DIYbanter - View Single Post - Electrical advice-30A circuits

Ralph Mowery

In article ,
says...

There are two circuits I discovered that appear to have 120V outlets and
switches on a 30A breaker. I didn't know enough to tell her whether this
was allowed or not - I really suspect not but wanted to ask here first.
My first thought was if there was a problem with, say a drill motor on
this circuit, any problem with it wouldn't be enough to trip the breaker.

This most likely resulted from the previous owner hiring incompetent
workers and they did poor work, just to get electrical power to the
shed. I found a power cord used as electrical cable so they didn't have
to break into the wall - it ran from an (E) outlet (connected by
stripping the wires and connected to the screws on the outlet) along the
wall to a multiplug on its end so that power could be had at the other
side of the shed. I removed this of course. So, poor work in other
places wouldn't surprise me.

Then, what should she do? I thought getting the circuits tracked down
and then replacing the 30A breaker with two 15's or 20s, depending on
the wiring and what's on them. I'd like her to have some idea before she
has an electrician come out.

Also, for me - I used a voltage tester when looking around - it was the
kind that chirps and lights up when it's near wiring that has power. It
also chirps and lights up if you stick one end into an outlet.

However I found that there could also be transient chirps if I moved it
quickly past a piece of metal and when I was close to wiring rather than
very close to it. In one case, this made it difficult to tell which
outlet or switch had the power. Was I using it correctly?

Charles

Look at the size of the wires connected to the breakers. If #12 thena
20 amp breaker would be the max and if # 14 then 15 amp would be the
max. Unless there is some very specila case, a 30 amp 120 volt breaker
would not be used.

You are using the tester correctly. They often beep if moved fast near
objects. I seldom use one but if they do light up there is some kind of
electrical field , even if it is static electricity like you get if you
rub your feet acrost the carpet. I often just rub them on my shirt just
to test them. Usually sticking it in one side of the outlet it should
beep and not the other if there is power on the circuit, as one is the
hot and one the neutral.