On Sun, 15 Oct 2006 19:34:31 -0400, Jeff Wisnia
wrote:

mm wrote:


I have installed quite a few 20-amp receptacles in my house as
replacements for 15-amp receptacles over the years. In fact, whenever I
happen to replace a 15-amp receptacle, I usually use a 20-amp
receptacle.


And what kind of wire do you have in the walls? If it is 14 gauge you
are just looking for trouble. 19 or 20 amps WILL overheat 14 gauge
wire. Why have fuses and circuit breakers at all if you're going to
encourage the use of loads that are bigger than the wire can handle?


And just what makes you jump to the conclusion that if the wire is 14
gauge that it's NOT protected by a 15 amp breaker?

I didn't jump. This is part of the original post "The particular
circuit I want to change out has a 20 amp breaker coming from the box
using a 14 gauge wire to, 1 15 amp GFI receptacle & 2 15 amp
receptacles in the kitchen."

More below.

If it is, you could plug in a 30 amp load and the wire is still
protected, 'cause the breaker will open the instant you plug in too
great a load.

Not because I'm actually going to draw 20-amps out of that
socket, but simply because they are higher-quality outlets. It usually
only takes a few minutes to swap them out.

If you can


You might not be planning to use bigger stuff, but what about your
teen-age son, your brother in law, your wife, your father and anyone
doing anything when you are out of town, out of the house, in the
hospital, dead, or have sold the house to innocent but unskilled
people.

Same comment as above.


It sounds like your house has been wired incorrectly. It makes me
wonder if you might have the basis for a lawsuit.


I agree that he should get the rest of it checked. He might want to
check with owners of other houses built by the same builder. If
problems are not too many and not too big, maybe they can let the
original electrician fix them.

Simplest thing for him to do if he can't get at enouch of the cable
jacket to see what's printed on it is to bum a couple of inches of 14
gauge and 12 gauge wire someplace and compare the conductor sizes to
what he's got coming from that 20 amp breaker. The difference is pretty
obvious.

Well, I was thinking the problems may not be limited to gauge. Anyone
who would put in 20 amp breakers with 14 gauge wire can't be trusted
to do anything right.


snipped