Kitchen circuits diversity - load splitting

[jase31]

What design loading should be assumed for a kitchen. Washers/Dryers are easier to consider, but someone may decide to boil the kettle, whilst making toast, and putting on a combination oven/microwave at the same time, so should a lower diversity be applied to kitchen circuit than standard.

I have a kitchen with two sides, in theory both could be fed with a 32a ring or radial. There are already free 32a or 20a mcb in the cu.

Side1
Washing Machine
Dishwasher
2 double sockets for worktop appliances


Side2
Tumble Dryer
Fridge Freezer
2 double sockets for worktop appliances

Would others split these circuits further? Freezer could be put on its own radial. Would it be better to seperate the worktop sockets be separated from the appliances as these may have a unknown load.

 

[Paul.M]

Jase that doesn't sound bad, only thing I could add is to put the washing machine and dish washer on its own circuit if its easy to do.

 

[jase31]

I am thinking about putting the washing machine on its own circuit, due to location in any place. Putting in additional circuits is not an issue (near the cu, with sufficient free ways in the board)

Say, the tumble dryer is on, with microwave, toaster and kettle - 32a is not going to cover it, diversity might allow it, but in a kitchen situation the circuit could easily be overloaded.

Would it be better to feed each pair of double sockets with 32a supply or is this overdoing it?

Circuit 1 - 16a
Washing Machine

Circuit 2 - 32 amp
Dishwasher
2 double sockets for worktop appliances


Circuit 3 - 20amp
Tumble Dryer
Fridge Freezer

Circuit 4 - 32amp
2 double sockets for worktop appliances

 

[malcolmsanford]

Jase I've been doing this a lot longer that I care to remember, and I have yet to find in all that time, a RFC on a 32amp breaker tripping because of overload ................ and often that ring will would do the whole ground floor and the kitchen.

Saying that I do like individual radials in a kitchen, not because of loading, but division of installation and to avoid nuiscence tripping.

 

[Engineer54]

Jase I've been doing this a lot longer that I care to remember, and I have yet to find in all that time, a RFC on a 32amp breaker tripping because of overload ................ and often that ring will would do the whole ground floor and the kitchen.

Saying that I do like individual radials in a kitchen, not because of loading, but division of installation and to avoid nuiscence tripping.

Couldn't agree more Malc. I though, prefer FRC's in kitchens, but nothing against using radials. The only appliance i would even think of supplying separately is the F/Freezer, and only then if i had an unprotected (RCD) spare way!! Always found that F/F's have a tendancey of having higher leakage currents than other appliances. ...Unlike other appliances it can be costly when/if they trip the RCD over night, or while away for the holidays or weekend trip...

 

[malcolmsanford]

I always found though Col was that if you split the kitchen up onto radials and one failed, you could always plug the kettle into the other side, while I sorted out the problem, coffee/tea was never a problem ..............lol

I don't mind really whichever is used to be honest mate, I do though like radials in kitchens as said just for division and convenience really, but installed many a RFC in a kitchen.

 

[Engineer54]

Ah yes, ....I forgot the importance of the kettle and the teapot in UK kitchens...lol!!!

 

[Guitarist]

Consider how many properties in the UK still have 1 RFC for the whole house with a kitchen loaded full of appliances. Then consider how often a breaker trips/fuse blows.
Not saying that this is right, just something to consider.

 

[jase31]

you are right, just checked my own house, and downstairs inc kitchen is on one frc (although I dont have a washer or dryer on the circuit)

3 doubles on a 32a should be sufficient based on this.

 

[Knobhead]

I must be getting too old (pre historic).
Unless for cookers, immersion heaters and the like, I don’t like radials full stop. Every house I’ve done I even ran the lighting as two rings, but it was 20+ years ago since I last did one.
OK a radial is easy for testing, I can’t think of another good reason other than sheer idleness!
We’ll end up with continental style boards 20+ MCB’s long.

If one of the bedrooms was my sons it would need it’s own power station!

 

[Spikenaylor]

I have just first fixed a utility room,
FF on 16A radial circuit.
32A radial feeding 3double sockets, switch conection unit for washing machine, switch connection unit for tumble dryer, sfcu for extractor fan.

 

[brucelee]

My house has only 1 ring final circuit for all the house wasinstallled about 1988

 

[jase]

same as my old house that i rented brucelee, only 3 mcb's in the board, Ring, Shower, and lights, whole house on one ring and that included the immersion.

 

[brucelee]

ours has
lighting up and down on 1 40A RCCB 30mA
then 80A 30mA RCCB for shower which i installed 40A when we moved in 13 yr AGO
32A sokets up and down
32A cooker unused as we have gas
16A for old immersion circuit not used for yrs as we have had combi boiler and the tanks and immersions went long ago
so now has 2X 5A fcu for outside lights and loft lights installed when the immersion went

we could do with 2 ring final circuits now though and plenty more sockets as there isnt enough
3 doubles in living room 12metres squared
1 double and single main bed
there was 1 double and single in back bed but have added a socket back to back with landing socket when we moved in
the small 3rd bed had 1 double
in each there are etension leads with multiple socket outlets

 

[D80]

I must be getting too old (pre historic).
Unless for cookers, immersion heaters and the like, I don’t like radials full stop. Every house I’ve done I even ran the lighting as two rings, but it was 20+ years ago since I last did one.
OK a radial is easy for testing, I can’t think of another good reason other than sheer idleness!
We’ll end up with continental style boards 20+ MCB’s long.

If one of the bedrooms was my sons it would need it’s own power station!

Why do the lighting as a ring?

 

[D80]

And before I sound like I am on my high horse-
I've rewired half of my house, maybe a little more since I bought it (10+ years ago and I'm 31 now so started it at 20-21, slow job lol). Rewired one part of it 18 months ago and that part is spot on. Entire house had earthed metallic conduit drops, other than the newly rewired kitchen which, erm, doesn't.

One day I will be rewiring the downlights in one room which some idiot (much younger me) wired in flex. Served my time in anything but the domestic sector and thought that'll do, its only pulling 15 Watt now but its still just ****

 

[sedgy34]

Try not to be too over cautious as you will question your ability
Another alternative is 32amp radial 4.mm cable I do now and again just to change the boredom of a ring circuit