Our house was built in 1945. Would it pose a fire hazard to the original wiring which is in excellent shape if we upgrade some breakers to 20 amp from the 15 amp we currently have. The breaker box has been upgraded but the original wiring is in the walls. Thanks
2007-08-06 23:55:48 · 12 answers · asked by ? 6 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
You cannot increase the amperage of the circuit breaker without increasing the wire size. It would be a fire hazard and a violation of the electric code. Email if you want more information.
Do not take electrical advise from untrained and unqualified people on yahoo answers.
2007-08-07 07:50:48 · answer #1 · answered by John himself 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The wire gauge of the existing old wires is likely not thick enough to allow the upgrade to 20 amps. That is why they used 15 amp circuits at the time. No legit. electrician would do this upgrade. It would be a fire hazard.
2007-08-07 12:27:20 · answer #2 · answered by brando4755 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The answer is no you can't upgrade to 20 amp breakers,,,,the reason for the 15amp breakers is cause most likely the wire is only size 14,,,which is rated for 15 amps,,,,#12 size wire is rated for 20 amps,,,i would not recommend changing those,,,with a old house like that and the wiring the age it is your going to run into problems
2007-08-07 07:30:08 · answer #3 · answered by sparkybb1 1 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Yes get a licensed electrician. Do you know if the wiring has ever been changed out? The reason to ask this is that if it has never been changed out then it will silver wire instead of copper, all houses built after 1972 should have been built with copper wire. Silver wire will heat up faster with more amperage and it will be a fire hazard.
You can do a quick check to see if it has copper wire(s) by taking off the cover of the breaker box and look to see what the color of the stripped wire part is.
2007-08-07 08:17:25 · answer #4 · answered by Mikey L 1 · 0⤊ 3⤋
If your house was built in the 40's you need to change out the wires. You cannot just upsize the breakers. The insulation on that old of wire will have just about broken down by now. Your best and safest bet is to bite the bullet and pay to have the house rewired.
2007-08-07 07:35:53 · answer #5 · answered by Stephen P 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Your house in term of electrical condition is in (aluminum wire hazard ) and if view condition is look good but weirs in side structure are very old material that cover wire in long period of the time will get expos if you going to change breakers from 15 to 20 danger of wire firing is most possible thing that will happen . To change amper of breakers you need to change wire gage size to NM12/3 copper other wise any over loading current will fire up your wiring system.
2007-08-07 09:40:37 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
as people said:
20 amp breakers MUST have at least 12 gauge wire.
Older houses....and this is more a 60's built problem but could also be your case because of post war metal shortages.........used aluminum wring. This is such a fire hazard that I'd be leary of using ANY high draw item in your house. If you have aluminum wiring it MUST be replaced.
2007-08-07 15:34:29 · answer #7 · answered by yankee_sailor 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Assuming the wire is that old it's a hazard now.
The fire rating is a joke if its the pitch covered cloth.
Electrical fires are expensive, talk with your local bonded guild member to arrange a secondary breaker and supply system for what ever power hungry appliance you desire.
2007-08-07 07:00:48 · answer #8 · answered by ★Greed★ 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋
do not upsize the breakers. the wiring in the house was designed to operate at 15A only. to upsize the breaker you will also need to upsize the wiring.
2007-08-07 13:29:13 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
no but you should have your wiring checked out. a lot of older wired houses dont have necessary ground wires that new breakers require. also, your house may have the older silver wiring which could be sold to help cover the cost of rewiring your home up to code
2007-08-07 07:04:55 · answer #10 · answered by ryan m 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