Can a 20 amp breaker be replaced with a 15 amp breaker?

Answer 1

No!You cannot simply replace a breaker with a larger one. You would have to tear out ALL of the wiring and replace it with larger. If you just install a larger breaker, you will most likely start a fire, as the existing wiring cannot handle the increased current.

You must find the reason the existing breaker is tripping and fix it. If the circuit is overloaded, you will have to either move some of the load to a different circuit, or have the WHOLE circuit upgraded, including wiring and breaker.

You will need a licensed electrician to do any repairs or upgrades. You are not qualified to do this work.

IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY SURE YOU CAN DO THIS JOB

SAFELY AND COMPETENTLY

REFER THIS WORK TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS.

If you do this work yourself, always turn off the powerat the breaker box/fuse panel BEFORE you attempt to do any work AND always use a meter or voltage indicator

to insure the circuit is, in fact, de-energized.

Answer 2

It is not recommended to replace a 20 amp breaker with a 15 amp breaker unless the wiring is also changed to accommodate the lower amperage. The breaker should always be sized to the electrical load it is protecting to prevent overheating and potential fire hazards.

Answer 3

Yes, if the load is above 15 amps, and below 20 amp., then obviously can go for 20 amps. If the tripping is not due to the Internal wiring fault. Be careful with the above answer. If the wire feeding the 15 amp breaker is only #14 then putting a 20 amp breaker on the same circuit will allow the #14 wire to become overloaded. A better solution is to fine out what is causing the breaker to trip. Check out what other loads are connected to the same circuit and try removing them. Then does the breaker trip. Experiment by moving some of the loads to other circuits. Motors starting amps are 300% of their running current. If there is a motor connected to the circuit and the circuit is almost at maximum load the motor starting might be enough to trip the breaker.

Answer 4

Absolutely not. If the existing breaker is a 15 amp breaker then the wiring that breaker is protecting is AWG # 14 gauge wire. A 20 amp breaker is used to protect AWG # 12 wire. Installing a double 20 amp breaker is just asking for a fire.

Answer 5

Yes, the 15 amp breaker can have "20 Amp" (12 Ga.) wire run from it, but it would be a waste of money as 14 Ga. wire is less expensive.

Answer 6

Yes. but the load rating of the circuit will be reduced to that of 15 amps.