Dishwasher and disposal same box

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Steven Palmisano

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The wire that is in-place to supply the dishwasher, can I jump off of it to run a connection to a future disposal? I was thinking that I could hook both to a junction box, run a switch for the Disposal and put plugs on both appliances and plug into the receptacle.

Thanks,

Steve
 

JWelectric

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210.23(2) Utilization Equipment Fastened in Place. The total rating of utilization equipment fastened in place, other than luminaires (lighting fixtures), shall not exceed 50 percent of the branch-circuit ampere rating where lighting units, cord-and-plug-connected utilization equipment not fastened in place, or both, are also supplied.
 

Bob NH

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I think you have to parse the sentence from the NEC to see if it works.

The first question is, what is meant by "fastened in place". It is important to note that a piece of equipment can be both cord-and-plug-connected and fastened in place.

210.23(A)(1) discusses requirements for cord-and-plug-connected equipment not fastened in place.

210.23(A)(2) discusses utilization equipment that is fastened in place, and the restrictions on load where lighting units and/or cord-and-plug-connected equipment not fastened in place is also supplied.

Every dishwasher (except the roll-around kind) and every disposer that I have ever seen was fastened in place. A dishwasher that I installed last week was fastened to the bottom of the countertop, and the disposer was certainly fastened in place at the bottom of the sink. In that case, the restriction of 210.23(A)(2) does not apply.

Therefore, the limit on whether you can connect a dishwasher and a disposer to the same circuit depends on whether the total load exceeds the branch circuit rating.

My dishwasher is rated at 11.5 Amps and the disposer at 8.1 Amps for a toal of 19.6 Amps. They are both legally connected (hard-wired) to a 20 Amp circuit (circa 1965).

One restriction on using a receptacle is that there is a code section (I am not going to search for it now.) that requires that cords for appliances be provided or approved by the appliance manufacturer. Most dishwashers and disposers don't come with cords. I would plan on using a piece of AC or MC, or LFNC.

In the new house where I installed the dishwasher last week the licensed electrician had provided a 5 ft length of 14/2 NM (Romex) coming up through the floor at the back of the dishwasher space.
 

TorontoTim

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And from a layman's practical point of view, how often are you going to want to run your dishwasher and disposal unit at the same time anyhow? You'd need ear protection.
 

Frenchie

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I beg to disagree with everyone... the NEC also says, I believe, that appliances have to be installed according to the manufacturer' instructions?

I've never seen dishwasher installation instuctions that didn't call for a dedicated circuit.

So, while it'd probably work (because, as pointed out, what are the odds you'd run them at the same time?)... it wouldn't be legal.
 

Mikey

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You're seeing one now...

My Kenmore DW installation instructions' Electrical Requirements are:

You must have:
o 120-volt, 60Hz, AC-only, 15 or 20 amp., fused electrical supply.
o Copper wire only.

We recommend:
o A time-delay fuse or circuit breaker.
o A separate circuit.
 

Mikey

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And from a layman's practical point of view, how often are you going to want to run your dishwasher and disposal unit at the same time anyhow?
Actually, I've often thought it might be a good idea to run the disposer during the dishwasher's drain cycle, to thoroughly grind up any big pieces left by the dishwasher's macerator (I think it's got one). Noise is not a big deal these days, but the total current required was a deal-killer.
 

Alectrician

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can I jump off of it to run a connection to a future disposal?

More than likely, you can.


All DW/Disp here share a dedicated 20 amp circuit. If it is an older home and the DW circuit has other stuff on it you would be pushing it.
 
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