electrical circuit breaker question

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Has anyone ever come across a breaker that has a different amp rating than the large number on the switch?

[Dakine10 5,452]

Has anyone ever come across a breaker that has a different amp rating than the large number on the switch?

What are the ratings and what's drawing power from that circuit?

The breaker should not be higher than the maximum amp rating specified for the circuit. People do it sometimes. It is dangerous.

[Ban Hammer 13,337]

agree with dakine

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

What are the ratings and what's drawing power from that circuit?

The breaker should not be higher than the maximum amp rating specified for the circuit. People do it sometimes. It is dangerous.

Yeah thats what I was worried about. All the breakers are the same with 20's on the thumb switch. The house has I believe only has one 20 amp circuit. There are likely 2 15amp circuits in the house. I'm guessing here mind you, but those circuits are circa 1949 and the person mentioned the house used to have a 30 amp fuse box.

(I just signed the lease which started monday - haven't really moved in. I also went to the building department and found line voltage circuits have been added without permits. Same for kitchen and bath remodel)

I think I am going to send a notice of abandonment and request my money back.

Edited December 7, 2011 by Sousuke

[justashooter 430]

the long and short of it is that circuits are rated in respect to the minimum sized wire used in the circuit. 10 gauge wire is 30 amp. 12 gauge wire is 20 amp. 14 gauge wire is 15 amp. excessive length of circuit (over 120') will call for a reduction in rating, as voltage drop will increase amperage in balancing total wattage. outlets should be appropriately sized in terms of amperage. 15 amp outlets are often seen on 20 amp circuits.

some areas have very tight restriction in terms of electrical work, and some have very little by way of code or permitting process. in any case, safety is your responsibility. know the limitations of what you are renting/buying and act accordingly. even a properly wired house is not idiot proof.

most residential properties have 15 amp circuits in every room other than kitchen and laundry. it's cheaper to wire them in the lighter gauge and generally adequate.

[MyLittlePony 340]

I demand a refund too if i saw extra lines sucking from the main one you might have a hefty electric bill.

[Dave&Roza 748]

the long and short of it is that circuits are rated in respect to the minimum sized wire used in the circuit. 10 gauge wire is 30 amp. 12 gauge wire is 20 amp. 14 gauge wire is 15 amp. excessive length of circuit (over 120') will call for a reduction in rating, as voltage drop will increase amperage in balancing total wattage. outlets should be appropriately sized in terms of amperage. 15 amp outlets are often seen on 20 amp circuits.

some areas have very tight restriction in terms of electrical work, and some have very little by way of code or permitting process. in any case, safety is your responsibility. know the limitations of what you are renting/buying and act accordingly. even a properly wired house is not idiot proof.

most residential properties have 15 amp circuits in every room other than kitchen and laundry. it's cheaper to wire them in the lighter gauge and generally adequate.

The main concern here is if the wire size is too small for the breaker rating, it will heat up and can cause a fire and destroy all of your belongings. If you are talking about the main breaker being only 50 amperes and having several 15 ampere and 20 ampere breakers in the box that is the way most houses are wired. The main breaker is rated for the wire size feeding the house and each individual breaker is sized for the wire connected to that breaker. If the load exceeds this rating the breaker will trip. Too many times when breakers trip because of too much load, people just increase the size or rating on the breaker and now the wire size is too small to carry that current. The wire will heat up and eventually fail.

I would have the landlord get the place inspected before moving in or not rent this place. It may be fine, but if it is not it is you stuff at risk. I would definately have renters insurance if I was to rent this place.

Dave

[Dakine10 5,452]

Yeah thats what I was worried about. All the breakers are the same with 20's on the thumb switch. The house has I believe only has one 20 amp circuit. There are likely 2 15amp circuits in the house. I'm guessing here mind you, but those circuits are circa 1949 and the person mentioned the house used to have a 30 amp fuse box.

(I just signed the lease which started monday - haven't really moved in. I also went to the building department and found line voltage circuits have been added without permits. Same for kitchen and bath remodel)

I think I am going to send a notice of abandonment and request my money back.

If you do decide to move in, at least have an electrician inspect it. As others have said, it really goes by the wire gauge. The main problem would be if it's 14 gauge wire and a 20 amp breaker or something like that. That wire could melt before the breaker trips if it's overloaded.

The national electrical code specifies that the wire gauge should match the rating on the panel so that people don't have to guess, but you can't be sure if it's an older box with additional work done.

But I agree, it may be easier to just look elsewhere. I don't like to take chances with that kind of thing.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Thanks all, he has agreed to terminate the lease agreement. I wrote him a notice of termination yesterday.

[Captain Oates 911]

We had a tenant who had a Jaguar car with no engine - he polished it every Sunday morning on the driveway

He wired his house to the street light by running an old cable under the garden. He used a nail for a fuse

He was a bus driver. He put open tin baths in the basement and filled them with gasoline stolen from the bus depot

He by-passed the gas meter with a rubber hose, then put free standing gas fires all over the house (no flues) and ran them on free gas

The house was full of petroleum vapor and carbon monoxide and was about 100 degrees f 24/7

His wife got cancer and went into hospital, so he left her and shacked up with a 21 year old slag in a trailer

We repossessed the house and put chickens in there. They nested in the fire place