On Sat, 28 Aug 2010 15:30:55 -0400, Bill wrote:

wrote:
On Sat, 28 Aug 2010 09:54:32 -0400, "Mike Marlow"
wrote:

Swingman wrote:
On 8/28/2010 7:43 AM, Morgans wrote:
Standardization.

So what is standard about using heavier wire than is called for? 15
amp and 14 ga. is what is standard. 20 amp feeds are only required
in a few areas of a house. They are what is not standard.

Not necessarily, and certainly not "standard" where I build ... 12ga
is the minimum allowed in residential construction around these parts
and you rarely see a 15A branch circuit, even for lighting in the most
inexpensively built home. AAMOF, I can't recall the last time I saw a
15A c'bkr in a 200A service panel.

There's not a single 15A c'bkr in my 200A service panel. But it appears
I need to put one in for my garbage disposal since it has a 14 gauge
wire leading to it from a duplex receptacle. BTW, the garbage disposal
is 8.1 Amps, so running it with a toaster will probably trip a 15A
breaker... I don't think this will become serious issue.

No, as long as there isn't another load on that circuit it shouldn't be a big
deal. Swap the breakers and you're good.

Is the receptacle wired with 12AWG? Was the disposer an addition or is the
house wired with 14AWG? It's probably worth a look.