I have a unique and strange electric set up in my home's dining room and need help! Can someone advise me on what circuits I need for my dining room because my situation is fairly unique and I haven't seen it addressed elsewhere.
I have a 1950's rambler home with a traditional dining room that opens to the living room and that shares a wall with the kitchen.
In a 1970's renovation, half the dining room floor was removed to build a new staircase going down to the basement. leaving about 6 feet for a dining table instead of the usual 9.
There is the traditional dome light in the middle of the room and 2 outlets (one on the exterior wall near the stairs and one on the kitchen/dining wall.)
In the near future I plan to remove the kitchen/dining room wall to open up the space.
By removing this wall it's basically making a larger kitchen, There would now only be one outlet (near the stairs — not going to use it for a coffeemaker), and currently there is no overhead light on a 3 way switch for the stairs.
How many circuits do I need to wire for this dining room update?
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Can the dining room share the 15amp kitchen lighting circuit? does it require it's own?
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Do I need a separate 20 amp circuit for the one 'dining room' outlet near the steps, or can I just tap off the living room, or let it be part of the 2 required kitchen 20 amp receptacles?
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How would someone propose providing overhead light for the stairs? a separate light or have the overhead light be a track light that's switchable?
Best Answer
The outlets in the dining area should be on a 20 amp circuit. It looks yours are spaced too far apart. Today's code requires outlets to be within 6' of wall space or 12' apart (not counting the doorway). The dining outlets can be on one of the 2 required small appliance branch circuits. But the lights can not be on that circuit. You could tap the existing lighting circuit for the stairs but you do need a switch at each level This may be the toughest part of the job unless newer smart switches are used that don't have to be connected by travelers. The dining lights can be on the living room circuit or the kitchen circuit lighting circuits not the small appliance branch circuit.