• Link to Facebook
  • Link to Instagram
  • Link to Yelp
Call Us: 520-462-8844
Tanque Verde Home Inspections LLC
  • Home
  • About
    • Careers
  • Home Inspection Services
    • Home Buyer’s Home Inspection
    • Seller’s Pre-Listing Home Inspection
    • New Construction Home Inspection in Tucson
    • Preventative Maintenance Home Inspection
    • Sewer Scope Inspections
    • Mold Testing
    • Indoor Air Quality Testing
    • Radon Testing
    • Solar Inspections
    • Termite Inspection
    • Pool Inspection
    • Manufactured Home HUD Certification
    • Commercial Property Inspections
    • Parallel Inspections
  • Your Inspection
    • Your Home Inspection Report
    • Agents
  • Helpful Info
    • Resources
  • Schedule Your Home Inspection
  • Menu Menu

Oversized Breaker

Today on an inspection, I came across something that I find in about 10% of my inspections, an oversized breaker. That is when the breaker amperage rating is too large for the wire/conductor gauge rating that is connected to it.

In this case, the breaker was a 20 amp breaker with 14 gauge wire. Typically, a 15 amp breaker would be used with 14 gauge wire and a 20 amp breaker would use 12 gauge wire.

Why is this an issue?

14 gauge wire is designed to carry a certain current. If that current gets too high, the 15 amp breaker detects too much current and it trips, thus protecting the wire from overheating. If  a 20 amp breaker is used instead, the breaker is rated for a higher current, so it doesn’t trip until potentially that wire overheats and starts a fire in the house or causes damage to the home’s electrical system.

Here are the proper wire/conductor gauges (copper, not aluminum) for the more common breaker sizes:

  • 14 AWG for 15 Amp Breakers
  • 12 AWG for 20 Amp Breakers
  • 10 AWG for 30 Amp Breakers
  • 8 AWG for 40 Amp Breakers
  • 6 AWG for 50 Amp Breakers

If aluminum wiring is used, then one sized larger gauge wire should be used.

In this case, a licensed electrician should be called to investigate and make repairs if deemed necessary by the electrician.

This information is for informational purposes only.  It is NEVER recommended for a home owner to remove the dead front cover from the electrical service panel. Removing the dead front cover can lead to serious injury or death (hence the name dead front cover, if you remove the front cover you’re dead). Always hire a licensed electrician for work or investigations inside the electrical panel.

Oversized Breaker

Pages

  • About
  • Agents
  • Careers
  • Commercial Property Inspections
  • Helpful Info
  • Home Buyer’s Home Inspection
  • Home Inspection Services
  • Indoor Air Quality Testing
  • Manufactured Home HUD Certification
  • Mold Testing
  • New Construction Home Inspection in Tucson
  • Parallel Inspections
  • Pool Inspection
  • Pre-Listing Home Inspection
  • Preventative Maintenance Home Inspection
  • Privacy Policy
  • Radon Testing
  • Resources
  • Schedule Your Home Inspection
  • Sewer Scope Inspections
  • Solar Inspections
  • Termite Inspection
  • Terms of Use
  • Tucson Home Inspections – Tucson Home Inspectors
  • What to Expect from Your Home Inspection
  • Your Home Inspection Report

Categories

  • For Home Buyers & Sellers
  • For Real Estate Agents
  • General

Archive

  • August 2024
  • April 2024
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • July 2023
  • October 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • January 2022
  • April 2021
  • September 2020
  • July 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • February 2020
  • November 2019
  • October 2019

Schedule Your Inspection Today! Call 520-462-8844

Experience the Tanque Verde Home Inspections Difference

Proudly Providing Home Inspection Services

Tanque Verde Home Inspections’ Tucson based Home Inspectors provide Residential, Pool & Spa, Sewer Scope, 11th Month Warranty, Pre-Drywall, and Pre-Listing Inspections to the Old Pueblo including: Tucson, Marana, Oro Valley, Vail, Corona de Tucson, Sahuarita, Green Valley, Rancho Vistoso, and Pima County Arizona. Inspections are also available in Cochise County (e.g. Benson, Sierra Vista, Willcox) and Pinal County (e.g. Red Rock, Saddlebrook Ranch).

Get in Touch

Email Us

info@tvhiaz.com

Call or Text

(520) 462-8844

Address

8987 E Tanque Verde Rd # 309-324, Tucson, AZ 85749

Tanque Verde Home Inspections LLC
Copyright © 2019- Tanque Verde Home Inspections LLC | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use
  • Link to Facebook
  • Link to Instagram
  • Link to Yelp
Link to: Chimney Height Link to: Chimney Height Chimney Height Link to: Solid Aluminum Wiring Link to: Solid Aluminum Wiring Solid Aluminum Wiring
Scroll to top Scroll to top Scroll to top