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#1
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14 Wire on 20amp Breaker...
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 |
#2
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14 Wire on 20amp Breaker...
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#3
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14 Wire on 20amp Breaker...
Yes, it should have been picked up by a home inspection.
Ideally yes, but is it something that home inspectors actually look at? When I bought my house the "inspector" missed #12 on a 30a breaker and (drumroll) three #12 circuits on a 50a breaker. Obviously he didn't look very hard; but do any of them, or did I just get a dud? |
#4
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14 Wire on 20amp Breaker...
Toller wrote:
Yes, it should have been picked up by a home inspection. Ideally yes, but is it something that home inspectors actually look at? When I bought my house the "inspector" missed #12 on a 30a breaker and (drumroll) three #12 circuits on a 50a breaker. Obviously he didn't look very hard; but do any of them, or did I just get a dud? You got a dud. The wire gauge / breaker mismatch is one of the first and easiest things a home inspector should check. Pete C. |
#6
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14 Wire on 20amp Breaker...
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