How Many Circuits Should I Plan in My New Home?
We are building a new home which will have the following rooms
1 Bedroom
Kitchen
Dining Rm/area
Living Room
Master bath
Main/guest bath
Office/den
There will be an unfinished attic that could be used for future expansion
The master bath will have a whirlpool tub and a far infrared sauna. Heat lamp in ceiling for both baths. The area for the sauna could be used for a stack-able washer/dryer in the future instead of the sauna. All outlets will be wired for 20 amp circuits [#12 wire].
It is planned to add a mini split ductless air conditioning at least in the living room/kitchen dining area which is all one open area about 17ft. by 36ft.
How many circuits will we need?
A good rule to follow ; 1 outlet= 1 amp. You should not exceed 80% of breaker rating. i.e. 20 amp breaker = 16 outlets. Each light, or fan = 1 amp . So a ceiling fan with light = 2 amps.
40A 240V for range , 30A 240V for dryer(some stack-able units only need 30A 240V, check manufacturer)othrewise you will need 20A 120V for washer, Two seperate circuts in kitchen 20A 120V, check local codes, but bath plugs may need own 20A 120V circut(this can be the same circut). Check amp rating for heat lamps, and A\C unit. 2009 national elec. code requires Arc-fault breakers on bed rm. Don’t forget smoke detctors, dishwasher?, disposal?, microwave? refrigerator could go on one of kitchen branch circuts.
Check with manufactuer for amps on the sauna.
Hope this helps, if in doubt call local electrician, or elec inspector they should be able to help.
You have to follow the local codes. To the number of circuits the code says I would add no less than 50% more. For outlets/receptacals I would double the number. Outlets in the kitchen are never enough, so no less than 14 and don’t forget to wire for under-cabinet lighting. Nothing less than 250 Amp incoming service and be sure to get a circuit breaker box with blanks for adding breakers later as you need them. You may be told this is overkill but better to have more than not enough. The cost will be a lot more later and think of the mess too.
1 for bedroom, 3 minimum for the kitchen, 1 each for bath, range, whirlpool, sauna, ac, at least two heat circuits, dryer, water heater, office, one for lights, and at least one circuit for the attic expansion.and one for outdoor outlets. I would suggest wiring at least one outlet into each "expansion" area, and more can be added if desired when the space is finished. Two circuits is preferable, because then it can be used for outdoor expansion, etc if needed.
Go at it the other way. Add up all the outlets you’re required to have, add on whatever else you want to have now and plan to have in the future, then see what your code says about load or outlets per circuit, and don’t put the max on every circuit. I’d put more outlets than code calls for, too, perhaps some in convenient places rather than just what code calls for. It’ll never be cheaper to install wiring than it is while you’re building.
12 will do fine.