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The breaker's function is to protect the circuit so that no more than 20 amps flow. The ability to create the 20 amp flow comes from the voltage supplied by the power company and the load you connect to the supply through the breaker.

The breaker is just a switch that "opens" if the current flowing through it is to high. It has no role in generating the current.

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Q: Does a 20 amp breaker deliver 20 amps on the wire?
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What size wire and breaker do you need for a 5000 watt garage heater?

Look on the heater and see what amps it is pulling. That will determine the wire size and breaker size. It must be on a dedicated circuit. 15 amps = AWG # 14 wire with 15 amp breaker 20 amps = AWG # 12 wire with 20 amp breaker 30 amps = AWG # 10 wire with 30 amp breaker 40 amps = AWG # 8 wire with 40 amp breaker


Could you use a 12gauge wire for a 25 amp breaker single pole?

No a #12 wire is only rated for 20 amps. The 40 amp breaker will not protect the #12 wire. A 40 amp breaker should have a #8 wire connected to it which is rated at 45 amps. The only time that a breaker is allowed to be bigger that the wire size rating according to the electrical code is when a motor is connected to the breaker. This is to stop the 300 percent inrush of the motor full load amps from nuisance tripping a smaller sized breaker.


Is it ok to exchange a 20 amp breaker with a 40 amp breaker?

No. The 20 amp breaker is probably protecting a #12 wire. Connecting a 40 amp breaker to the 20 amp #12 wire would seriously overload the #12 wire. This means that if the load increased to a full 40 amps the insulation on the smaller size wire would most likely melt off and the wire could short out.


Can you hook a 15 amp and 20 amp breaker to a breaker box using 20 amp wire?

If the full load amps rating of the motor on the name plate is exactly 15 amps you need to use # 12 wire. If it is a longer run you may have to go up one more wire size. The breaker size you need is 30 amps.


What size wire for 28 amps?

Minimum size is 10 gauge with a 30 amp breaker. To be safe I would install an 8 gauge with a 40 amp breaker.

Related questions

What size wire and breaker do you need for a 5000 watt garage heater?

Look on the heater and see what amps it is pulling. That will determine the wire size and breaker size. It must be on a dedicated circuit. 15 amps = AWG # 14 wire with 15 amp breaker 20 amps = AWG # 12 wire with 20 amp breaker 30 amps = AWG # 10 wire with 30 amp breaker 40 amps = AWG # 8 wire with 40 amp breaker


Could you use a 12gauge wire for a 25 amp breaker single pole?

No a #12 wire is only rated for 20 amps. The 40 amp breaker will not protect the #12 wire. A 40 amp breaker should have a #8 wire connected to it which is rated at 45 amps. The only time that a breaker is allowed to be bigger that the wire size rating according to the electrical code is when a motor is connected to the breaker. This is to stop the 300 percent inrush of the motor full load amps from nuisance tripping a smaller sized breaker.


Should 25 amps breaker be replaced by 20 amps?

For typical residential house wiring 12 AWG wire is required for a 20 Amp breaker. If you change out the breaker for a 25 A breaker you would have to rewire the circuit with 10 AWG. In that case you could up the breaker to 30 Amps. All outlets and switches should be rated at the same voltage and current as the breaker.


Can 50 Amp breaker replace 45 Amp breaker?

Both a 45 amp and 50 amp breaker would require 6 AWG wire. So if you have 6 AWG wire and any devices like an outlet are rated at 50 amps or greater you are okay.


Is it ok to exchange a 20 amp breaker with a 40 amp breaker?

No. The 20 amp breaker is probably protecting a #12 wire. Connecting a 40 amp breaker to the 20 amp #12 wire would seriously overload the #12 wire. This means that if the load increased to a full 40 amps the insulation on the smaller size wire would most likely melt off and the wire could short out.


How many amps breaker to use for canopy?

12/2 wire with a 20 amp breaker for normal home wiring.


How do you wire a 15 amp circuit?

Use a 15 amp breaker and 14 AWG wire and all switches and outlets rated at 15 amps or greater.


Can you hook a 15 amp and 20 amp breaker to a breaker box using 20 amp wire?

If the full load amps rating of the motor on the name plate is exactly 15 amps you need to use # 12 wire. If it is a longer run you may have to go up one more wire size. The breaker size you need is 30 amps.


What size wire for 28 amps?

Minimum size is 10 gauge with a 30 amp breaker. To be safe I would install an 8 gauge with a 40 amp breaker.


Can a circuit breaker be tripped by using 20 amp sockets instead of 15 amp sockets?

A circuit breaker protects the wires that the devices are connected to. If the devices that are connected to the circuit are 20 amps the wire size should be #12 wire fed from a 20 amp breaker. This breaker should not trip unless the circuit is overloaded or a fault occurs on the circuit. If the devices that are connected to the circuit are15 amps the wire size should be #14 wire fed from a15 amp breaker. This breaker should not trip unless the circuit is overloaded or a fault occurs on the circuit. Putting 20 amp sockets on this 15 amp circuit will work but the circuit is limited to the amount of load that can be plugged in. You will not get the full capacity of the 20 socket because the breaker will trip at 15 amps.


Can you use 40 amp breaker for your lights and plug ins?

If you are referring to house wiring then the answer is no. A breaker protects the wire size that is connected to the breaker. In home wiring most homes are wired with a #14 wire which is rated at 15 amps. That is why the wire is protected by a 15 amp breaker. The correct wire size to connect to a 40 amp breaker is a #8. This size wire is too large to connect to receptacles an light fixture terminals.


Can you upgrade a 15 Amps circuit breaker for a 40 Amp for a 8.5 Watt shower?

Not unless you change the wiring for that circuit. The breaker protects the wiring and if you install a 40 amp breaker on a 15 amp wire circuit you will have a fire in your home.