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You should not use any wire smaller than 8 AWG COPPER in a 40 amp breaker. If you have any questions about your application, you should contact a local electrical contractor for your own safety.
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Will it hurt to use a 40 amp breaker on a water heater the wire I was sold will not fit into the 30 amp on a sq. D circuit breaker?
In the United States, if the wire is #8 copper or larger (smaller number) it will work fine on a 40 amp breaker. If the wire is #10 copper, there is something wrong with the breaker if it does not fit. Pull the breaker out of the panel and look into where the wire terminates to see why the #10 wire won't fit.
What would happen if a 200 amp breaker is used in a 100 amp sub panel?
There are two things to think about here. First of all a 200 amp breaker will not physically fit into a 100 amp panel. This is so designed because the panel buss is not designed to conduct 200 amps before the current is cut off. A 100 amp rating on the panel is the maximum amount of current that the manufacturer states, that can be handled safely. Second if the 200 amp breaker is in the main panel then everything downstream from that breaker has to be rated for 200 amp conductivity. The wire size will have to be 3/0 from the breaker to the first over current device in the sub panel which will be the sub panel's main breaker. The sub panel can not be a load center but will have to be a combination panel. I doubt that the 100 amp sub panel's main breaker lugs would be large enough to connect the 3/0 cable.
What circuit breaker to install for 10 amp 250 volt circuit?
You need a breaker rated for 10 amps and 250 volts. The breaker must also fit properly in your panel.
Can you upgrade a 100A main circuit breaker to a higher amp?
I doubt if the 125 amp breaker will fit into a 100 amp box. This is due to the rating of the box only being rated at 100 amps. If this exchange could be made then the service conductors feeding the box must be upgraded to take the 125 amperage that the breaker will allow on the conductor.
Can you use 8 ga wire with 35 amp breaker?
If the wire will fit into the breakers terminal without cutting off any strands from the #8 conductor, then it is OK to use that size. This situation usually happens when a larger size wire has to be used to overcome voltage drop when the load is quite a distance away.
Will it hurt to use a 40 amp breaker on a water heater the wire I was sold will not fit into the 30 amp on a sq. D circuit breaker?
In the United States, if the wire is #8 copper or larger (smaller number) it will work fine on a 40 amp breaker. If the wire is #10 copper, there is something wrong with the breaker if it does not fit. Pull the breaker out of the panel and look into where the wire terminates to see why the #10 wire won't fit.
Is the 30 amp breaker for a motorhome the same as for a house?
Yes, a 30 amp breaker is a 30 amp breaker. It must however be able to fit the box it is installed in.
What is wrong with using eighty amp wire on twenty amp breaker?
It will work, but the draw backs are that the larger diameter wire is more expensive and it may not fit the 20 A devices well such as the breaker itself and any branch outlets or switches. It is also harder to run because of its bigger size. The voltage drop will be less across the larger wire, so that is likely the biggest advantage if you have a long run.
Can you run 14 gauge wire off 12 gauge 20 amp breaker?
You could if it fit properly in the connector, but it would be massive overkill since you only need 12 AWG wire. You also have to make sure the load can physically accommodate that larger size wire. Every so often someone will replace an electric cooktop witha gas one. All of the new gas cooktops require a 110v outlet. The old electric cooktop may have been run with a 50 amp breaker (and probably 6 gauge wire) In order to convert this 220 v circuit to a 110v circuit we change to a 20amp breaker. Depending upon the brand of breaker sometimes the wire will fit into it. If not, we splice on a short piece of 12 gauge wire and then connect to the breaker.
What would happen if a 200 amp breaker is used in a 100 amp sub panel?
There are two things to think about here. First of all a 200 amp breaker will not physically fit into a 100 amp panel. This is so designed because the panel buss is not designed to conduct 200 amps before the current is cut off. A 100 amp rating on the panel is the maximum amount of current that the manufacturer states, that can be handled safely. Second if the 200 amp breaker is in the main panel then everything downstream from that breaker has to be rated for 200 amp conductivity. The wire size will have to be 3/0 from the breaker to the first over current device in the sub panel which will be the sub panel's main breaker. The sub panel can not be a load center but will have to be a combination panel. I doubt that the 100 amp sub panel's main breaker lugs would be large enough to connect the 3/0 cable.
What circuit breaker to install for 10 amp 250 volt circuit?
You need a breaker rated for 10 amps and 250 volts. The breaker must also fit properly in your panel.
Can you upgrade a 100A main circuit breaker to a higher amp?
I doubt if the 125 amp breaker will fit into a 100 amp box. This is due to the rating of the box only being rated at 100 amps. If this exchange could be made then the service conductors feeding the box must be upgraded to take the 125 amperage that the breaker will allow on the conductor.
Can you use 8 ga wire with 35 amp breaker?
If the wire will fit into the breakers terminal without cutting off any strands from the #8 conductor, then it is OK to use that size. This situation usually happens when a larger size wire has to be used to overcome voltage drop when the load is quite a distance away.
Can you use 50 amp wire and receptacle on dyer?
It's necessary to look at the dyer to see how much current it uses, which should be on the maker's plate near where the cable enters the appliance. If it uses less than 50 amps, a 50 amp cable is all right.
Do they make a 30-40 amp two pole breaker compatible with a square d breaker?
No, if you have a Square D distribution panel only Square D breakers will fit in it.
Can you switch out your 100 amp breaker to a 200 amp one for a service upgrade if your supply wires are already 2-0 copper that is can I keep my existing panel since I have all the space I need?
I doubt if you can fit a 200 amp breaker into a 100 amp panel and it is illegal as the bus bars in a 100 amp panel are rated at 100 not 200 amps. The panel must be of the same capacity in amps as the main breaker that is installed in it. You can go smaller but not larger. The other problem is that a 200 amp service required three ought (000) wire. 000 copper wire with an insulation factor 90 degrees C is rated at 210 amps. Two ought (00) copper wire with an insulation factor of 60C is rated at 145 amps, 75C is rated at 175 amps and 90C is rated at 185 amps. Buy a complete house package that has the main breaker and all of the appliance breakers plus a few breakers for 15 amp circuits, all for one price that is cheaper that buying individual pieces.
Can I replace a 15 amps fuse with a 15 amps breaker?
I believe that the wires supplying a 30 amp circuit must be at least 10 gauge. If you have 14 or 12 gauge wires going to or from your 15 amp breaker, then drawing 30 amps over it could cause a fire hazard. It's like using those cheapo non-UL certified extension cords to plug a MILLION X-mas lights into (drawing more power than the wires can handle). You also have to make sure this GFI outlet you refered to is rated for 30 amps. Do not simply swap out breakers. Overloading the wires in the circuit protected by that breaker will cause a fire. If you need a 30 amp circuit you must run #10 gauge wire.
