[Trucon01]

Hi All,

I'm to the point where I can start to run wire for my outlets. I've been doing some reading and what I see is that if you want to spend the extra money, install all 20 amp recepts on a 20 amp breaker. For 98% of the time, this will be over kill, I just don't want to run into an issue later if I want to put in a electric fireplace, etc.

Do you guys recommend spending a few extra bucks and do the whole basement in 20amp?

 

[Jim Port]

I doubt that you will find many items that need a 20 amp receptacle.

I would definitely install a 20 amp circuit.

 

[stickboy1375]

Hi All,

I'm to the point where I can start to run wire for my outlets. I've been doing some reading and what I see is that if you want to spend the extra money, install all 20 amp recepts on a 20 amp breaker. For 98% of the time, this will be over kill, I just don't want to run into an issue later if I want to put in a electric fireplace, etc.

Do you guys recommend spending a few extra bucks and do the whole basement in 20amp?

I wouldn't, but this debate is going to be a long one... Just do what you want/feel is adequate for you. Personally, you are much better off just running two 15 amp circuits than one 20 amp circuit....

 

[k_buz]

Most electric fireplaces I have seen have required their own circuit, especially if they have a heater. I would much rather have 2 15A circuits than 1 20 A circuit.

 

[diystephen]

Most folks will not use 20 amp outlets, but my recommendation is to always use a 20 amp circuit (#12 wire) if you can swing it. Then use 15 amp receptacles (as they're cheaper) and receptacles are easy to switch out. When you run into a situation requiring a 20 amp receptacle, just switch out the receptacle in question. But if you're considering adding an electric fireplace I would wire a dedicated circuit for that (if you know where it might go.)

 

[stickboy1375]

Most folks will not use 20 amp outlets, but my recommendation is to always use a 20 amp circuit (#12 wire) if you can swing it. Then use 15 amp receptacles (as they're cheaper) and receptacles are easy to switch out. When you run into a situation requiring a 20 amp receptacle, just switch out the receptacle in question.

What good is swapping out the receptacle when the circuit is most likely going to be overloaded at that point?

 

[Trucon01]

Thanks guys!!

I like the running 12-2 and using 15a recepts until I actually need a 20a idea... However, if running 2 separate 15a amps is the absolute best way, I may just do that.

Is one preferred over the other?

 

[diystephen]

What good is swapping out the receptacle when the circuit is most likely going to be overloaded at that point?

If that likelihood exists then the OP can do as you suggested and run multiple circuits at the start (especially a dedicated receptacle where an electric fireplace might be.)

 

[stickboy1375]

Thanks guys!!

I like the running 12-2 and using 15a recepts until I actually need a 20a idea... However, if running 2 separate 15a amps is the absolute best way, I may just do that.

Is one preferred over the other?

You will never need a 20 amp receptacle, I've been in the trade a long time, and have only seen a handful of 20 amp appliances, and at that point, they all required a dedicated circuit.

 

[Trucon01]

Alrighty then...

So I'll just use 2 different circuits @ 15amps. Thanks for responding so quickly!

 

[diystephen]

Thanks guys!!

I like the running 12-2 and using 15a recepts until I actually need a 20a idea... However, if running 2 separate 15a amps is the absolute best way, I may just do that.

Is one preferred over the other?

Can you swing 2 20A circuits? One approach is to "leapfrog" outlets; where every other outlet is on the same circuit. That coupled with a dedicated circuit for a fireplace would help prevent future issues.

 

[Trucon01]

Here we go....

I'm not worried about the cost at this point. I want the best setup possible since everything is open. I want to do it right and have a tendency to over do things anyway. Eventually, I am going to keep this property as an investment house within the next 5 years or so, if that makes a difference.

Stickboy, you're up now!! yay or nah to this?

 

[jbfan]

What is the space going to used for?


Do you know where the fireplace will sit now, or have to wait until the space is finished?

As always local code will apply.

 

[Trucon01]

It will just be used as another family room type area. TV's, audio receiver, lamps, laptop, ipads, etc.

I don't know where the fireplace will be or if I will even put one in. It was just a possibility and wanted to cover all my bases.

 

[k_buz]

2 15 A circuits
Tamper Resistant Receptacles
AFCI breakers
Smoke/CO Detector

As for the electric fireplace, its either going to be just fine on a 15 A circuit, or its going to have a heating element and require its own circuit. If you know where the fireplace is going to sit, run a dedicated 20A circuit to that spot. If you don't know where it is going to sit, run it when you get it.

 

[JuzRick]

2 15 A circuits
Tamper Resistant Receptacles
AFCI breakers
Smoke/CO Detector

As for the electric fireplace, its either going to be just fine on a 15 A circuit, or its going to have a heating element and require its own circuit. If you know where the fireplace is going to sit, run a dedicated 20A circuit to that spot. If you don't know where it is going to sit, run it when you get it.

K_Buz: I agree...

 

[JuzRick]

Depending on the area he chooses to run the circuit for the fireplace, he needs to consider any possible tight spots, as in corners.. or areas that could cause complications when running that circuit when he's ready to proceed forward when you begins that phase.. as we're talking about all walls possibly being closed.

 

[dcapone]

Ever since tripping a 15A circuit breaker while using a vacuum cleaner on a circuit that already had some load on it, I will personally always use 20 amp circuits for receptacles. I think most vacuums, even modern day ones, draw 12 to 13 amps. This does not leave much room for other existing loads to be on the circuit before tripping a breaker. While breakers operate on time-current curves and as such will tolerate an overcurrent situation for a short period of time (depending on how much overload, etc), I look at the fact if you have a plasma TV (2 amps), a AV receiver of some type (1-2 amps), a dvr (~.3 amps), and maybe a lamp, or the AC adapter of a laptop computer adding an additional amp of power to the load and then connect someone decides to vacuum, you are going to be overloading a 15 amp circuit.

That is just my personal opinion...most people probably do not leave their TV on or have their computer open when vacuuming maybe .

 

[Trucon01]

And that is exactly what I was getting at before... I want to be able to have those things going and not trip a breaker, especially because this will eventually be a rental and I don't know how the hell this space will be used... There is a $25 increase between 14-2 and 12-2 and about $30 increase in 15a vs 20a recepts...

But I have experienced electricians on here saying to just use 2 15a circuits, someone else saying 2 20a circuits, etc

 

[TTW]

Here we go....

I'm not worried about the cost at this point. I want the best setup possible since everything is open. I want to do it right and have a tendency to over do things anyway. Eventually, I am going to keep this property as an investment house within the next 5 years or so, if that makes a difference.

Since everything is open now and it sounds like you don't want to have to do this again...

My personal opinion would be to run 2 20A circuits with 15 amp tamper proof receptacles.

Put them on afci breakers.

It's cheap insurance for future unknown usage. Might be overkill for now but...

How many square feet are we talking and will it be just one big room, or several? Will there be a bathroom?