15A or 20A dwelling unit receptacles

[DW98]

Question for the residential contractors: For a typical apartment, let's say 2-bedroom, 2 bath, kitchen, living room, laundry utility room, it there a significant cost increase to specify only 20A circuit breakers, versus a mix of 15A for general lighting/receptacles keeping the required 20A for bathroom sink and kitchen appliance receptacles? Or is simpler to only have to provide one size romex to a jobsite?

Thanks for your input.

 

[John120/240]

I prefer 14 awg for lighting and 12 awg for receptacles. 12 awg for lighting is overkill IMO, some would argue that 12 awg for bedroom receptacles is overkill also. YMMV

 

[Sierrasparky]

12g devices take more time to land and stuff back into boxes. I would rather have one more circuit then have 12g wire at lights and recepts

 

[Ragin Cajun]

What do the drawings call for??? RC

 

[jxofaltrds]

Since tenants are stupid try to spec 12 AWG for safety reasons. Up sell and like you want only one wire size on site.

Me 14 AWG and 12 AWG. Hate 12 and GFCIs.

 

[texie]

This is an age old debate. There a many who insist that #12/20 amp circuits are the way to go. But there are pluses and minuses to this. Yes, you can have fewer circuits. But some loads require a 15 amp circuit (often overlooked). I often see that box fill is not adhered to. The labor cost is also slightly higher in trimming.

 

[jxofaltrds]

This is an age old debate. There a many who insist that #12/20 amp circuits are the way to go. But there are pluses and minuses to this. Yes, you can have fewer circuits. But some loads require a 15 amp circuit (often overlooked). I often see that box fill is not adhered to. The labor cost is also slightly higher in trimming.

Why would you have fewer circuits?

Could just breaker the 15 at a5 amps.

The box fill is a great point. (3) 12-2WG + device in a standard single gang box. Not.