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Few very basic Electrical questions SMF 06-15-2006
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Posted by Toller on June 15, 2006, 8:59 pm

> Hi,
>
> I bought a book plus spent a number of hours on the computer to
> research and I hope someone can help me with just a few very basic
> questions I still have:
>
> 1. I have a 100 amp service. If I turn off the main circuit breaker
> can I change for instance a 20 amp breaker without worry of shock if I
> don't touch anything else other than the breaker and the wire that
> needs to be unscrewed? (I have a few that don't match my GE panel and
> I heard that they should)
>
Most people don't even bother to do that, but yes; the box should be dead if
the main breaker is open. Never touch a potentially live wire without
testing it first!

My breakers don't match my box. But if it bothers you, change them.

> 2. I had an electrician once run an extra outlet but in looking a few
> years later I see that he ran 14/2 cable after attaching this to 12/2
> running off a 20 amp breaker. This line either powers a treadmill
> (runs on a "115 vac dedicated 20 amp {15 amp] circuit") or a iron.
> The receptacle is 15amp which I believe is fine with either, but
> should I swap the cable to 12/2 for safety?
>
Yes, the cable has to match the breaker. If running a new cable is
difficult, changing the breaker might be better.

> 3. I also have similar to question two above (14/2, connected to
> 12/2) going to a GPF in a garage that the same guy did. Do they make
> a 20 amp GPF and should I switch the cable and the receptacle in this
> instance too?
>
I will guess that a GPF is a GFCI? It is fine to have 15a outlets on a 20a
circuit, as long as there are more than one outlet. Yes, they make 20a GFCI
outlets, but unless you expect to use a 20a plug, it is unnecessary.

> 4. Can you run a series of five 15 amp receptacles for a workbench in
> an unfinished basement running on 12/2 on a 20 amp GPF breaker?
>
Sure.



Posted by on June 16, 2006, 4:34 am

Toller wrote:
> > Hi,
> >
> > I bought a book plus spent a number of hours on the computer to
> > research and I hope someone can help me with just a few very basic
> > questions I still have:
> >
> > 1. I have a 100 amp service. If I turn off the main circuit breaker
> > can I change for instance a 20 amp breaker without worry of shock if I
> > don't touch anything else other than the breaker and the wire that
> > needs to be unscrewed? (I have a few that don't match my GE panel and
> > I heard that they should)
> >
> Most people don't even bother to do that, but yes; the box should be dead if
> the main breaker is open. Never touch a potentially live wire without
> testing it first!

You're suggesting that most people replace breakers without turning off
the main breaker? Not only is that irresponsible to suggest to the
OP, who clearly identified himself as a novice, but on what basis do
you even make the claim that most people do it?







>
> My breakers don't match my box. But if it bothers you, change them.
>
> > 2. I had an electrician once run an extra outlet but in looking a few
> > years later I see that he ran 14/2 cable after attaching this to 12/2
> > running off a 20 amp breaker. This line either powers a treadmill
> > (runs on a "115 vac dedicated 20 amp {15 amp] circuit") or a iron.
> > The receptacle is 15amp which I believe is fine with either, but
> > should I swap the cable to 12/2 for safety?
> >
> Yes, the cable has to match the breaker. If running a new cable is
> difficult, changing the breaker might be better.
>
> > 3. I also have similar to question two above (14/2, connected to
> > 12/2) going to a GPF in a garage that the same guy did. Do they make
> > a 20 amp GPF and should I switch the cable and the receptacle in this
> > instance too?
> >
> I will guess that a GPF is a GFCI? It is fine to have 15a outlets on a 20a
> circuit, as long as there are more than one outlet. Yes, they make 20a GFCI
> outlets, but unless you expect to use a 20a plug, it is unnecessary.
>
> > 4. Can you run a series of five 15 amp receptacles for a workbench in
> > an unfinished basement running on 12/2 on a 20 amp GPF breaker?
> >
> Sure.


