A fifteen-amp breaker will also give you enough space for other appliances. This will keep your circuit safe while providing adequate current. If your breaker does not mention what wire gauge is needed, you can simply go with 12 gauge wire. Wire GaugeĪ breaker with a 15-amp rating can handle the maximum current of 15 amps. For specific information about your electrical code and wiring requirements, contact a certified electrician. Keep in mind that this article is only intended as a guideline. Use the chart below to estimate the size of wire necessary for the power running through the line. Wire size can affect how much resistance a circuit has. Can I use a 15 amp breaker on 12 gauge wire?Ĭircuit breakers must be sized for the exact amount of electrical current they need to handle. The National Electric Code provides the proper wire sizes for different electrical circuits. Also, check your breaker box to determine the wire size. In some cases, larger wires are needed if the wiring runs longer than 50 feet. Generally, a circuit that uses #12 copper wire can safely use a 15 amp fuse. You should always consult a licensed electrician to make sure you get the right wire size for the circuit. Listed below are some important guidelines for wire selection. But be careful to follow all safety instructions. Copper wires are usually the most common choice. While some power tools do have larger wires, it is still advisable to use copper when it comes to wiring a 15 amp circuit. One common mistake that people make is trying to run a power tool on a 15 amp circuit when it is designed for 12 amps. Wire of a higher gauge will generally not be as sturdy as a lower-gauge wire, so using a larger one on a 15 amp circuit is safer. While it is not unsafe, using wire of a higher gauge can lead to a higher risk of overloading. You might wonder if it is safe to use 12-gauge wire on a 15 amp circuit. In addition, you should know how long the wire is supposed to last so you can avoid any accidents. It’s important to keep records of all wire installations, since wiring mistakes are a common cause of accidents. This wire will also work on your 15-amp breaker, but you’ll want to be extra careful about how you install it. If you can’t find a breaker with a 15-amp capacity, you might want to use 12-2 wire instead. A wire of this size is important for lighting and other electrical equipment, including computers and other electronic devices. A 15-amp circuit breaker would trip before the wire could overheat. Therefore, a smaller gauge wire would be more susceptible to heat than a larger one. You can also choose to use 14-2 wire to feed outlets directly, which is cheaper and safer at 15 amps.Ī wire’s gauge indicates its resistance, which is inversely proportional to its diameter. Otherwise, you could end up with a tripped breaker. However, you should remember that the 12-2 wire should only be used with circuits with a maximum of 20 amps.
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