I have a few electrical questions that I hope someone can help me with. I am sorry for being lengthy. I tried elsewhere before posting here, but short of going to the county office, this is the best bet out there.
1.) I have read on codecheck(which sounds like info may be flaw after some research) that any wall greater than 2 ft must have a receptacle unless the wall is not useable. Is this true? I have a wall that is 38" long from corner to entrance opening (no framed door) and the only purpose placing a receptacle there may serve is for vacuuming. This wall is actually in the dinning room.
ANSWER: 210.52(A)(2) says that any space 2 feet or more in width ( includeding space measured around corners) and unbroken along the floorline by doorways, fireplaces and similar openings…so to be honest with you if this space you speak of has lets say a door on one side and an opening on the other…then it would need a receptacle in this space…thats not Codecheck…thats the NEC.
2.) If I have to put a receptacle on that wall, can I get away with branching a second line off of another receptacle to power the added receptacle. This rec, would have a power wire, a wire going to a second rec, and then a third going to new recepticle. All boxes are 20.3 In. cubed. All wiring is new 12-2.
Answer: That really depends on the circuit you are adding from…if space is part of the dining room and you are going to ADD the receptacle from the dining room and the receptacle will STAY in the dining room then it is fine, if it leaves the dining room…NOPE you can’t add it then. Remember you can’t add that receptacle IN a dining room from lets say the living back to back with it…would Have to be added from the dining room circuit if the wall space is IN the dining room area.
3.) When the term “wall” is used, does that mean on that particular side of the wall? I have a recepacle on the opposite side of the wall that could easily be accessed through the room entrance.
Answer: The doorway of the other room requires you to start the measurement OVER again at the doorway…nope…you can’t WRAP around it into another room and use that receptacle location to meet the space requirement…sorry…not that easy…
4.) I have a rather odd kitchen (House was added onto at some point and the rooms were changed around). The kitchen is 9X9 wall to wall and U shapped layout. The kitchen has only one light above the sink and is controlled by a switch that requires you to walk to the opposite side of the room to turn on. I am replacing this light, plus adding a central light. Because of the layout, the only place to put a switch at room opening is on the hallway wall right before you enter the room. Does this sound like an acceptable practice?
Answer: sure, if thats where you want it…nothing says that the switch has to be in the same room with the light…BUT in a kitchen you really MUSt have a switched light…but if you wish to add it at that location thats really your choice…just make sure you are not adding these lights onto the same circuit as your small appliance circuit since it is a old kitchen…if adding additional lights and so on…and by chance it is ON with the small appliance circuit ( may happen sometimes in older homes ) then I would suggest you possibly feeding the lights from another location…just some advice.
5.) Also, I am planning on moving my kitchen in 5-7 yrs, but I am planning parts of the circuit now. Is it acceptable to have both the kitchen and the dinning room lights only on the same circuit? Keep in mind I am in full understanding (I think) of the rest of the kitchen circuit reqiurements, but I am unclear on lighting. To me, It sounds extremely overkill if I am required to have a separate circuit for both the kitchen and dinning room lights.
Answer: as long as you are sizing the circuits properly and so on…nothing says you can’t have the lighting in the kitchen and dining room on the same circuit…no problem at all…
6.) Does anyone see any showstoppers with what I describe above that I would be required to fix if I sold my house? My intent is to re-wire these areas as correctly as possible so when I sell, the buyer has most correct house instead of the rats nest I am dealing with.
Answer: just read the above answers and you should be fine.
7.) If a room is remodeled, what is the code requirements now for that particular room? Is it grandfatered, but recommended to update to current code?
Answer: tough question…you need to call your local building official and see what they say…we can only GUESS as some states have different requirements and some local government offices have their own AHJ requirements…better to check with them than to listen to us GUESS for you…usually if you add a light or so it is not a problem…anything thats an improvment is a enhancement in many AHJ’s eyes…in our area to bring it up to CURRENT “CODE” you have to gut down the walls…and do a true remodel of the room…if you are planning on doing that then chances are yes you would need to have a permit and may be required to bring it up to current standards.
Thanks for all your help.