Timeline for Is my garage safe with a 30amp breaker and some odd wiring
Current License: CC BY-SA 4.0
7 events
| when toggle format | what | by | license | comment | |
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| Dec 6, 2020 at 0:58 | comment | added | Daniel Sherwood | Referring to the top right breaker: it is a siemens breaker, a quick search led me to believe a Siemens breaker can go in a g.e. box, is this wrong? That actually makes (a little) sense, that also being a 30 amp breaker it looks like they just moved it from the top to the bottom and wired the garage with it. Why? I havent a clue but it explains why the garage wiring is different from the rest of the house. The top right breaker goes to the dryer which is located right behind the breaker box and not in or adjacent to the garage... | |
| Dec 5, 2020 at 18:06 | comment | added | NoSparksPlease | No, each pole of a two pole breaker is rated for it's marked amperage, not half for each pole. It also appears at least the top right breaker may not be a breaker UL/CSA/ETL Listed for use in that panel. The neutral (common) wire must also be the same size for most circuits, there are limited conditions for some equipment that does allow smaller neutral, but not normally found in residential buildings. Also the NM cable needs a clamp where it enters the box. | |
| Dec 5, 2020 at 18:03 | comment | added | Jeff Wheeler | You still need to change the circuit breaker. Half of a 30A two-pole breaker is 30A 120V. A circuit connected to two poles of a double-30A breaker is a 240V 30A. A circuit with two poles and a neutral is a 120V/240V 30A, meaning loads on it can use either voltage; a common configuration for clothes washers which may use 240V for the motor/heater but 120V for circuit boards to control the machine. | |
| Dec 5, 2020 at 17:54 | comment | added | Daniel Sherwood | No other loads on this circuit. Upon closer inspection I see that the cable is only connected to one side of the breaker. Does that mean it's working as a 15amp breaker and I am in the clear there? Or do I still need to replace? Cable appears to be white. Also it looks like they extended the common wire to reach with a wire nut and smaller gauge wire. Is this ok? | |
| Dec 5, 2020 at 17:41 | history | edited | Jeff Wheeler | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
added book recommendation
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| Dec 5, 2020 at 14:42 | comment | added | FreeMan | I would turn off the breaker immediately. Sure, it's been fine so far, but things happen - that's why the breaker is there. That would be the #1 thing to do and it would be a top priority to replace it with a properly sized one immediately. | |
| Dec 5, 2020 at 10:55 | history | answered | Jeff Wheeler | CC BY-SA 4.0 |