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Wet Bar Circuit question

3K views 8 replies 3 participants last post by  Straightgrain 
#1 ·
Happy New Year to everyone. I'm spending my vacation framing out and hopefully running wiring for my wetbar (9' x 11') which will include an L-shaped counter top over cabinets and bar top counter, 5-6 recepts, an under counter refrigerator, 5 pendant lights, and 5-6 recessed lights.

My question is about circuitry. My thought is to put everything on one 20 amp GFI circuit, with recepts first in the run (including a recept for a plug in under-counter refrigerator) and then the lights.

Is that too much load on one 20 amp circuit. Should I run a dedicated refrigerator circuit? Do I need the 5-6 recepts split between two circuits?

Hoping to finish wiring by the weekend so any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks!
 
#2 ·
What wattage bulbs will you be using ?
What is the power draw of the fridge ?
What other items will be powered off these outlets ?
TV, blender, microwave ?

I'm setting my bar up with (2) dedicated 20a circuits
Lights will be seperate
I'll actually have a full size stove behind the bar
It will be setup as a complete 2nd kitchen, small fridge tho
 
#4 ·
Well 11 lights at 60a = 660w = 5.5a
A small dorm fridge takes about 3.5 a I think
So that is 9a - almost 1/2 the circuit
I took power for my lights off an exisiting light circuit that was under-utilized

We will have a microwave out there
Have a party - 1 or 2 blenders running...some crock pots for meatballs etc

I would run (2) 20a circuits & see if there is a lighting circuit you can tie into for the lights
I would also consider CFL's
I'm using (4) 13w CFL floods in 6" cans over most of the general bar area ~19'x20'
Then (4) 13w 4" cfl cans over the bar - every ~2 = ~10' bar
I will also have acces to a 3rd circuit behind the bar that will be shared with an outlet by the sub around the corner
Then in the general bar are will be 2 more 20a circuits
The other 1/2 of the great room 17'x24' will have 2-3 more 20a circuits

So take into account that party you may have with a bunch of stuff running
 
#8 ·
Just give you a head up wet bar rules is very simuar to Kitchen circuits so you will need minuim of 2 circuits.

Everything under wetbar must be on GFCI.
That including the fridge under the bar.


If the luminaires are above the wetbar like ceiling cans then no you do not need GFCI at all.{ but strongly recomend a dimmer to turn down the lights to suit your mood unless you got CFL make sure they are dimmable }

Any other question just holler one of us will steer ya right way.

Merci,Marc
 
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