Dishwasher – A large range of dishwashers use the standard current of 110 volts. It is best to use an outlet that has a Ground Fault Interrupter or GFI. This will provide an extra precaution if the outlet gets wet. A GFI is designed to trip or disconnect power to prevent electrocution.
Since 15A outlets have been the standard for so long, almost all small home appliances are designed to work with a 15A outlet. Some high-end dishwashers do require a 20A circuit, but most mainstream units are still 15A.
Dishwasher Circuit
When installing a dishwasher, the circuit should be a dedicated 120/125-volt, 15-amp circuit.
Each dishwasher comes with a junction box (with power cord) to be installed in a cabinet next to the dishwasher cutout. It can be installed by an installer, servicer, technician, electrician or other qualified professional and is intended for hard-wired installations.
Dishwashers are hardwired. They consume a relatively high amount of power, so it is not advised to use the same method to connect your other household appliances.
Kitchen dishwashers installed in dwelling units require GFCI protection whether hard wired or cord and plug connected. Code Change Summary: A new subsection was added regarding dwelling unit kitchen dishwashers. Now, outlets that supply dwelling unit kitchen dishwashers must have GFCI protection.
The receptacle should not be behind the dishwasher. To access it; you would have to remove the dishwasher. Just like the dishwasher drain and water line that go to the sink water valve and drain; the dishwasher electric cord plug should go to a receptacle under the kitchen sink.
Another revision to GFCI protection in the 2020 NEC is to section 422.5(A) dealing with appliances that require GFCI protection. This section was revised to include dishwashers. Yes, dishwashers!
We recommend to never use an extension cord to connect your dishwasher to an electrical outlet. Yes, using an extension cord will work, but it's extremely dangerous. Your power cord will eventually overheat, causing your cord and anything surrounding the cord to melt.
A kitchen requires minimum of two 20-amp small appliance circuits, and they must be GFCI-protected. Dishwasher circuit must now be GFCI-protected, with cord/plug to a receptacle. If the receptacle contains the GFCI-device, it must be accessible (not behind the dishwasher).
The dishwasher needs a single-pole breaker that has at least 15amps. If you operate the dishwasher on the same circuit breaker as the garbage disposal, you need to use a 20 Amp breaker.
Yes, the dishwasher and garbage disposal can run on the same circuit. But they are more preferred to be powered by two different circuits rather than one.
No, not all dishwashers are hardwired. Instead, you can purchase dishwashers that come prepared with an electrical cord and a three-prong plug. These units will easily connect to a regular wall socket that you'd have in your household kitchen.
With the right tools, hardwired dishwashers can be converted into plug-in dishwashers. This way, you can plug the dishwasher directly into a wall socket without permanently fixing it to the wall's wiring.
The dishwasher's hot (black) and neutral (white) wires are the ones going into each wire nut from the left side.
Household dishwashers use 10 amps of power, mostly. Having said that, your breaker should be on a higher rating than the appliance being used for safety purposes.
When a dishwasher trips the GFCI outlet, the appliance is likely leaking power causing the safety mechanism in the receptacle to activate. To fix this issue, unplug the dishwasher and check its power components. Most common issues include damaged circuit board, connectors, and/or wash motor.
Ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) and ground fault interrupters (GFI) are the exact same device under slightly different names. Though GFCI is more commonly used than GFI, the terms are interchangeable.
Vending machines, cord-and-plug-connected spray washers, drinking fountains, auto vacuum and tire inflation machines installed for the public require GFCI protection. Code Change Summary: The rules pertaining to ground-fault circuit-interrupter (GFCI) protection for appliances have been reorganized.
A dishwasher should be on at least a 15 amp circuit. 15 amps is enough for most dishwashers on their own dedicated circuit. A dedicated circuit is a plug used for just one appliance, with nothing else plugged into it. Some dishwashers draw more power than most, and may need to be placed on a 20-circuit breaker.
There are no requirements in National Electrical Code (NEC) that a residential disposal must be GFCI protected.
The National Electrical Code has stated that a Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) is needed for all electrical outlets within 6-feet of a kitchen sink. Any electrical outlet outside this 6-feet distance does not need a GFCI if there is no risk of the electrical outlet coming into contact with water.