Electrical Breaker Question

[Blowstrees]

Hey There,

Just had a question about changing out a breaker....actually more of a what would you do type thing.

So, the breaker that is running the room, is only running 1 of 2 1k lamps and a 10k BTU AC unit currently. Plugged a vaccum in across the room...lol...and the breaker tripped.

SO, after checking it all out..what i thought was a 20 amp breaker like every single other one in the panel....is a 15 amp breaker. That will obviously not be compatible with my setup and was wondering....

A) The house is wired with 10 Gauge wiring. Would it be good for me to just change out the 15 amp breaker for a 30 amp in that one spot and call it good??

OR

B) There are a few open spots on the main panel. Would I be better just installing a 30 amp breaker in the new slot, finding a way to run the wire into the room and dedicating it to the lights and AC??

Honestly I dont think im electrically retarded but I dont really have much previous experience running wire or the sort. Plus the location is a rental house so I dont want to make a mess or spend hundreds on an electrician but if i have too, i will. Plus i guess i dont want anybody asking me why im gonna put 30 amps into one little ass room haha.


Anyways, What would you guys do? I know electrical work is simple but yet dangerous and want to make sure its done correctly. Thanks in advance.

Cheers

BT

 

[dongle69]

B) There are a few open spots on the main panel. Would I be better just installing a 30 amp breaker in the new slot, finding a way to run the wire into the room and dedicating it to the lights and AC??

BT

That is what I would do.
I might go bigger, though.
Odds are you will want/need it eventually.

 

[PharmaCan]

Generally in a setup like you are describing, the 15 amp circuit would be a lighting circuit, and is probably 14 gauge wire. The rest of your house is most likely wired with #12, not #10. Your house could be wired with #10, but I doubt it.

Option B) is probably your best bet.

PC

 

[Blowstrees]

Thank you for your responses.

Pharma- I know the house is wired with 10 gauge. the whole thing...

I spoke with the owner of the house about it and the house was originally goin to be set up for solar so the whole house was wired with 10 gauge. although you are right with the 15 amp, 14 guage would be what is suspected.

So, given that its 10...would you just change the breaker out or try to go through giving them their own?

 

[cocktail frank]

is the 10 awg wire aluminum or copper?

 

[PharmaCan]

Thank you for your responses.

Pharma- I know the house is wired with 10 gauge. the whole thing...

I spoke with the owner of the house about it and the house was originally goin to be set up for solar so the whole house was wired with 10 gauge. although you are right with the 15 amp, 14 guage would be what is suspected.

So, given that its 10...would you just change the breaker out or try to go through giving them their own?

Depending on the length of the run from the panel to the bdrm, #10 should carry the load and changing the breaker would be the easiest way to go ...that + an extension cord for the vacuum. lol

Frank - There's nothing wrong with aluminum wire, and I think it sizes about the same as copper for load purposes. The only thing with aluminum is you need to make sure you use that de-ox gel on all your connections and I think you need to use fixtures with non-copper connectors... not sure about the connectors, it's been awhile since I've seen any aluminum wire except on big cable for long runs. All the Edison Co. power drops around here are aluminum. It's a good conductor/cable if used properly.

PC

 

[cocktail frank]

aluminum has different current carrying capacities.
10 awg Al is only good for a 20a circuit.
10 awg in Cu is good for 30a.
power companies run Al cuz its cheaper.
their sizes look the same as Cu would be because they are ran in "free air"
which means they can handle a lil more current because the heat dissepates faster.

if the 10 ia Cu, you can handle 24 amps safely on a 30a breaker.
if the 10 awg is Al, you can handle 16 amps safely on a 20 amp breaker.

 

[DIGITALHIPPY]

Thank you for your responses.

Pharma- I know the house is wired with 10 gauge. the whole thing...

I spoke with the owner of the house about it and the house was originally goin to be set up for solar so the whole house was wired with 10 gauge. although you are right with the 15 amp, 14 guage would be what is suspected.

So, given that its 10...would you just change the breaker out or try to go through giving them their own?

one has nothing to do with the other, the backbone for solar would morelikely be a fat 8,6, or even4/2, depending(dc, remember)then its feed into a dc->A/C converter at the breakerbox, and usualy is pluged straight in like another 100A main...
so why would the runs to the plugs be #10....??? it could be, im sure your reading it off the wire itself? dont listen to the old wind-bag.
if a custom house it might actualy make sence to do #10. maybe some of them are...?

id resocket the wire with a 30A breaker and stay at your level, if u think u might want to add another light etc, then do a new drop, fat #8 or #6, you'll be set.

 

[Blowstrees]

Yea so I didnt listen to the old wind bag....fucking idiot this guy is...myself included for partially believing him anyways...lol

Opened up the panal today after i went to HD to get a 30 amp to replace. no orange wire. Its white with a fat 14-2 inprinted on the side of it. So much for that idea...

So, returned the 30 amp and got two 20 amps...will have to purchase enough 12 wire now to run the new cables in. one 20 amp breaker for a 1k and a 600 watter? and the other breaker for the ac unit. sound ok to you guys?

 

[fumancu]

Check out my new wiring thread for what to do at the end of those 20 amp lines.

 

[PharmaCan]

Yea so I didnt listen to the old wind bag....fucking idiot this guy is...myself included for partially believing him anyways...lol

Opened up the panal today after i went to HD to get a 30 amp to replace. no orange wire. Its white with a fat 14-2 inprinted on the side of it. So much for that idea...

So, returned the 30 amp and got two 20 amps...will have to purchase enough 12 wire now to run the new cables in. one 20 amp breaker for a 1k and a 600 watter? and the other breaker for the ac unit. sound ok to you guys?

You might want to check out 12-3 cable and slimline breakers. It'll save you a few bucks on the installation.

PC