Can you use a 30amp breaker instead of a 15 amp breaker when all that is required is the 15 amp? If not what types of things could /can happen? Or is it simply use what is called for and forget the bigger breaker?
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For a start, the wire gauge must be sufficient to meet the breaker rating. Unless you understand electrical code and its implications, use the breaker that is called for.
The breaker is there to prevent you wires (and your house) from going up in flames. The breaker you need is dependent on the wires running from it. A 15 amp breaker would likely have 14ga to 12ga wire. It can be thicker wire, but not thinner.
A 30 amp breaker would be used where you have 10 ga or better wire to handle the load.
Now, the way I'm reading your post you have a situation similar to the following:
You have a bad 15 amp breaker in you panel, and you want to replace it with one you have on hand - a 30 amp breaker.
While yes, you could physicly do that, it would be very dangerous. You would be forcing a wire system capable of only handling 15 (maybe 20) amps to have to carry a full 30 before it would trip. Putting 25 amps of load on that wire could heat it up to dangerous levels and start a fire.
Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CA
Also a CRX fanatic!
kinda like that yes. i have 14/2 wire in whole house. i had a 15 amp go bad and thought ( but didn't) replace it with a 30 amp I had on hand. I replaced it with a new 15 amp. sorry bout the vagueness. I was just wondering what would happen if someone replaced a 15 amp with a 30 amp. thxs for input.
I think we are all glad you asked first!
Man, I love internet forums! GROUP HUG!!!
Hey, watch those hands Buck.Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CA
Also a CRX fanatic!
Just as an added aside, The outlet has to match the breaker as far as amps go.1 - measure the board twice, 2 - cut it once, 3 - measure the space where it is supposed to go 4 - get a new board and go back to step 1
"Just as an added aside, The outlet has to match the breaker as far as amps go."Not exactly.The main restriction is on receptacles, not outlets. An outlet is any place electrical equipment is connected and include light fixtures among many other things.For receptacles. You can have 15 amp receptacles on 20 amp circuits if you have more than one. And the common duplex receptacle counts as two.But you can't have a 20 amp recepracle on a 15 amp circuit.Also note that on dedicated motor circuits (including AC) the rules are COMPLETELY DIFFERENT about wire size and breakers. In fact I thought that where the orginal question was coming from until he carlified it.
Also, if the receptacle is the only one on the branch circuit, it can be larger than the breaker ampacity.
Also note that on dedicated motor circuits (including AC) the rules are COMPLETELY DIFFERENT about wire size and breakers.
No kidding. Try explaining Article 430 to someone and you may get some strange looks. ;) I was on a woodworking forum a while back and tried to explain it; some self-appointed "electrical expert" wrote back, essentially saying that i was an idiot and didn't know what I was talking about. Still haven't calimed down enough to write a reply that'll be civilized, in contrast to that guy's postings.
you cannot just upgrade a breaker.You can start a fire.
If you're having trouble popping a 15a and the wire is 12 ga( and only if wire is 12 ga.) You can go up to a 20amp breaker.
Before you swap from a 15 to a 20 amp breaker, you have to trace out the whole circuit and open all the boxes to make sure there's no #14 wire anywhere on it. That could be the reason for the lower breaker in the first place.
-- J.S.