Is putting each room on its own circuit breaker a good idea?

Question

I recently moved into a 50 year old house and found that all of the wiring was done incorrectly(ie. all receptacles in house on one 20 amp breaker, all overhead lights on one 20 amp, and range,laundry room and furnace on one 30 amp breaker.) . I have done some rewiring before but never on this scale. My plan is to put each of the 9 rooms on its own 20 amp breaker with additional ones for range, hot water heater, and future HVAC unit. Is this a sound idea? Also, I have been reading up on the subject and some recommend using 14 gauge non-metallic sheathed cable and some say 12/2 romex. Which is the right one?

Answer 1

There are lots of points that were missed here. Most answers are summarizing and the other electricians and bringing up some good points. It is impossible to tell you how to rewire your entire house in this forum.

No one mentioned permits, GFCI protection, smoke detectors, etc.. As for the arc-fault protection, this is required for all bedroom circuits.

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Answer 2

Some mention codes, and you should keep that in mind. Certainly there is nothing wrong with a separate breaker for each room. Without knowing the total service coming to your Breaker box, I suggest you better know.

If this is something you're uncertain of, I'd at least check with the code agency, and/or get advice from an electrical contractor which I don't see here. I've been a GC for many years but sub out every wiring job I get.

Another issue is safety and liability, insurance, and just a general sense of confidence in having the job done by someone with a license and experience, who will carry the liability for the job. It should also be inspected, and likely a permit pulled.

You're talking about your home. The largest investment you'll likely ever make, why not do it the best possible way?

Steven Wolf

Answer 3

Many municipalities now require a licensed electrician to wire houses. This isn't a job for the average do yourself person. The consequences of not doing it right are to costly. The very least you might want to consider is to have a licensed electrician design the layout of the circuits. This should eliminate any possible overloading of the circuits. Current usage and amp draw have to be considered in the design. The 12 gauge wire with a ground should be what you want to use. A 200 amp service should be enough. You might consider a 200 service for the house and another 100 amp for appliances, HVAC and the garage area. Good luck.

Answer 4

You can put 2 rooms on one 15 amp circuits (14/2)and that is the most common way if you really want to you could do each on a separate circuit but really isn't necessary . Kitchens, bathroom,Refg. and dining room plugs should be 20 amp (12/2)circuits.Hot water tanks are 30 amp circuits (10/2), HVAC 15 amp (14/2) and range 40 amps (8/3) romex, all lighting circuits can be 15 amp circuits and you should figure 1.5 amps for each figure so around 10 fixtures on a 15 amp fixture and keeping lights and plugs on different circuits is a good idea.
Yes arc faults are required all bedrooms but only in new construction. But are always good to consider in renovations but are pricey . And of course make sure to get breakers that wil fit in your panel

Answer 5

This can be complicated. You can run 14/2 in bedrooms, lighting circuits, etc. I would suggest you use 12/2 romex throughout and make it easy on yourself.

It is a great idea splitting one room to a breaker. The kitchen is another story. You will need a circuit for the microwave, refrigerator, and dishwasher. Also you should split the counter recepticles into a couple of breakers.

Home wiring can be a challenge if you aren't familiar with it and the codes for your area.

You may be better off finding someone to do this for you. You can offer to help with drilling holes, running wires, etc. to save yourself some money.

Good luck!

Answer 6

Non-metalic sheathed cable and "Romex" (a trade name) are the same thing - NM cable. 14/2 NM is the norm for 15 amp branch circuits (lighting loads) and 12/2 NM is the norm for 20-amp branch circuits (receptracles) If you want a separate breaker for each room, fine. You are limited to 42 overcurrent devices in any one panel. 2-pole breakers = 2 overcurrent devices!

If I were doing this, I'd calculate the branch circuit requirements per the NEC and wire accorcingly. I'd most likely combine rooms as practical, both for lighting and receptacle circuits.

Answer 7

use #14 on the lighting circuts only, use #12 wire for a 20 amp breaker, #10 on a 30 and so on, get a licenced electrcian to do it, either way you'll need a permit and a inspector to check it out .

Answer 8

So far, no one mentioned the arc fault breakers for the bedrooms. I wonder if that's a requirement. May not be as it's not "New Construction." It is important to be up to code, so I'd at least consult a local electrician. Also, will all these proposed new breakers fit into your (old) existing panel (box)??
Both your retired and licensed electricians' responses look good.

Answer 9

Yuh but I would have a seperate breaker for each, furnace, refrig,
freezer, A seperate breaker for kitchen outlets like microwave, toaster, can opener, I did with a 30 A breaker and some 10/2 w G
Elect Stove on a seperate, Clothes washer, sep dryer, sep dishwasher, seperate disposal lines, and maybe compactor too

Answer 10

kitchen and baths should have a GFI outlet you can feed 2 additional outlets off of a GFI.

outlets 12-2 wire 20 amp breakers (7) Maximum per breaker

Lights 14-2 wire 15 amp breakers (7) maximum per breaker