dpb wrote:
jtpryan wrote:
...
and point out the folly of my logic. Say I put a 30 amp breaker in
there to handle the initial spike. ...
... Is there something I'm missing?

Yes. 12ga wire isn't rated (by Code) for 30A.

It is a _VERY_ bad idea, akin to albeit not as bad as the penny in the
bottom of the fuse socket but the overcurrent condition required to trip
a 30A breaker on 20A-rated circuit is dangerous and should not be
considered.

Either find a sequential switch or use something like the remote switch
I posted a link to, rearrange to use two circuits and a control suitable
for that arrangement, pull 10 ga and upgrade to a 30A circuit or revert
to manually starting one and then the other from their respective manual
switches.

--
The problem is not the current needed to trip the 30 amp breaker. If the
current is there it will trip the breaker.

The problem is the 29 amps that don't trip the 30 amp breaker. That is
where the excess heat comes from to start the fire.

Dave