For a #12 copper wire, in most areas of the US, branch circuit overcurrent protection shall not exceed 20 amps.
Check your local electrical code with any amendments to be sure! As always,
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 power at 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.
Chat with our AI personalities
For a 10 AWG wire, a 30 amp breaker is typically used for general purpose circuits. However, it is important to consult with a licensed electrician to ensure the breaker size is appropriate for the specific application and electrical codes in your area.
A #8 copper conductor with an insulation rating of 75 or 90 degrees C are both rated at 45 amps.
The minimum wire size for a 30Amp breaker is typically 10 AWG for copper wire and 8 AWG for aluminum wire, according to the National Electrical Code (NEC). This wire size is necessary to safely carry the amount of current without overheating.
Depends on the wire size used in the circuit. If you use AWG # 14 wire you must use a 15 amp breaker. If it is wired with AWG # 12 wire then you use a 20 amp breaker. If a AWG # 10 wire is used then a 30 amp breaker is required. The breaker protects the wiring from overheating so you must use the proper size breaker for the wire used.
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
I think you mean either what is the correct size or minimum wire size needed when a branch circuit is protected by a 20 A breaker. The size is 12 American Wire gauge (AWG). 14 AWG is used for 15 A circuit and 10 AWG for a 30 A breaker. The lower the gauge the larger the cross-section of the wire.
No, it is not recommended to replace a 35 amp breaker with a 40 amp breaker for an AC unit. Breakers are designed to protect the circuit and the equipment, so using a higher rated breaker can lead to overheating and potential damage. It is best to use the correct amperage rated breaker for the equipment.