Dedicated Circuit Required: Which Appliances Need Their Own Breaker?
Cooker, washing machine, dryer — the AREI requires a dedicated circuit for certain appliances. Here's the complete list.
Yes — certain appliances must have their own circuit
The AREI (Art. 5.2.1.2) requires high-power appliances to have a dedicated circuit with their own circuit breaker. These appliances must not be connected to a shared socket circuit.
Which appliances need a dedicated circuit?
| Appliance | Breaker (MCB) | Cable | Connection |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric cooker / hob | 32A, 2-pole for single-phase; for three-phase (3×400V) 3- or 4-pole MCB | 6 mm² (XVB 3G6) | Fixed connection or Perilex |
| Oven | 25A | 4 mm² (XVB 3G4) | Fixed connection or dedicated socket |
| Washing machine | 20A | 2.5 mm² (XVB 3G2.5) | 16A socket |
| Tumble dryer | 20A | 2.5 mm² (XVB 3G2.5) | 16A socket |
| Dishwasher | 20A | 2.5 mm² (XVB 3G2.5) | 16A socket |
| Water heater (from 2,600 W rated power — AREI requirement) | 20A | 2.5 mm² (XVB 3G2.5) | 16A socket or fixed connection |
| EV charger (wallbox) | 20–40A | 4–6 mm² | Fixed connection; additionally required: 30 mA RCD Type B (or Type A-EV with DC 6mA protection in the wallbox) per charging point (Art. 7.22.4) |
| Heat pump | 20–32A | 4–6 mm² | Fixed connection |
Rule of thumb: Any fixed appliance with a rated power of 2,600 Watts (2.6 kW) or more must have its own circuit under the AREI (Art. 5.2.1.2). Washing machines, tumble dryers, and dishwashers must be connected behind a 30 mA RCD (Art. 4.2.4.3b). Fixed appliances such as cookers and refrigeration units may be connected directly behind the 300 mA RCD at the supply point.
Why a dedicated circuit?
Three reasons why the AREI requires dedicated circuits:
- Safety: High-power appliances continuously load the circuit near its limit. A shared circuit can overheat.
- Availability: If the breaker trips, only the affected appliance loses power — not the entire kitchen.
- Cable protection: The cable cross-section can be precisely matched to the appliance.
Kitchen planning: At least 3 dedicated circuits
A typical kitchen requires at minimum:
- 1× cooker/hob (32A, 6 mm²)
- 1× oven (20A, 4 mm²)
- 1× dishwasher (20A, 2.5 mm²)
- Plus: 1–2 general socket circuits for small appliances (coffee maker, toaster, microwave)
Most common mistake
The most frequent AREI violation in kitchens: the dishwasher on the shared socket circuit. The installer connects it to the nearest available socket instead of providing a dedicated circuit. This is flagged during inspection.
Laundry room / utility room
Same principle applies: each major appliance gets its own circuit:
- Washing machine: dedicated 20A circuit
- Tumble dryer: dedicated 20A circuit
- Water heater: dedicated 20A circuit (from 2,600 W — AREI requirement)
Tip: Also plan a separate socket circuit in laundry rooms for the iron and other appliances.
PlanElec automatically detects missing dedicated circuits
When you plan your installation with PlanElec, the tool automatically validates whether a dedicated circuit is provided for each major appliance. You'll receive a warning for any violations — before the inspector even visits.