Installing new breakers
norcam50
8 years ago
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Fred S
8 years agomike_kaiser_gw
8 years agoRelated Discussions
oil fha: could the breaker be the problem?
Comments (14)DO NOT put in a 20 amp breaker UNLESS the wiring to the furnace is 12 gauge; it is usually 14 gauge and a 15 amp breaker is correct. If you put in a larger breaker you may have unprotected wiring and you could get a fire and your insurance company may not pay the claim because you not only worked on the electrical circuit but you put it in violation of code. As far as the current readings-- the high current is the starting current and the 15 amp breaker is designed to handle that high current for several minutes;your burner takes at most only 7 or 8 amps running and your blower takes 4 amps, so if the breaker pops then you have a short or you are sharing that circuit with another one.And, by the way. reading your post, it is inconceivable that the breaker is tripping since at night you say the furnace cuts out and in the morning it goes on. Breakers don't cut out and cut in; once tripped, they remain tripped and in the tripped state they sometimes look like they are almost making, but they are not. From your description, of the furnace stopping, it may be that it is cutting out on high limit due to an overheating blower which would stop the blower and cause high temperature at the heat exchanger. But to prove the breaker theory, and as previously suggested, get a clamp-on ammeter and record the current at the breaker while the furnace is running to see if the current exceeds 15 amps in the steady state ( not startup). If so, check the current at the blower and at the burner to see where the short or partial short may be. I really think you are a little over your head on this, since you seem to be changing too many parts unnecessarily in a"shotgun" approach to solve a problem. I would urge you to get a pro in there to check this out, since some of the advice you are getting here is not accurate, especially in electricity....See MoreLights flickering after circuit breaker install
Comments (4)"Put the pump on the other phase in the panel. Maybe most of your lights are on the same phase at the pump is now. Worth a shot." Leg, NOT PHASE. Residential power is most commonly 120 V/ 240 V SINGLE phase....See MoreInstalling GFCI breaker - no main breaker in panel
Comments (14)Donnellyjt: Just because you did it and survived doesn't mean its safe or good practice. It may be very easy to stay clear of the bus bar, but what if next time your hand slips? Nobody in their right mind would touch a hot bus intentionally, but the nature of accidents are that they're aren't intentional. I know that many electricians work on the panel hot, but such advise has no place on an electrical message board for do-it-yourselfers. Safety is ALWAYS number one, especially for those with less experience working around electrical equipment. I remember some images floating around the internet showing peoples deformed and mutilated hands who had been electrocuted... They were the lucky ones and actually survived. Its just not worth the risk. Stay Safe...See MoreNo MAIN BREAKER installed on old 100 amp 240 volt grid single phase
Comments (2)Not very good ideas in modern times as alternative electrical energy needs disconnected from utility grid power thru ATS (automatic transfer switch) Solar and wind mixed together can legally lower any monthly utility billing and is an investment that pays for itself...See MoreFred S
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agonorcam50
8 years agotoxcrusadr
8 years agoFred S
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoeric Cabral
8 years agopetey_racer
8 years agoFred S
8 years agopetey_racer
8 years agoFred S
8 years ago
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Fred S