KitchenAid
High Inrush Current or Undersized Circuit
Garbage disposal causes the lights in the kitchen to dim significantly when starting.
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Safety Warning
This repair may involve working with high voltage components or water connections. Always unplug the appliance before removing any panels.
If you are not confident in your ability to perform this repair safely, we strongly recommend contacting a professional technician.
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Possible Causes
Disposal and lights on same circuit, Weak supply voltage, Oversized disposal for circuit capacity
How to Fix / Troubleshooting
Safety First: Turn OFF power before opening any electrical boxes. Do not ignore severe dimming, as it may indicate wiring issues.
Step-by-step:
- 1. Identify circuit: Determine which breaker feeds the KitchenAid disposal and which other loads are on that circuit.
- 2. Check wire gauge: Confirm that the circuit wiring is appropriate (typically 14 AWG for 15A, 12 AWG for 20A).
- 3. Reduce shared loads: Move other high-draw appliances off the disposal circuit if possible.
- 4. Inspect connections: Tighten all neutral and hot connections in the panel and junction boxes (by a qualified person).
- 5. Consider dedicated circuit: For larger horsepower disposals, a dedicated circuit is recommended to prevent dimming.
When to call a technician: An electrician should evaluate persistent dimming to rule out unsafe wiring or panel issues.
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Repair Difficulty
Hard
4/5
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