I am changing out two light fixtures in my living room. Both lights are only on one circuit using a 14 gauge wire. Total of three 100 watt bulbs... the breaker is a 20 amp one. Is this bad or could cause a problem, or should I change it to a 15 amp. I noticed the panel had a pass inspection sticker but I don't think this 15amp is code. Thanks
Should I change this breaker out?
- Thread starter Blaze
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Change to a 15. Code is 14 gauge is 15A breaker and 12 gauge is 20A
I think 14 gauge wire is for 15 amp. Double check it and then if true, I would switch to 15 amp breaker.
Three 100 watt bulbs is not that much for a 15 amp circuit. Combined they will be less than 3 amps. Watts/volts = amps so 300 / 120 = 2.5 amps.
Three 100 watt bulbs is not that much for a 15 amp circuit. Combined they will be less than 3 amps. Watts/volts = amps so 300 / 120 = 2.5 amps.
100 watt bulbs scare me.
You're right. If there is 14G wire anywhere in the circuit, the breaker should be 15A. This issue came up recently in a home inspection on some investment property I was selling.
Don't put too much stock in that "passed inspection" sticker. This panel was swapped out by one electrician, worked on by another, had two county inspectors, and one other home inspector look at it and didn't catch it. The last home inspector was the only one. I did some research and found out he was right... Guess which inspector I'm using in the future
Heath
Don't put too much stock in that "passed inspection" sticker. This panel was swapped out by one electrician, worked on by another, had two county inspectors, and one other home inspector look at it and didn't catch it. The last home inspector was the only one. I did some research and found out he was right... Guess which inspector I'm using in the future
Heath
Originally Posted By: justinf89
Change to a 15. Code is 14 gauge is 15A breaker and 12 gauge is 20A
This.
Change to a 15. Code is 14 gauge is 15A breaker and 12 gauge is 20A
This.
JHZR2
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15A
JTK
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Originally Posted By: Audi Junkie
100 watt bulbs scare me.
When we first moved into our house, the basement lighting was fitted with giant [censored] 1950's 300w bulbs! Other stuff would dim if you fired them up at once.
Joel
100 watt bulbs scare me.
Joel
Can you make the whole circuit #12?
In our area any 15A circuits are not code. Everything has to be 20A and so everything gets 12ga wire.
If you can just change out the wire.
I have a house built in 1978 and it has crazy wiring.
I'm still having to figure out how to straighten things out as I recently got all new circuit breakers (the previous ones were banned in the '80s) and now certain lights that are placed on 3 way switches that share grounds between circuits will pop the breaker.
One project at a time...
Edited to add: BTW, Compact Florescent Bulbs ROCK! Especially when you get into the 100 watt and above range. I have some 300 watt CFL's in floor lamps and they are 1/10th the heat the previous 150 watt bulbs I had in them.
If you can just change out the wire.
I have a house built in 1978 and it has crazy wiring.
I'm still having to figure out how to straighten things out as I recently got all new circuit breakers (the previous ones were banned in the '80s) and now certain lights that are placed on 3 way switches that share grounds between circuits will pop the breaker.
One project at a time...
Edited to add: BTW, Compact Florescent Bulbs ROCK! Especially when you get into the 100 watt and above range. I have some 300 watt CFL's in floor lamps and they are 1/10th the heat the previous 150 watt bulbs I had in them.
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+1-14 gauge is 15 amps MAX-I shouldn't laugh-but your name is BLAZE! Bad name for anybody doing electrical work!
Lol Bullwinkle never thought of that.. name is after one of my wifes horses... anyway thanks for the replies. I'm going to change the bulbs out with those florescent Bulbs next trip to the store, Looks like I'll replace the breaker with the code 15 amp... can't get to the wires to replace with 12#.
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Either copy the numbers off of the breaker or take the breaker with you to the store. They are not a universal fit although some brands are interchangeable.
Also I remember somthing about bogus breakers on the market, cheap knock offs that were a safety hazard. Do some Google research to see if you can identify the real thing vs the junk.
Compact fluroescent bulbs are great, far less heat generated and you get way more light per watt. 26 watt gives about 100 watts worth of incadescent light. Sometimes don't work very well, such as if you have floodlights you want on full brightness right away.
Compact fluroescent bulbs are great, far less heat generated and you get way more light per watt. 26 watt gives about 100 watts worth of incadescent light. Sometimes don't work very well, such as if you have floodlights you want on full brightness right away.
Originally Posted By: justinf89
Change to a 15. Code is 14 gauge is 15A breaker and 12 gauge is 20A
One exception to this rule is for air conditioner condensing units. For those, you size the wire according to what the "minimum circuit ampacity" on the data plate says, and use a breaker sized for the "maximum overcurrent protection". So you may well have a 20 amp circuit breaker feeding a 14 gauge wire and it will be acceptable but only for that specific dedicated circuit for that specific air conditioner condensing unit.
http://www.apcmedia.com/salestools/KSIH-6Y6UU5_R0_EN.pdf for more details.
Change to a 15. Code is 14 gauge is 15A breaker and 12 gauge is 20A
One exception to this rule is for air conditioner condensing units. For those, you size the wire according to what the "minimum circuit ampacity" on the data plate says, and use a breaker sized for the "maximum overcurrent protection". So you may well have a 20 amp circuit breaker feeding a 14 gauge wire and it will be acceptable but only for that specific dedicated circuit for that specific air conditioner condensing unit.
http://www.apcmedia.com/salestools/KSIH-6Y6UU5_R0_EN.pdf for more details.
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