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A contactor is nothing more than a switch but it is electrically operated instead of mechanically operated as you would find with snap switches in your home.
As with any switch, you need to make sure it is rated for the voltage and amps you intend to feed through it. You will have a pair if terminals for each hot wire. In addition you have terminals for the coil that operates the contactor. Very often this is a smaller voltage but not always. These control wires may be connected to any piece of control equipment, which may be a snap switch, but may also be a thermostat, light or motion sensor, or various types of hydraulic sensors such as pressure, flow, or float. In today's technology the coil may be activated by computer signal which may be reading many different conditions.
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What size ground wire is needed for 20 amp?
A #14 wire will do fine for grounding a 20 amp device. That is the size of the ground wire in a 2 conductor # 12 wire building cable.
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 use a 20 amp receptacle for a 20 amp appliance?
Yes you can as long as it is feed off of a 20 amp circuit in at least #12 gauge wire.
Why would you need a 20 Amp Single Pole Switch insted of a 15 Amp?
If the wire to the switch is AWG #12 you need a 20 amp switch because it is a 20 amp circuit.
2.5mm electrical wire can use how many amp?
20
Is it safe to use 10 gauge wire on a 20 amp breaker for a microwave?
No, 10 gauge wire requires the use of a 30 amp breaker. A 20 amp breaker is only used on 12 gauge wire.
What size ground wire is needed for 20 amp?
A #14 wire will do fine for grounding a 20 amp device. That is the size of the ground wire in a 2 conductor # 12 wire building cable.
If your fuse box supports 20 amp fuses can you replace one current 15 amp fuse with a 20 amp fuse?
The purpose of a fuse it to protect the wire that goes to the load. A 15 amp fuse protects a #14 gauge wire. A 20 amp fuse protects a #12 gauge wire. To answer your question if the wire size is #12 coming from the 15 amp fuse now then it can be upped to 20 amp fuse. If it isn't then you are taking the risk of overloading the #14 wire with a 20 amp fuse. This can lead to insulation failure of the #14 wire, overheating with the possible outcome of a fire breaking out somewhere in the circuit.
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 use a 20 amp receptacle for a 20 amp appliance?
Yes you can as long as it is feed off of a 20 amp circuit in at least #12 gauge wire.
How do you wire contactor for two light circuits through a time clock?
How do you wire a time clock with a contactor with a override switch
Why would you need a 20 Amp Single Pole Switch insted of a 15 Amp?
If the wire to the switch is AWG #12 you need a 20 amp switch because it is a 20 amp circuit.
2.5mm electrical wire can use how many amp?
20
Explain the rules for GFCIs in bathroom wire size wiring?
NEC states that all GFCI's require a 20 amp circuit, the wire size for a 20 amp circuit is 12 gauge.
Can you use a 20 amp fuse and wire rated for it in a 15 amp outlet?
You can use the wire rated for 20 amps on a 15 amp receptacle but you can not use a 20 amp fuse on any device rated at 15 amps. This is a tricky part of the code about receptacle outlets, You can use a 15 amp duplex outlet on a 20 amp circuit. (duplex outlet two devices can plug in) If it is a single outlet then the outlet must be rated 20 amp. NEC table210.21(B)(3). ============ A 15 amp duplex receptacle can be wired to a 20 amp rated circuit. This means the breaker OR fuse protecting the circuit can be rated 20 amps if the wire is also rated at 20 amps (12 AWG). --Sparkfighter
What is the amp rating of NM wire?
The ampacity or amp rating of all wire is rated by the size of the wire. NM (non-metallic sheathing) wire is no different. In household wiring 14 gauge wire must go on a 15 amp breaker/ 12 gauge goes on a 20 A and 10 gauge goes on a 30 Amp.
What gauge wire is used on a 20 amp breaker?
AWG 12.
