Wiring screened-in porch off existing circuit

[screenporch21]

I am building a screened-in porch off my house and am getting ready to pull wire for 2 fixtures: 1) a ceiling fan/light combo and 2) another light fixture on the outside of the porch. I will be hooking into an existing circuit at a GFCI recepticle on the outside of the house. My question is, how do I determine if the existing circuit can handle the additional fixtures, ie, that the circuit is not already "maxed out". I feel like I'm fine since the two fixtures won't pull a lot of current, however the GFCI recepticle I'm hooking into is right off the kitchen so it may be pulling some of the large appliances, etc. I just want to be safe on this one. The house was built in 2002 so the wiring should be pretty up to date. Thanks!

[roger g]

You have to find out by trail and error to see what is on each circuit, Usually each circuit has ten loads which is lights, receptacles but not switches. You might not have the luxury of picking the line with the least load because it's location might not be convennient to you to hook into A kitchen recetacle is usually on a circuit with just another kitchen receptacle and you can't tap into that so doon't worry about overloading a kitchen circuit unless it is one for the fridge. The one for the dishwasher is usually on it's own and is a good possibility.
The code when building is pretty specific but adding two loads ( light and a plug) wouldn't strain any circuit, A lot depends on how much you want to bend the rules or whether you want to bend any. It is the same in building anything.

Roger

[Rich]

You can buy a circuit tracer also. A little spendy for a one time thing though..
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-form/103-2015223-5927836

[roger g]

" a little spendy"!!!!!!! Are you Americans trying to re invent the English language even further :lol:

Roger

[linear]

I think you need to blame the "right-pondian" English speakers for that phrase.

[roger g]

okay, okay....right pondian is not in MY dictionary

roger