Posted by Toller on June 16, 2006, 12:12 pm

>
> Toller wrote:
>> > Hi,
>> >
>> > I bought a book plus spent a number of hours on the computer to
>> > research and I hope someone can help me with just a few very basic
>> > questions I still have:
>> >
>> > 1. I have a 100 amp service. If I turn off the main circuit breaker
>> > can I change for instance a 20 amp breaker without worry of shock if I
>> > don't touch anything else other than the breaker and the wire that
>> > needs to be unscrewed? (I have a few that don't match my GE panel and
>> > I heard that they should)
>> >
>> Most people don't even bother to do that, but yes; the box should be dead
>> if
>> the main breaker is open. Never touch a potentially live wire without
>> testing it first!
>
> You're suggesting that most people replace breakers without turning off
> the main breaker? Not only is that irresponsible to suggest to the
> OP, who clearly identified himself as a novice, but on what basis do
> you even make the claim that most people do it?
>
English must be a second language for one of us; I don't see where I
recommended that.
I have no hard statistics, but I haven't spoken to anyone who turns off the
main breaker so I expect it is the common practice.



Posted by on June 16, 2006, 1:39 pm

Toller wrote:
> >
> > Toller wrote:
> >> > Hi,
> >> >
> >> > I bought a book plus spent a number of hours on the computer to
> >> > research and I hope someone can help me with just a few very basic
> >> > questions I still have:
> >> >
> >> > 1. I have a 100 amp service. If I turn off the main circuit breaker
> >> > can I change for instance a 20 amp breaker without worry of shock if I
> >> > don't touch anything else other than the breaker and the wire that
> >> > needs to be unscrewed? (I have a few that don't match my GE panel and
> >> > I heard that they should)
> >> >
> >> Most people don't even bother to do that, but yes; the box should be dead
> >> if
> >> the main breaker is open. Never touch a potentially live wire without
> >> testing it first!
> >
> > You're suggesting that most people replace breakers without turning off
> > the main breaker? Not only is that irresponsible to suggest to the
> > OP, who clearly identified himself as a novice, but on what basis do
> > you even make the claim that most people do it?
> >
> English must be a second language for one of us; I don't see where I
> recommended that.
> I have no hard statistics, but I haven't spoken to anyone who turns off the
> main breaker so I expect it is the common practice.

Well, now you have. IMO, anyone who fiddles around with circuit
breakers without turning off the main breaker is an idiot. I always
turn it off. And I seriously doubt that most people don't turn off
the main breaker.


Posted by Toller on June 17, 2006, 9:29 am

>
> Toller wrote:
>> >
>> > Toller wrote:
>> >> > Hi,
>> >> >
>> >> > I bought a book plus spent a number of hours on the computer to
>> >> > research and I hope someone can help me with just a few very basic
>> >> > questions I still have:
>> >> >
>> >> > 1. I have a 100 amp service. If I turn off the main circuit
>> >> > breaker
>> >> > can I change for instance a 20 amp breaker without worry of shock if
>> >> > I
>> >> > don't touch anything else other than the breaker and the wire that
>> >> > needs to be unscrewed? (I have a few that don't match my GE panel
>> >> > and
>> >> > I heard that they should)
>> >> >
>> >> Most people don't even bother to do that, but yes; the box should be
>> >> dead
>> >> if
>> >> the main breaker is open. Never touch a potentially live wire without
>> >> testing it first!
>> >
>> > You're suggesting that most people replace breakers without turning off
>> > the main breaker? Not only is that irresponsible to suggest to the
>> > OP, who clearly identified himself as a novice, but on what basis do
>> > you even make the claim that most people do it?
>> >
>> English must be a second language for one of us; I don't see where I
>> recommended that.
>> I have no hard statistics, but I haven't spoken to anyone who turns off
>> the
>> main breaker so I expect it is the common practice.
>
> Well, now you have. IMO, anyone who fiddles around with circuit
> breakers without turning off the main breaker is an idiot. I always
> turn it off. And I seriously doubt that most people don't turn off
> the main breaker.
>
That's like opening the breaker before unplugging your iron. But if you
need to do it, there is certainly no harm, other than having to reset every
electronic device in the house.



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