30 amps through #12 wire?

Question: Is #12 wire ever good for 30 amps in a commercial building?

Here is the story behind that question:

My boss recently added a second microwave oven in the break room, and now the two ovens are tripping a 20-amp breaker whenever they are on at the same time for more than a few seconds. So, yesterday my boss came out and spark-opened (see below) a panel to put a 30-amp breaker on that particular circuit, but I talked him out of doing that since I have always heard 30 amps need #10 wire. A few minutes later, however, my boss came back out of his office and showed me a book of some kind with a chart saying #12 wire is good for 30 amps in residential structures ... but he ended up saying he would wait and ask the electricians coming out to do some other work in a few days.

So again: Is #12 wire ever good for 30 amps in a commercial building?

Note: I say he "spark-opened" a panel because one of the screws for the cover had been pinching a wire against the inside of the panel and that combination made quite a pop when it shorted while he was removing one of the screws! I believe that panel was made by GE.

There are not two code books only one, sure there are some rules that only pertain to residential, but to answer your question, # 12 AWG is good for 25 amps, BUT... 240.4(D) will only allow it at 20 amps. Also, your boss is looking at the 90 degree column, (310.16) thats where he is getting the 30 amps from.

No...not unless your trying to start a fire.

Cass said:

No...not unless your trying to start a fire.

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Thank you, Chris, and yes, Cass, that is what I had told my boss!

Here in my house, I have all 15-amp breakers even on circuits with #12 wire, and I only use schedule 40 pipe even for drains. All considered, material costs and broad safety margins are an inexpensive combination when compared to the costs potentially incurred through fire and flood.

Tell your boss he is a fool, and that he should not try and read the code book if he has no clue about what is he looking at. He cannot twist things to make them work in his favor.
Ask him what he thinks about 210.21 if he is into reading the code book. Tell him the information he needs is NEVER in just one spot!

leejosepho said:

Here in my house, I have all 15-amp breakers even on circuits with #12 wire,

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WHY??? That is a simple waste of 5 potential amps.
I hope you do not think you are being any safer, or saving amps for the "future upgrades".
My house is wired with all #12 also, and the only place I have 15A breakers is on my truck shelf.

30 amps - No. 12 awg, cu. wire

This answer is based on the 2005 NEC:Table 310.16, the table used to determine the current-carrying capability of copper or aluminum conductors in cables, conduit, or directly buried in earth is very often used incorrectly. No. 12 awg, cu conductors under the 60 degree C and 75 degree C columns have an "ampacity" (current carrying capacity under specific conditions of operation) of 25 amperes when installed under the conditions stated in the title of the table 310.16. No. 12 awg, cu under the 90 degree C has an ampacity of 30 amperes. HOWEVER, under column one, there are asterisks which are explained at the bottom of the table which direct you to a specific section of the NEC Section 240.4(D). Section 240.4(D) states in part: that No. 14 awg, Cu shall not be protected at more than 15 amperes. No. 12 awg, Cu at not more than 20 amperes, and No.10 awg, Cu at not more than 30 A.
There are installations such as motor branch-circuits, HVAC circuits, and welding machine circuits where the above mentioned conductors are permitted to be utilized at higher amperages than those listed above.
Another important factor to be considered is Section 110.14(C)(1), temperature ratings of terminals to which the conductors are connected.
In summary, increasing the overcurrent protection to 30 amperes will cause the circuit breaker terminals to overheat, overheat the conductors, and could be a fire hazard. Finally, should a fire occur, it may even void the fire insurance coverage. DON'T DO IT!! Run another circuit!

Speedy Petey said:

Tell your boss he is a fool ...

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The man is far from being a fool, and he quickly stopped what he was doing when I told him I was sure he should not proceed.

Speedy Petey said:

... and that he should not try and read the code book if he has no clue about what is he looking at.

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He was not reading the code book. Rather, he had some kind of mechanical engineering guide that simply happened to include some general electrical information.

Speedy Petey said:

He cannot twist things to make them work in his favor.

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He was not trying to do that.

Speedy Petey said:

[Having 15-amp breakers on all the circuits in your house] is a simple waste of 5 potential amps.

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I only have 100-amp service, and I have yet to find any 15-amp circuit insufficient.

Speedy Petey said:

I hope you do not think you are being any safer ...

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I most certainly do, and the professional electrician who replaced our old panel a couple of years ago agreed completely after looking at some of the old wiring I have yet to replace.

Speedy Petey said:

I hope you do not think you are ... saving amps for the "future upgrades".

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No, I do not.

Speedy Petey said:

My house is wired with all #12 also ...

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Mine is not.

Speedy Petey said:

... and the only place I have 15A breakers is on my truck shelf.

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If they are QOs and you might be willing to be rid of a few at a reduced price, please let me know!

Johnny C said:

This answer is based on the 2005 NEC ...

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Thank you for the details! The panel has been closed and my boss is waiting to let a real electrician run another circuit or whatever, but I will print your answer so he can better understand.

Well Lee I admit, maybe the fool comment was a bit out of line. After all, he did wait and ask the right people before doing anything.

It takes something like 1200 amps for your 12 awg solid to start fusing together. Yes, 12 awg "stranded" I repeat stranded copper conductor can handle 30 amps I am quite sure. However, rule of thumb is that the overcurrent protection for 12 awg solid copper is 20 amps. If youre trying to be some kind of john wayne, and youre using THHN or THWN and 12 awg stranded copper, you can technically use it and place an 30 amp overcurrent protection. Mind you, if youre trying to use multiple high load appliances - especially space heaters, youre taking an incredible risk. Plus the legitimate electricians may smack you around a little for not complying with the standard article 210 of branch circuits. Dont play with peoples lives like that.

patt24k said:

It takes something like 1200 amps for your 12 awg solid to start fusing together. Yes, 12 awg "stranded" I repeat stranded copper conductor can handle 30 amps I am quite sure. However, rule of thumb is that the overcurrent protection for 12 awg solid copper is 20 amps. If youre trying to be some kind of john wayne, and youre using THHN or THWN and 12 awg stranded copper, you can technically use it and place an 30 amp overcurrent protection. Mind you, if youre trying to use multiple high load appliances - especially space heaters, youre taking an incredible risk. Plus the legitimate electricians may smack you around a little for not complying with the standard article 210 of branch circuits. Dont play with peoples lives like that.

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this post was from 2008. Look at the bottom line of the particular post.