used closet lights. The lights were eating up about 30 feet of wire so I went with a little cheaper option. Is this OK? I put them on a 15 amp breaker too.

Thanks.

Hi,

1) No, NEC Code is very specific regarding this. The bathroom outlets have to be served by a 20 amp breaker via 12AWG conductors.

You can use the one circuit to power the entire the entire bathroom, but be sure to install the GFCI receptacle downstream of the light circuit. That way, if the GFCI kills the circuit, the lights will still be on.

2) You are looking at this backwards. A 20 amp circuit requires the use of 12/2 (minimum conductors). The amperage of the branch circuit is set by the breaker.

NEC Code allows the use of 15 AMP receptacles on a 20 Amp circuit.

3) (Lastly) If you run a 12 AWG circuit and splice 14 AWC into that circuit, you MUST change the circuit to a 15 Amp circuit. 14 AWG cable is not rated for 20 amp. It will heat up and burn anything combustible near it. It may melt the insulation off and leave bare wire exposed.

Don answer is right on.

Chuck