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Can a circuit breaker be tripped by using 20 amp sockets instead of 15 amp sockets?
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
A circuit breaker protects the wires that the devices are connected to. If the devices that are connected to the circuit are 20 amps the wire size should be #12 wire fed from a 20 amp breaker. This breaker should not trip unless the circuit is overloaded or a fault occurs on the circuit.
If the devices that are connected to the circuit are15 amps the wire size should be #14 wire fed from a15 amp breaker. This breaker should not trip unless the circuit is overloaded or a fault occurs on the circuit.
Putting 20 amp sockets on this 15 amp circuit will work but the circuit is limited to the amount of load that can be plugged in. You will not get the full capacity of the 20 socket because the breaker will trip at 15 amps.
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
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How do you find a triped circuit?
Check the circuit panel / breaker box. The tripped breaker should be partway between 'OFF' and 'ON'. If nothing else, turn the breakers off then on, one at a time and when the tripped breaker is reset, the circuit should be live again. Also check GFI outlets. If one is in fault condition, it will need to be reset. If the tripped GFI outlet is protecting other outlets, they will come back when the tripped GFI is reset. These sockets seem to hide in many cases... Behind microwave ovens for example or refrigerators.
What do tripped circuit breaker and blown fuses indicate?
Blown fuses indicate overload in the electrical circuit. Possible short-circuit or higher input voltage.Tripped circuit breakers I guess means:A residual-current device (RCD), similar to a residual current circuit breaker (RCCB) which is used for breaking the circuit when electric current pass through a man or could cause fire/burning in the/near the electrical sockets.
What causes the main breaker to trip from a fault current from a twenty amp branch circuit?
If the fault was on the 20 amp branch circuit, the branch circuit breaker should have tripped, not the main breaker. Call a qualified electrician to check out your wiring.
The light on my gfi outlet is dim and sometimes out i am getting no power to it but the circuit breaker is not tripped i just replaced the gfi and it didn't help any ideas?
If the GFI outlet is tripped (the outlet, not the breaker) then it is telling you there is a ground fault which must be fixed. If the GFI outlet is not tripped, and the breaker is not tripped, but it is still not providing power, then you have a loose connection or a wiring error.
Do some electrical breakers when they are tripped go into the off position instead of the normal tripped position I have a cutler hammer breaker that tripped but is in the off position?
Some breakers can trip totally off. If the breaker is continually turning off without a wiring issue, then the breaker could be going bad.
How do you find a triped circuit?
Check the circuit panel / breaker box. The tripped breaker should be partway between 'OFF' and 'ON'. If nothing else, turn the breakers off then on, one at a time and when the tripped breaker is reset, the circuit should be live again. Also check GFI outlets. If one is in fault condition, it will need to be reset. If the tripped GFI outlet is protecting other outlets, they will come back when the tripped GFI is reset. These sockets seem to hide in many cases... Behind microwave ovens for example or refrigerators.
In electronics what is meaning when a moulded case circuit breaker releases?
It is another way of stating that the circuit breaker has tripped due to an over current.
What do tripped circuit breaker and blown fuses indicate?
Blown fuses indicate overload in the electrical circuit. Possible short-circuit or higher input voltage.Tripped circuit breakers I guess means:A residual-current device (RCD), similar to a residual current circuit breaker (RCCB) which is used for breaking the circuit when electric current pass through a man or could cause fire/burning in the/near the electrical sockets.
Possible electrical problem will my microwave oven be okay?
Check the circuit breaker to see if it tripped.
What causes the main breaker to trip from a fault current from a twenty amp branch circuit?
If the fault was on the 20 amp branch circuit, the branch circuit breaker should have tripped, not the main breaker. Call a qualified electrician to check out your wiring.
Will a circuit breaker be the cause of an air conditioner not turning on?
It is possible if the circuit breaker has tripped or is faulty. The best way to check is by unplugging the air conditioner, and plugging in a table lamp. If the lamp lights up, then you know that the circuit breaker is working, if not then it is faulty.
The light on my gfi outlet is dim and sometimes out i am getting no power to it but the circuit breaker is not tripped i just replaced the gfi and it didn't help any ideas?
If the GFI outlet is tripped (the outlet, not the breaker) then it is telling you there is a ground fault which must be fixed. If the GFI outlet is not tripped, and the breaker is not tripped, but it is still not providing power, then you have a loose connection or a wiring error.
Do some electrical breakers when they are tripped go into the off position instead of the normal tripped position I have a cutler hammer breaker that tripped but is in the off position?
Some breakers can trip totally off. If the breaker is continually turning off without a wiring issue, then the breaker could be going bad.
What would you conculde if you saw if one bulb burned and all lights fail?
The bulbs are in connected series. There was a short circuit and the circuit breaker tripped.
Is it safe to turn on a 240 volt circuit after it has tripped the breaker?
It is safer to find out why the breaker tripped before the power is turned on. Turn off all equipment, then turn on the supply, then turn on each appliance one by one to find the culprit.
You lost a voltage leg by connecting the ground wire to the circuit breaker but com ed wires are still energized?
Yes this could be true. The breaker to the load will have tripped. The main breaker should still be allowing voltage to the distribution panel because it did not trip. If the main breaker tripped then the distribution panel must have been close to maximum amperage and the shorting of the branch circuit was enough to trip the mains.
When a voltage leg is lost by connecting the ground wire to the circuit breaker are com ed wires still energized?
Yes this could be true. The breaker to the load will have tripped. The main breaker should still be allowing voltage to the distribution panel because it did not trip. If the main breaker tripped then the distribution panel must have been close to maximum amperage and the shorting of the branch circuit was enough to trip the mains.
