3Ts
Elite Member
We are building a home in the country and there are no building inspections or code requirements in this area. I've told the builder that we want to at least meet all the code requirements even though there will not be any official inspections. So, here's the question: There are (2) romex 12/3 wire with ground running thru conduit (with water pipes) to the kitchen island. Supposedly there are (2) single pole 20 amp breakers tied into these wires somehow. I suspect the black wire is tied to one breaker and the red is tied to the other breaker. The primary current loads are:
- Dishwasher - calls for it's own 15 amp breaker
- 2 gallon hot water heater under the sink - probably a 1500 watt heating element (~12 amps)
- small appliance outlets - about 1500 watts for an electric skillet or waffle iron.
1st, I don't see how (2) 20 amp circuits can carry that load. I talked to the electrician and he says "not to worry, it's fine". (I've seen 12 gauge wire on a 30 amp breaker around here and I know that is NOT "fine".) It seems to me that the electrician is using a single 12 gauge neutral to carry the current from (2) 20 amp hot wires and the electrician tells me that 12 gauge can do that. :shocked: Nor do I understand how he's going to provide for the 3 circuits with 2 circuit breakers. I suppose that if we sequence the usage "properly" everything will work.
Am I behind the times? or am I missing something? I'm getting ready to tell the builder to stop work until this is fixed, but don't want to do that unless I'm right. Any thoughts?
- Dishwasher - calls for it's own 15 amp breaker
- 2 gallon hot water heater under the sink - probably a 1500 watt heating element (~12 amps)
- small appliance outlets - about 1500 watts for an electric skillet or waffle iron.
1st, I don't see how (2) 20 amp circuits can carry that load. I talked to the electrician and he says "not to worry, it's fine". (I've seen 12 gauge wire on a 30 amp breaker around here and I know that is NOT "fine".) It seems to me that the electrician is using a single 12 gauge neutral to carry the current from (2) 20 amp hot wires and the electrician tells me that 12 gauge can do that. :shocked: Nor do I understand how he's going to provide for the 3 circuits with 2 circuit breakers. I suppose that if we sequence the usage "properly" everything will work.
Am I behind the times? or am I missing something? I'm getting ready to tell the builder to stop work until this is fixed, but don't want to do that unless I'm right. Any thoughts?