Is there so available space in the main breaker box to add another circuit ?
15 amp circuit to a 20 amp
- Thread starter micrometer
- Start date
OP
micrometer
Member
Could be original to the house - 1979. I bought it in 2007.
OP
micrometer
Member
Thanks Nuttsgt, When I choose an alternative, if I pick a new circuit I'll have to have an electrician make that call.
whateg01
Well-known member
Yeah you can't trust a nice couple! /s
Nice couples are never into motorcycles. /s
People who like motorcycles are absolute scum! /s
Who cares if they are rebuilding engines in the living room. A few members here have washed parts in the dishwasher. I can understand eviction because of the oil stains.
oldmachinenut
Well-known member
Job security for some of us.
I can't believe no one has figured out how to make a breaker trip (internally) to a safe position regardless of what the handle is doing
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any modern breaker will trip even if it is tied like shown.
We have the breaker at the volunteer warehouse tied with a clamp ( purpose made) that powers the alarm, phone , internet so no one can inadvertently shut it off, but it will trip if an overcurrent is sensed
oldmachinenut
Well-known member
I only posted that picture for a laughany modern breaker will trip even if it is tied like shown.
We have the breaker at the volunteer warehouse tied with a clamp ( purpose made) that powers the alarm, phone , internet so no one can inadvertently shut it off, but it will trip if an overcurrent is sensed
wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
job security for whom? the fire dept? why? because you think it wont trip? incorrect. breakers can trip regardless of their handles being held in a certain position
wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
Yes, I thought the same.I only posted that picture for a laugh
See above.... My comment was in jest as I wish nobody's house to burn down...We've seen plenty of stuff done and ask ourselves, why has this not burned ?
I have a 3 bay garage attached to my house- all three have 20 amp outlets. I found out the hard way that most of the circuits were 14ga/15amp with 20a outlets. Only one was wired properly with 12ga/20amp with 20a outlets. I don't know who wired my garage when the house was built, but there were dropped neutrals, missing grounds, and some of the strangest Ray-Charles'd back-stab jumpers I have ever had the displeasure of fixing. One circuit was shared with a storage room, jumpered to a courtesy outlet in the attic, and to a GFCI in the crawlspace used for irrigation control (funny part was, it was a 110' run!)
My point is, just because an outlet says "20 amp is fine" doesn't mean the circuit behind it (or in front of it, for that matter) is rated to handle that load. The 15amp breaker is doing its job and protecting the 14ga wire. You would need to replace the breaker and go 12/2 to have a truly safe 20a circuit.
My point is, just because an outlet says "20 amp is fine" doesn't mean the circuit behind it (or in front of it, for that matter) is rated to handle that load. The 15amp breaker is doing its job and protecting the 14ga wire. You would need to replace the breaker and go 12/2 to have a truly safe 20a circuit.
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Yes, this is usually what we see around here or something similar.any modern breaker will trip even if it is tied like shown.
We have the breaker at the volunteer warehouse tied with a clamp ( purpose made) that powers the alarm, phone , internet so no one can inadvertently shut it off, but it will trip if an overcurrent is sensed
It's funny to watch the young guys (firefighters) kinda freak out when they see them and think they will not trip... Us old guys just look at them straight face and say it's job security and not to worry about it.
After they pick their jaw off the floor, we explain it.
Miss the Pontiacs
Well-known member
A friend of mine is doing a kitchen reno. He mentioned that the standard for kitchens is now 20 amp circuits. With only 2 outlets per 12 gauge run. At least for him, he has relatively easy access for recabling.
BurtEggley
Well-known member
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that is why pennies are being retired. No need for them in fuse boxes anymore. 
The NEC code requirement has been a minimum of two 20A small appliance circuits for many, many decades.
There is no limit as to how many recepts can be on each circuit, only which rooms.
danfromsyr
Well-known member
yeah that commercial coffee maker is one serious energy hog.
we had one, and had similar issues with it in our annual lodge party.
it needs it's own circuit.
we had one, and had similar issues with it in our annual lodge party.
it needs it's own circuit.
