My breakers are 15 amp breakers (fairly new) and whenever I use the electric heater which happens to be one of the most efficient heaters on the market today that uses very little electricity. It always trips my breakers, I have some electrical experience (enough to be dangerous) and I've installed breakers before my question is can I upgrade to 20 amp breakers from 15 amp for the zones that have heaters and would that be safe?
2007-02-12 09:57:27 · 8 answers · asked by jbrobinson23 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
I must also say it isnt only the heaters that cause the breakers to trip if I use the coffee maker and coffee grinder at the same time it also happens. There is nothing wrong with my heaters they are $400 a piece they are the EdenPure Quartz heaters and they are brand new. This happens all through the house not just one grid. My house is old but the breakers are fairly new (maybe 5 years old) What about isolating the outlets they are in to their own breakers?
2007-02-12 11:58:04 · update #1
if it's at all feasible I'd suggest running a dedicated 20 amp circuit for each heater. Run a 12/2 wire from the panel to where you want the heater to be and put a plug on the end of it. This way there should be little drop in power to the heater and the breaker should stop tripping. If it doesn't, you have another problem.
2007-02-12 12:52:03 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can probably change the breakers. Would it be safe? NO. You need to determine the total amperage on the circuit when the breakers trip. No breaker will carry more than 80 per cent of it's rated capacity for any length of time. So, your 15 amp breakers can be expected to carry 12 amperes over time. Determine the amperage draw when the heater is on and that will tell you what to do.
The reason you should not simply put in a 20 amp breaker is that the wires from the breaker to the load are undoubtedly size 14 conductors and size 12 are required to safely carry 20 amperes.
2007-02-12 18:05:52 · answer #2 · answered by DelK 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
If the breaker trips on whatever circuit you try they must draw more than 15 amps look in your electric panel to see what gage wire you have in your house in my area some counties call for 14 gage and some call for 12 gage if you have 12 gage wire then go ahead and change the breaker the 12 gage wire will handle it safely there is also a time delay breaker that would let you run the coffee maker and the grinder at the same time.If you decide to put the 20 amp breaker on the 14 gage wire check and make sure the wire is not getting too warm
2007-02-12 23:09:16 · answer #3 · answered by Pat B 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Listen to the 1st responder. Your heaters are drawing too many amps for your circuit breaker. You can't change the 15 amp breaker to a 20 amp breaker without creating a fire hazard.
2007-02-12 18:12:21 · answer #4 · answered by Turnhog 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
tyr changing the breaker to a new 15 amp breaker, maybe u have a weak breaker. first i would determine how many of your heaters are on that circuit to see if you are overloading it. watts/volts=amps
2007-02-12 18:38:55 · answer #5 · answered by jtaenewman 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Maybe that heater has a short,try it at someone else's house before you think about changing circuit breakers.Also look at the heater to see if it says how much amperage it draws.Good luck
2007-02-12 18:07:53 · answer #6 · answered by sasyone 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I guess you have enough electoral experience to be dangerous only judging from looking at your statement about possible differences in the electric heaters. They're all the same, 100% efficient.
I would personally put that 20amp breaker in and try it. But you might be violating code and trespassing upon the universe. It may or may not be safe, try to make believe you paying attention!
2007-02-12 18:06:25 · answer #7 · answered by enord 5 · 0⤊ 4⤋
Something to consider, how old is your wiring? What medium amperage appliances are also on that circuit?
2007-02-12 18:08:51 · answer #8 · answered by J.C. 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