15 amp to 20 amp

**ryan87500** · 09-08-2008, 06:30 AM

I am about to purchase a house with a 15 amp breaker in the bathroom and would like to change it to a 20 amp breaker. I know I have to rerun the 14 gauge wire to 12 gauge wire, but is there any requirements for neutral wires?

I do not know the size of the neutral wire that is currently being used.

Ryan

**jwelectric** · 09-08-2008, 06:57 AM

Is this a cable instllation?

The white is the same size as the black in a cable.

**Cass** · 09-08-2008, 06:59 AM

Just my opinion...if you don't know the answer to your question you may want to have an electrician do the work...

**jimbo** · 09-08-2008, 07:03 AM

This is more complicated than you think. Assuming that breaker serves several receptacals and/or switchs, you would have to track down ALL the runs and branches on that circuit to ensure that NO 14 gauge wire remained.

You did not tell us what you want to accomplish, but it sounds like it might be simpler to just install an all new 20 amp circuit into the area where you need it.

**ryan87500** · 09-08-2008, 07:13 AM

Originally Posted by jimbo

This is more complicated than you think. Assuming that breaker serves several receptacals and/or switchs, you would have to track down ALL the runs and branches on that circuit to ensure that NO 14 gauge wire remained.

You did not tell us what you want to accomplish, but it sounds like it might be simpler to just install an all new 20 amp circuit into the area where you need it.

I realize that I would have to track it down to all switches / receptacles and pull new wire to each one.

What I want to accomplish is not getting yelled at by my wife when she trys to run her 1875 watt hair dryer and her hair straightener and keeps on tripping the breaker.

The wire is run through conduit in the house and from what I can tell is they have a separate breaker that controls the 3 batrooms in the house.

**Cass** · 09-08-2008, 07:21 AM

with a 1875 watt dryer and the other item plus the lights a 20A circuit may not work

**ryan87500** · 09-08-2008, 07:23 AM

Originally Posted by Cass

with a 1875 watt dryer and the other item plus the lights a 20A circuit may not work

The current run only connects the outlets in the bathroom so with a 20a I believe I should be fine.

**Cass** · 09-08-2008, 07:26 AM

how many watts is the hair straightener?

**ryan87500** · 09-08-2008, 07:28 AM

It is 170w

**jwelectric** · 09-08-2008, 07:57 AM

It may be easier to just buy a smaller hair dryer

**ryan87500** · 09-08-2008, 08:55 AM

Is 15AMP standard for a house that is about 25 years old?

**jwelectric** · 09-08-2008, 09:12 AM

Originally Posted by ryan87500

Is 15AMP standard for a house that is about 25 years old?

Yes
Many homes only have a 15 amp circuit supplying the bath receptacle.
Sometimes it is better to fit our lifestyles around what we have instead of fitting everything around us to our lifestyles.

Edited to add:

Portable electric heaters are sometimes too big for the circuit that supplies them.
The question becomes, do I install a larger circuit for the heater, find a different circuit to plug into or just put on a few more cloths?

This can also be said about the big blow dryers. Do I rewire the house to satisfy the hair dryer or do I find somewhere else to plug it in?
The simple solution is to get a smaller dryer.

**ryan87500** · 09-08-2008, 09:46 AM

Originally Posted by jwelectric

Yes
Many homes only have a 15 amp circuit supplying the bath receptacle.
Sometimes it is better to fit our lifestyles around what we have instead of fitting everything around us to our lifestyles.

Edited to add:

Portable electric heaters are sometimes too big for the circuit that supplies them.
The question becomes, do I install a larger circuit for the heater, find a different circuit to plug into or just put on a few more cloths?

This can also be said about the big blow dryers. Do I rewire the house to satisfy the hair dryer or do I find somewhere else to plug it in?
The simple solution is to get a smaller dryer.

I agree that is the best option.

Just for curiosity sake does the neutral wire gauge have to match the hot wire gauge.

Thanks

**jwelectric** · 09-08-2008, 09:52 AM

Originally Posted by ryan87500

I agree that is the best option.

Just for curiosity sake does the neutral wire gauge have to match the hot wire gauge.

Thanks

YES unless it is a deversified load such as a range service dryer ect,,,

All 120 volt circuits will need a neutral neutral the same size as the hot conductor.