How do you change a 15 amp breaker to a 20 amp breaker?(single family home)?

Answer 1

I do not recommend changing this breaker. Breakers are sized according to the wiring used and load served. A 15 amp breaker requires a minimum 14 AWG wire. A 20 amp breaker requires a minimum 12 AWG wire. The wiring is marked on the outer sheath. If you only have 14 AWG wire, then you CAN'T change the breaker because the wire is not large enough to handle the additional load.

Answer 2

The first thing I would tell you is :
1. If you don't know you should find a qualified electrician before changing. The reason is Electric circuts can be very dangerous!!! Your consideration in a change such as this could result in your home burning down.
First you must ask yourself: What is this change being done for?
Is your electric circut kicking off? If it is then you may have a defect in the wiring or other problem, that requires attention. You should have a specific amount of circuts to each breaker, respective to the (Wattage in the circut, if you have to many this would make the 15 amp fuse kick out. An electrician can do the math for you on this and then could evaluate your circuts to assure that you and your family will be Safe within the confines of
your Home! It is better to "NOT OVERLOAD any circut beyond it's Electrical capicity. (for your own safety)check your wiring also
So get a little help on this. Of course, You should really evaluate all circuts in your house to assure it is correct . The money cost really should not be a factor when compared to the cost of lives.

An additional factor too consider for your safety is this . An example is: Let us say that you have a 20 Amp breaker (and Also you have the how-to knowledge too change it) remove it and replace it with a 15 Amp pbreaker. By doing this a 15 Amp breaker will function and kick off you power to that circut faster and thus wount allow your wiring or (Product to overheat and burn out. Never use a breaker to large for the need of using more plug-ins on a single circut. I need to say again Never overload a circut ,It is always best to add another one And if your breaker box is not adequate then you should invest in one that would be adequate for you needs. Always (Do everything such as this, BY your electrical (CODES) Have a long life and a happy one )

Answer 3

Changing the beaker is the easy part. And the most dangerous part. Turn off the main, but there still are hot wires that you can accidentally touch in the breaker panel. There are different manufacturers, so you have to get the right brand, but they just pop out, you may have to use a screw driver to give it a little push. Disconnect the hot wire, usually black, then reconnect the wire to the new breaker and put it back in.

The real question is if the wire rated for the extra amperage. It should be 10/2 with a ground. It may only need to be 12/2 w ground. That being said defiantly check with a licensed electrician. My bet is that you need to pull new wire.

Answer 4

Changing the breaker is a matter of opening the power panel and pulling hard. then removing the wiring attached to the old breaker , then performing the reverse the install the 20. Please check the wiring to insure that it is capable of handling the additional 5 amps. Fires in the wall can start from the heating caused by underrated wiring. Consult an electrician before you start is the best advice I can give you.

Answer 5

Pop the 15 amp breaker out and put the 20 amp breaker in. They pop in and out. BUT since you don't sound all too knowledgeable here, MAKE sure you kill ALL POWER to the main board first. There is enough power there to cook ya. But really if you don't know, get a neighbor to help you or hire an electrian.

Answer 6

The main thing is whether the wire can take the 20 amps, otherwise it will overheat before the breaker clicks off.

Answer 7

Call an electrican you won't do it if you have to ask.

Answer 8

call an electrician