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Electrical Dangers in the Home
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Changing the Fuse or Breaker to
Accommodate Higher Circuit Loads
WHILE EXTREME CARE HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED IN THE PREPARATION OF THIS
SELF-HELP DOCUMENT, THE AUTHOR AND/OR PROVIDERS OF THIS DOCUMENT
ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR ERRORS OR OMISSIONS, NOR IS ANY
LIABILITY ASSUMED FROM THE USE OF THE INFORMATION, CONTAINED IN THIS
DOCUMENT, BY THE AUTHOR and / OR PROVIDER.
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So you need to be able to handle
higher current levels on a particular circuit, and you are
thinking of raising that level by replacing the fuse or
breaker in the service panel with a higher rated one.
This can only be done if certain conditions are met. |
First check what the gage of the wire cables being used on that
circuit, not just in sections of it but every single wire anywhere
in the circuit; at every outlet, every cable run, at fixture, at
switches. If every single cable run / leg of the same circuit is 12
gage (copper) rated for 20 amp max, and all outlets are of the
modern day variety (as sometimes the outlet screws are used to
continue the circuit onward) then you can change the fuse from 15
amp to 20 amp. If any part of the circuit uses 14 gage wiring or has
aluminium wiring you cannot under any circumstances change a 15 amp
fuse / breaker to a 20 amp one.
If you home has old wiring in it, because of its age and because
wiring standards of today is different and safer then yesterday I
would advise against allowing old type wiring carrying higher
current loads even if the wire gage meets the requirement of a
higher current carrying load.
Allowing 14 gage wiring to handle 20 amps making it undersized for
the current carrying load will create a dangerous situation and a
fire waiting to happen.
If you need higher current carrying capacity and your current
circuit wiring is not rated for that higher capacity then you will
need to wire in a new circuit that is wired with the correct wiring
cable and in such as way that meets current electrical codes for the
purpose and use in which it is being installed for.
By: Donald Kerr
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