On 29 Aug 2006 14:10:20 -0700, wrote:

Howdy all.
Upon inspecting the electrical system in my home I noticed a couple
circuits wired with 14 gauge wire being protected by a 20amp breaker.
To me this doesn't seem safe, so I plan on replacing the breakers.

My question: is there a reason the electricain would run wire this way?
The 14 wires go to outlets. My family wouldn't draw enough power from
these outlets to cause a concern, but who knows what the future owners
of the house would plug into these outlets. It seems to me that the
possibility of a fire exists with the 20amp breakers protecting a 14
gauge circuit. Am I wrong on this? Also, is this something a home
inspector should have caught? We had the home inspected 5 years ago
before buying the house. The wiring is easily accessed via drop-down
ceiling panels in the basement.

-Felder


I've seen this in 'older' homes, so how old is this.

The only reason, which is enough, that a 14# wire is protected by a
15a breaker, is there is a paragraph about not using it for greater
than 15amps. The NEC clearly states that it is 'safe' for 20 amps,
just that in general residental use, you must limit it to 15 amps.
This is from memory, please check the codes yourself.

So, when was 14# downgraded for residental use? I don't know, but I
can say that I've seen this, and I've instructed home owners that If I
"touch" a circuit that has a 14#/20a breaker combination, I will
replace them with 15amp breakers, but I've been faught with in the
past doing this. Some electricians say the circuit was code when
installed, so it is grandfathered.

So in short from my example of 'weirdness' of this situation. Find
out if you are 'required' to downgrade older 14# supplied circuits, by
your codes.

later,

tom @ www.Japanese-Beetles.com