Does the refrigerator have to have its own circuit?20 amp?
It seems a waste.I would consider putting the ceiling lights on it, and run another 20 amp circuit for the counter and appliances

No, refrigerator does not need a separate 20 amp circuit. All outlets in a kitchen need to be 20 amp circuits, at least two circuits for small appliances.

The frig can be on one of these, or an exception allows a to frig be on a separate 15 amp circuit.

Lighting is not allowed on any small appliance circuit.


This can be reviewed in Section 210.52 of the NFPA 70: National Electrical Code®

A frig does NOT have to be on its own circuit. Whenever I do a new house, I do give the frig a dedicated circuit.

What do you mean when you say lighting is not allowed on any small apppliane circuit? My lights with 8 bulbs, my dish washer, the disposal, coffee maker, oven hood that has a fan and light,radio, iron when I need to use it, and my fridge is on a 15 amp. This all goes back to the box on that one breaker. Plus, there are nine plug ins on the wall.

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Originally Posted by bessielou

what do you mean when you say lighting is not allowed on any small apppliane circuit? My lights with 8 bulbs, my dish washer, the disposal, coffee maker, oven hood that has a fan and light,radio, iron when I need to use it, and my fridge is on a 15 amp. this all goes back to the box on that one breaker. Plus, there are nine plug ins on the wall.

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Back 50-60 years ago this was perfectly fine. Today it is not even close to code complaint.
If your house was wired within the last 30-40 years or so you have a big bunch of violations there.

[QUOTE=bessielou;2495444]what do you mean when you say lighting is not allowed on any small apppliance circuit? My lights (8 bulbs), dish washer, disposal, coffee maker, oven hood that has a fan and light, radio, iron when I need to use it, and my fridge is on the same 15 amp. This all goes back to the box on that one breaker. Plus, there are nine plug ins on the walls around the room.

Yesterday, I took a power cord and plugged the fridge into the cord and plugged it into the washer plugin as I know the washer only has that on that one 15 amp. Will that be OK with the fridge on the same wires with the washer going back to the breaker box on the 15 amp circuirt?/QUOTE]