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-   -   Small appliance with 20 amp rating (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=325780)

  • Mar 6, 2009, 11:15 AM
    slashalot
    Small appliance with 20 amp rating
    I am finishing my basement which will include a bar. I would like to place a small 2 burner built-in cooktop rated at 20 amp (110 v). Do I need to place this on a dedicated circuit? Can I place this on my soon to be shop circuit which will be 20 amp breaker 12-2 wire with about 4 outlets only? ( I am sure the shop outlets will not be in use when the cooktop is)
  • Mar 6, 2009, 11:34 AM
    ballengerb1

    I'd recommend a dedicated circuit for the cooktop since it's rated at 20 amps. Anything else on the circuit will cause and overload. I know you said the other outlets would not be used while the cooktop is in use but this is not a 100% guarantee down the road.
  • Mar 6, 2009, 11:50 AM
    slashalot
    OK, this may cause a problem. I have a 100 amp main with 20 slot GE box, all full. I have read I can have max 48 breakers? So I am planning on already pulling 2 of the 20 amp and replacing them with 4 GE 1/2" breakers and then doing the same with 2 of the 15 amp breakers. so will pulling another 20 amp for cooktop circuit be a problem? this will leave me 1 open 1/2" slot for total of 26 breakers.
  • Mar 6, 2009, 11:55 AM
    ballengerb1

    Are you saying that you will be using one of these 1/2 sized breakers for the cooktop or are you doing that switch out for some other reason?
  • Mar 6, 2009, 11:59 AM
    KISS

    This somewhat depends on how you count. There isn't a breaker limit, but rather a pole limit. e.g. a 240 volt breaker has two poles, so it counts as 2. That number should not be exceeded.

    You can add a small sub-panel, say 60A if you needed too.
  • Mar 6, 2009, 12:07 PM
    slashalot
    I would need to free up a slot somehow, but I would probably try to find a circuit that can be placed on a 1/2" rather than a dedicated one
  • Mar 6, 2009, 12:10 PM
    slashalot
    Kiss, would the subpanel be preferred over the 10 1/2" breakers?
  • Mar 6, 2009, 12:27 PM
    ballengerb1

    The half sized breakers are safe, UL approved and cheaper/easier than a sub.
  • Mar 6, 2009, 12:28 PM
    stanfortyman
    The panel will only accept skinny breaker if it is designed to. You can't simply put them in anywhere.
    If it is a 100A panel it is most likely that you cannot out hem in at all, and if you can probably only in the bottom 4 spaces.

    The 42 pole limit is over all. Not in every panel.

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