Kitchen Light Wiring

[*kl]

I want to add a light over our Kitchen sink, controlled by a switch. We have a tiled backsplash around most of the sink area, so the most likely location for a switch (without tearing new holes in the tile), would be to re-fit a nearby outlet (GFI protected) with an outlet/switch combo in the same single-gang box.

Wiring the new switch to the same circuit as its combined outlet would seem to be the quickest option, but it would also seem to violate the code requiring a dedicated 20A circuit in the Kitchen.

The other option would be to bring another circuit into the box, and wire it to the switch side of the combo. But then, there will be two different circuits feeding the the outlet/switch combo, which seems potentially dangerous to someone who may need to service that box later.

Which would be the best approach? Are there other options I should consider?

Thanks!

[*Wgoodrich]

You may meet the NEC rules in this situation by installing a 240 volt split multiwire 20 amp rated branch circuit dedicated for this one switch receptacle device using a common neutral to serve the receptacle and light through the switch receptacle combo. You would need to install a 20 amp GFI double pole breaker to serve this multiwire branch circuit connected to a common device.

You may opt to install your sink light switch under your sink fed from the crawl space and then fising the switch leg from the switch down into the crawl and up an inside uninsulated wall to the attic then to your sink light. Installing a switch under the sink will not require GFI protection.

Sorry for the delay but been FISHING WAY UP NORTH, vacation ya know !!

Just my thoughts.

Wg

[*kl]

Thanks for the thoughts Wg!

Do you know if running a second circuit into the switch/outlet combo box is actually a violation of the NEC? Seems like there is potential to do this in cases of a duplex outlet, where the "ear" tabs connecting the the two halves of the outlet are broken off, and each half of the outlet is wired to a different feed.

The other possibility is simply running the switch and light off of the same 20A circuit feeding the kitchen outlet at that box. Is this definitley contrary to the code, or are there potentially allowances for this (after all, its just a light bulb!)?

[*Wgoodrich]

You may install more than one circuit in the same box. You may install a multiwire branch circiut 220/120 volt split into two 120 volt circuits using the common neutral if you like. Be aware if the 220 volt split multiwire circuit connects to the same device in a dwelling that 220 volt circuit must be connected by a double pole 220 volt circuit so if one circuit is shut off both circuits of that same device is shut off.

Be aware that if GFI protection is required then the split to 120 volt must occur before you install your GFI receptacle or install a 220 volt rated GFI breaker to protect both circuits. A GFI will react to a shared neutral if shared neutral on load side of GFI.

Be aware all receptacles serving kitchen counters must be GFI protected.

You are correct that lights are not allowed on same circuit as kitchen receptacles nor is anything but kitchen, nook, dining, pantry receptacles allowed on that kitchen receptacle circuit.

Good LUck

Wg