(Electrician advice) installing breaker 15 amp to 20 amp

Herb & Suds

Herb & Suds

Well-Known Member
You can't usually convert a 15 amp circuit to 20 amps unless it is on #12 gauge wire
Typically 15 amp service is using #14 gauge
and it is too much load for that thin of wire with potential to cause a fire
 
1ManTeam

1ManTeam

Active Member
Herb & Suds said:
You can't usually convert a 15 amp circuit to 20 amps unless it is on #12 gauge wire
Typically 15 amp service is using #14 gauge
and it is too much load for that thin of wire with potential to cause a fire
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Thank u for replying, I’m not home rite now but I will give more info and pics. So basically wat I’m trying to do is install the same circuit breaker the top 15 amp stays the same , I’m jus trying to change the bottom from 15 amp to 20 amp. Hopefully this makes sense
 
getogrow

getogrow

Well-Known Member
The breaker you have circled is only one breaker. to my knowledge they do not make a piggy back breaker with 2 sizes in one. Just like Herb says, you cannot up the amps of the breaker without upgrading the wire also.
That panel looks good so i have to assume that all the breakers labled 15amps have 14g wire going to them. you CANNOT UP TO A 20smp without upgrading thwe wire to 12guage. WARNING> FIRE.
 
1ManTeam

1ManTeam

Active Member
Herb & Suds said:
Again if the wire size isn't number twelve you can't increase breaker size it is not safe
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getogrow said:
The breaker you have circled is only one breaker. to my knowledge they do not make a piggy back breaker with 2 sizes in one. Just like Herb says, you cannot up the amps of the breaker without upgrading the wire also.
That panel looks good so i have to assume that all the breakers labled 15amps have 14g wire going to them. you CANNOT UP TO A 20smp without upgrading thwe wire to 12guage. WARNING> FIRE.
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Gotcha , thank u both... I will take a look at the wires and take more pics when I get home
 
T

Topshelfruns

Well-Known Member
1ManTeam said:
Gotcha , thank u both... I will take a look at the wires and take more pics when I get home
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I setup my own sub panel and there is more too it than just picking a size of wire and a size of breaker.
Even 12 gauge is too small for a 20 amp breaker if your running for example 18 amps+ through the circuit all day and night long.
So answer me this
How much electricity will you be running through this circuit?
And for how long will this load be on?
Remember even if you have 12 gauge wire you cannot upgrade to a 20 amp breaker if you will be using 18+amps 24 hours a day the wire is not big enough for this type of a load.
20 amp breaker using 12 gauge is only good for partial loads at Around 17amps + not full loads!!!!!
And its scary that no one on here that gave you advice talked about full loads vs partial loads on a circuit.
In my opinion
Don't listen too people on here about electrical advice because you will get bad advice.
Don't start a fire contact a cheap certified electrician in your area, you can get this issue resolved with like 100 bucks.
 
Herb & Suds

Herb & Suds

Well-Known Member
Topshelfruns said:
I setup my own sub panel and there is more too it than just picking a size of wire and a size of breaker.
Even 12 gauge is too small for a 20 amp breaker if your running for example 18 amps+ through the circuit all day and night long.
So answer me this
How much electricity will you be running through this circuit?
And for how long will this load be on?
Remember even if you have 12 gauge wire you cannot upgrade to a 20 amp breaker if you will be using 18+amps 24 hours a day the wire is not big enough for this type of a load.
20 amp breaker using 12 gauge is only good for partial loads at Around 17amps + not full loads!!!!!
And its scary that no one on here that gave you advice talked about full loads vs partial loads on a circuit.
In my opinion
Don't listen too people on here about electrical advice because you will get bad advice.
Don't start a fire contact a cheap certified electrician in your area, you can get this issue resolved with like 100 bucks.
Click to expand...
First it is scary that he wants to do it himself
Second we were trying to tell him not to do it for risk of fire
No one gave him bad advice
but thanks
Oh and welcome brand new member
 
A

Apalchen

Well-Known Member
That appears to be 14 gauge wire coming into the 15 amp breaker. Also that is a special breaker for when your out of room in your panel. I believe you get either 15 amp or 20 amp not one of each. Either way it's not safe to run the old 14 gauge wire into a 20 amp breaker, so you will have to run new wire if that's what you want to do.
 
1ManTeam

1ManTeam

Active Member
Apalchen said:
That appears to be 14 gauge wire coming into the 15 amp breaker. Also that is a special breaker for when your out of room in your panel. I believe you get either 15 amp or 20 amp not one of each. Either way it's not safe to run the old 14 gauge wire into a 20 amp breaker, so you will have to run new wire if that's what you want to do.
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Well I’ll probably jus run my 660 led on one outlet and my portable ac on the washer outlet jus to be safe, I also bought a commercial surge protector where I’ll be plugging in my led just in case
 

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1ManTeam

1ManTeam

Active Member
Apalchen said:
That appears to be 14 gauge wire coming into the 15 amp breaker. Also that is a special breaker for when your out of room in your panel. I believe you get either 15 amp or 20 amp not one of each. Either way it's not safe to run the old 14 gauge wire into a 20 amp breaker, so you will have to run new wire if that's what you want to do.
Click to expand...
Are these gauge wires the same ?
 

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