I probably know the answer, but I need to ask. I have a problem blowing breakers (just one really) in my garage. It is a 15 amp breaker that I would like to increase to 20 amp. The problem is that when I use my compresser and the freezer is on the breaker pops off. Since I only use the compresser on the weekends can I get by with just replacing the 15 amp witha 20amp? If not what can I do. I am really getting tired of resetting the breaker.
Breaker upgrade
- Thread starter sizzler90
- Start date
what wire is in the circuit, what size recepticles? if its 12-3 with 20amp recepticles i would think you would be fine with the 20 amp breaker, but i may be wrong? or would the problem be with the appliance and compressor?
you dont need 20 amp receptacles on a 20 amp circuit (unless you have one single (not a duplex) receptacle.
if theres a 15 amp breaker, theres a reason for it. He could have #12 coming off the breaker, and some #14 elsewhere in the circuit.
thanks for clearing that up, still learning on the home and garage wiring, and whats best. this past summer my dad and i wired my new house(he is an electrician) and i picked up a bit of knowledge, but just enough to get me in trouble.
Aceman
Well-known member
"Can I just put a bigger breaker in?" has to be one of the most common questions I hear.
Standard answer, "if that was possible, the electrician would of done that in the first place."
Other common questions include "why didn't that melted backstab connection trip the breaker?" "Do you get shocked a lot?" "By the way, my uncle/brother/father/grandmother was an electrician."
Scariest comment I've heard in a while:
"you know what made my father such a great electrician?"
"No, I don't"
"120 wouldn't shock him"
Standard answer, "if that was possible, the electrician would of done that in the first place."
Other common questions include "why didn't that melted backstab connection trip the breaker?" "Do you get shocked a lot?" "By the way, my uncle/brother/father/grandmother was an electrician."
Scariest comment I've heard in a while:
"you know what made my father such a great electrician?"
"No, I don't"
"120 wouldn't shock him"
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My house was new in mid 1997, so the breaker has been in use 12 years 1/2 years.
Scotto
Well-known member
I'd check all the wiring on that circuit to see if it's 12 gauge. Then you'd probably be safe to put in a 20A breaker.
Mickey O
Well-known member
If you don't have 12 ga wire and you want to upgrade an easy way, depending on the circumstances (how far, access to any junction boxes, etc.) is two attach new 12 ga wire to the old 14 ga wire and pull it back through. If there are boxes along the way pull from there until you end up in the garage. If the circumstances are good it can make for an inexpensive upgrade.
Just thought of something, this would be for wire in conduit, that's all we can use out here. If you have romex you can sometimes do that.
Just thought of something, this would be for wire in conduit, that's all we can use out here. If you have romex you can sometimes do that.
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I am having an electrician come over Sunday afternoon to see what we need to do. He is a electrician from where I work so the look see won't cost anything but a home made lunch. He has his own bussiness on the side so he is licensed.
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This is just an update. The electrician came over yesterday. First thing he said was “why did they do that”, pointing to the 100amp service breaker box. He said he would have put a minimum of 200 amp box in any house he wires. Anyway he said that was not the problem and that the compressor and the freezer together is just too much for the breaker. He suggested putting a sub panel in and adding a few receptacles dedicated to just the garage/shop area. I am also going to have a couple more receptacles put outside on the RV pad and a security light over the garage door. He did say I could just replace the whole panel with a 200amp box but I would need to contact the city for more information on the wire size I think he said.
So just consensuses now, if it were you would you do the sub panel, or just replace the panel with a 200amp. One thing to keep in mind is in the future I do have plans to put a 2 car garage/shop in the back yard.
I am leaning towards the 200amp box, just because I don't know any better. Bigger is better, right?
So just consensuses now, if it were you would you do the sub panel, or just replace the panel with a 200amp. One thing to keep in mind is in the future I do have plans to put a 2 car garage/shop in the back yard.
I am leaning towards the 200amp box, just because I don't know any better. Bigger is better, right?
Mickey O
Well-known member
If you plan on staying in the place for a few years I'd upgrade to the 200 amp panel if it didn't cost to much. Sometimes it's an easy job, other times it's a huge expensive job, just depends on what your situation is. Get some prices, weigh your options.
Aceman
Well-known member
If you're thinking of pulling more load out of your house panel for a future shop/garage, upgrading to a 200 amp panel probably wouldn't hurt. One way is to set a 200 amp metermain outside and feed 100 amps back into your existing house panel with the other 100 amps for your garage. Since the metermain is outside it makes it very easy to run conduit out of it and over to the future shop. The sucky part is you have to seperate neutrals/grounds in your existing house panel. But if you decide to set another service at the new future shop, then you may not need to upgrade your existing homes service. He needs to do a load calc and see where you actually stand.
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rburke65
Well-known member
Was your friend talking about just changing the existing panel to a 200amp. box for more circuit availability, or up grading the entire electrical service to a 200 amp service and a 200 amp. panel?
Upgrading the entire electrical service to a 200 amp service and a 200 amp. panel, or just adding a sub panel. Those were the choise's he gave me.
torqueman2002
Well-known member
I up graded our service about 7 years ago to 200 amps. The power company supplied the meter, meter box, and cable from the pole to the house.
200 amps is a good upgrade if you plan on staying or not - a buyer will likely want a 200 amp service.
Last summer I ran a 60-amp 6-space/12-circuit sub-panel to the attached garage.
So far there's just a 20 amp circuit for the bench and a 30 amp 220 V circuit for the 2-stage compressor.
I have room for a welder outlet and a 20 amp circuit for the infrared heater/window AC unit, plus spares.
I used Square D Homeline for the service panel and Square D QO. There are other quality suppliers, next time I'd look for as many spaces as possible and solid copper busses.
Just my opinion, best of luck.
You might want to look at this site - helped me with my sub-panel install:
http://www.selfhelpforums.com/index.php?
200 amps is a good upgrade if you plan on staying or not - a buyer will likely want a 200 amp service.
Last summer I ran a 60-amp 6-space/12-circuit sub-panel to the attached garage.
So far there's just a 20 amp circuit for the bench and a 30 amp 220 V circuit for the 2-stage compressor.
I have room for a welder outlet and a 20 amp circuit for the infrared heater/window AC unit, plus spares.
I used Square D Homeline for the service panel and Square D QO. There are other quality suppliers, next time I'd look for as many spaces as possible and solid copper busses.
Just my opinion, best of luck.
You might want to look at this site - helped me with my sub-panel install:
http://www.selfhelpforums.com/index.php?