Code Q&A: Small Appliance Circuits

Q. Is an over-counter light in a dwelling unit kitchen allowed to be hardwired to the small-appliance circuit?
 

A. The 20A, 120V small-appliance circuits required by 210.11(C)(1) must not supply outlets for luminaires or appliances [210.52(B)(2)].

Ex 1: The 20A, 120V small-appliance branch circuit can be used to supply a receptacle for an electric clock.

Ex 2: A receptacle can be connected to the small-appliance branch circuit to supply a gas-fired range, oven, or counter-mounted cooking unit.

A range hood or above the range microwave listed as a range hood must be supplied by an individual branch circuit [422.16(B)(4)(5)].