Second freezer in basement - separate circuit?

[JHZR2]

I will indeed put a kill-a-watt meter and also measure inrush when I get it, so I will have some real numbers at some point, but are looking generally at recommendations. Conductor ampacity, use of gfci/afci/etc will all follow NEC.

So we produce enough fruits and vegetables between our two gardens that we've decided to buy another freezer. We have a 5ish cu ft chest freezer, and we're going to acquire a very efficient 17 cu ft upright.

I have the current cheat on a dedicated feeder. It's draw is not high.

But the 17 will likely be higher of course.

So... Would you add another dedicated circuit for a second freezer, just make a new upgraded 20A feeder with 20A breaker, or do something else?

Both are manual defrost to minimize energy use.

Opinions??

 

[Donald]

I would get a even larger one and CL the 5 cu ft one. Your energy bill will be lower.

 

[4wheeldog]

Personally, I like a separate circuit breaker on any outlet that will have a motor running off of it. Garbage disposal, refrigerator, freezer, washer, dryer, you name it.

That way, a malfunction of one appliance does not take another appliance out with it. You really do not want to wind up with two thawed out freezers, do you?

 

[HerrStig]

The start and run current of what you want to add to the line will let you know if a typical 15 or 20 amp circuit is enough.

 

[KD0AXS]

Originally Posted By: 4wheeldog
Personally, I like a separate circuit breaker on any outlet that will have a motor running off of it. Garbage disposal, refrigerator, freezer, washer, dryer, you name it.

That way, a malfunction of one appliance does not take another appliance out with it. You really do not want to wind up with two thawed out freezers, do you?


I'd agree with this. Best to have them on separate circuits so you don't lose both freezers if the breaker trips. Other than that, there's no harm in running both on the same circuit as long as the total current draw doesn't exceed the capacity of the circuit

 

[bbhero]

I agree with others on here.. Running a dedicated wire from the panel is the way to go. Most likely you can run a 12-2 conductor from the panel to the freezer receptacle. I know that when I did electrical work in residential homes we ran dedicated line to the refrigerator, washer, dryer, obviously heat pump if it was there and so on. We ran 10-2 to heat pumps. 12-2 was run for kitchen applications.
We would run 12-2 for a home run to a group of receptacles and split 14-3 off of the home run to the receptacles for that. My step father was a bit wild because he ran 12-2 to everything and everywhere. Even in between receptacles. Showing up with a bazooka for deer hunting in my book

 

[Rick in PA]

Two circuits. I have a buddy with a story about having his backup (second) sump pump on the same breaker as the main sump pump...

 

[Jetronic]

I'd keep the basement freezer on a line with the basement light. You might not now the breaker tripped until all the food went stale if the freezer has it's own line. Likely you'll use the lighting in the basement more.

 

[The_Jeff]

Originally Posted By: Jetronic
I'd keep the basement freezer on a line with the basement light. You might not now the breaker tripped until all the food went stale if the freezer has it's own line. Likely you'll use the lighting in the basement more.


My basement freezer shares a breaker with the cable modem. We'd know.

Is your breaker box in the basement, will the wire run naked on floor joists (eg not behind drywall) and will you do the work? If so, no brainer on the new circuit.