what is the difference between 15 ampheres in and 30 ampheres in a circuit breaker?

Answer 1

2 to 1 difference at 120 volts 15 amps = 1800 watts while 120 volts 30 amps = 3600 watts. if you use 240 volts and 15 amps = 3600 watts. 240 volts and 30 amps= 7200 watts
Bottom line is if you do not have the appropriate circuit breaker in use, You will be sorry. For instance if you use a 15 amp breaker, and you are in need of using more amps than that breaker can handle it will shut off and trip. If you need more assistance please see your local hardware store before you attempt it on your own. Because there are issues such as wire size etc. to your dwelling that can be a factor as well. Trying to make something work thats not suppose to cost you more in the long run, besides burning your home down.

Answer 2

Those are the current trip points of the breakers. If more than the rated current is drawn through the circuit for more than a few seconds, the breaker will open the circuit. Most house current has 15-amp breakers. 30-amp breakers are used for circuits with heavier loads. Usually the house wiring has to be specified as a lower guage in order to carry 30 amps safely. Only a licensed electrician who knows the electrical codes in your area can make changes in breakers.

Answer 3

Amps are a measure of the flow of electric current (electrons). When the flow reaches a level of 15 amps, then a 15 amp breaker shuts it off. The flow of electrons would have to reach a level of 30 amps before a 30 amp breaker would "break the circuit" thus shutting off the flow.

Voltage is a measure of the force of the flow. Current, or amperage, is a measure of the quantity of the flow.

In a car, a low voltage battery (12 volts) pushes a huge current through the starter motor (50-100amps).
But if you could have a 120 volt starter motor, then the current would only be 5 to 10 amps.

Voltage times current equals watts. So a 120 watt light bulb running on 120 volts would require 1 amp of current.

Let me stop before this becomes an electricity course!

Answer 4

a 30 amp breaker will take more load than the 15 before it trips.
The 15 may only have 6-7 lamps on it but the 30 will hold 15-16.

Answer 5

THe most obvious part of this is that a 15 amp breaker is only half as big.
If you have a regular house, fed by single phase 220vac, the 15 and 20 amp breakers only span one bus. This makes them 110 volts ac. 30 amp and above normally span both busses, which produces 220 volts Ac.
You can recognize them in the panel because they look like two smaller circuit breakers teamed together with a bar, so they work at the same time.

Answer 6

It takes twice as much current to trip the solenoid that pulls the switch open for the 30 amp breaker.

In terms of construction this could be accomplished in many different ways, most likely by using fewer windings in the solenoid, all other things (like the magnitude of the spring constant that needs to be overcome) being equal.

The gauge of wire used in the 15 amp breaker would likely also be smaller to save on production costs.

Answer 7

It's the difference between safety and burning your house down. Obviously it's double the amount of current allowed into a circuit. I'm not aware of anyone making a 30 amp 120V breaker so you're also talking about increasing the voltage.

Answer 8

The 15 amp will trip if it gets a 15 amp or greater load on it, 30 amp load or greater trips a 30 amp breaker.

Answer 9

as simple as this:
a 15 ampere breaker cuts off when current more than 15 ampere
a 30 ampere breaker cuts off when current more than 30 ampere

this is to avoid overcurrent and protect our electrical thing from damage

Answer 10

15 Amperes = more sensitive...trips quickl