75gmck25
Well-known member
Ref post #57 - US code has no specific limit on the number of receptacles per circuit, but AFAIK the code in Canada (where the #57 poster is located) does have some limits on the number of receptacles per circuit. Even with that understood, 2 receptacles per 12 gauge run seems really small for the number of receptacles needed in a kitchen.
poster is in Canada, where we used 15 amp splits until GFI was mandated . in my opinion the 15 amp split is a better . 20 amp is very easily popped with 2 appliances .
No reason you can’t use 20a splits, though. Just need a 2 pole gfci. Sensible outlet placement goes a long way, though. I have never had a modern kitchen where we tripped breakers.
Yes, you need to get that load on a dedicated kitchen circuit. IOW, get the living room off the kitchen circuit. You could try a new 15A breaker, as it is possible that yours maybe tripping early due to continuous use right at the limit. But even if that works, it still needs to be fixed correctly. And, both kitchen circuits should be 20A, breaker and wire, but recepts are fine at 15a.
alfredeneuman
Well-known member
Single recps. need to be rated for the full 20A. A duplex can be 15A.
PhantomEB
Well-known member
East wall which is pretty much toolage wall is to get a 20 amp 110 (12gauge) at 36” high along with one dedicated 30amp outlet to go with another 220 outlet at the back corner for another compressor down the road.
West wall and header wall is to keep the 15 amp there but with extension boxes to run conduit for a couple more outlets in between the 2 that currently exist on those walls. I never use more than one plug per circuit anyways, just want options of where I plug into.
West wall and header wall is to keep the 15 amp there but with extension boxes to run conduit for a couple more outlets in between the 2 that currently exist on those walls. I never use more than one plug per circuit anyways, just want options of where I plug into.
I think you made a wrong turn at East Podunk.
Back in 1993 we moved into a lake cottage in WI. Small place, about 900sqft, with a 60A panel with screw fuses. Built around 1910.
During our walk-through when I looked under the sink there was surface blackening on the outlet that powered the dishwasher and disposal. Neither worked. Outlet had no power. Went in the basement to check the fuse box and every circuit had either a penny or a washer behind the fuse, and a couple of the fuses were blown. On top of the panel was a stack of blown fuses and a few more pennies.
After removing the cover plate the under-sink outlet showed what I'd call significant heat damage but the wires to it were still hot. We did buy the place with a nice discount below asking. Before we moved in I installed a new service panel and rewired the place with 12-2, which was fairly easy as it was a rustic cottage.
I hadn't thought of that for years until reading your post!
Metal-Marc
Well-known member
Why is the coffee maker in the living room in the first place?
Jack Ryan
Well-known member
The coffee maker is in the kitchen, but shares the living room circuit. There have been quite a few comments about this peculiar arrangement.
Jack
OP
micrometer
Member
That's the way it was wired when I bought the house in 2007. Go figure.
Is the coffee maker physically in the kitchen or physically in the living room?
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
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Because it seemed to be. Question and I wasn't scrolling back to something I read 2 weeks ago at 3am
So it's in the kitchen but the kitchen circuit is shared with the living room.
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
It was mentioned two posts above yours.
For someone that hands out a big ration of **** to people for not reading threads when responding and for asking irrelevant questions, this feels odd
I saw a post asking why it was in the living room, and OP responded that's the way it's always been.
I had some recollection that it wasn't physically in the living room, so I asked
Turns out it's in the kitchen, as stated over a week ago. You got me, my whole world has come crashing down around me.
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Lassen Forge
Well-known member
Hey, I run my plasma cutter on a 15 amp circuit... not a problem at all.
Well, it IS 230 volts, but it's still 15 amps! --lol--
Well, it IS 230 volts, but it's still 15 amps! --lol--
dave*99
Well-known member
Metal-Marc
Well-known member
I know someone with a 240V 30A circuit in the kitchen for a coffee machine.
Great coffee.
Great coffee.