Mell Can I use a 30 amp breaker instead of 20?
The answer is, “No, do not put a 30 Amp breaker in place of a 20 Amp breaker because the wiring is most likely’sized’ for the 20 Amp load and -may- overheat if a 30 Amp load is used with wiring sized for a 20 Amp load.”
Can you use 12 gauge wire with a 30 amp breaker?
A 30-amp breaker does not operate safely with a 12-gauge wire. The minimum wire size that is allowable for use with a 30-amp breaker is 10 gauge. A smaller gauge of wire indicates a larger diameter and the ability to carry more current safely. Twelve-gauge wire is acceptable with 20-amp or smaller circuit breakers.
What kind of wire do I need for a 30 amp circuit breaker?
The rule of thumb that techs will usually go by is that for a 30 amp circuit breaker, 10-gauge wire is the right size to go with. For a 40 amp you need a 8-gauge wire size and for a 20 amp, you will need a 12-gauge wire size.
What size wire for 50 amp service from main panel?
Steve purchased our 6 AWG THHN/THWN Copper Building Wire for his project. “I put in a 100A box in the new shop, but am only feeding it from a 50A breaker in the main panel from the house service. My loads will be significantly less than that to run various tools individually, as well as a compressor and vacuum.
How big of breaker do I need for a subpanel?
You can use the 100 amp panel off a 60 amp breaker if you determine that it is adequate, but I would suggest that in sizing your feeder wires and conduit it would be a good idea to size them to accomodate 100 amps. Your feeder wires are where most of the work for this project will be.
What kind of cable do you need for a 30 amp subpanel?
You need 10-gauge, three-conductor cable to wire a 30-amp subpanel. This cable has two hot wires (usually colored red and black), a white neutral wire and a ground wire, which is usually bare but could be green.