Posted by (PeteCresswell) on December 7, 2012, 2:19 am
Per mike:
>Not sure what you're planning, but if there is ANY wire smaller than
>#12 anywhere in the system before or after your 20A breaker, you've got
>a problem.
Electrician I asked said something that I interpreted as similar.
I'm having trouble with this one and think either something
hasn't soaked in yet or I talk too fast/write too verbosely and
am muddying the waters.
For the sake of argument:
- One 15-amp breaker (NOT 20.... the twenty amp fuse
is in the switch's circuit feeding the 15-amp
breaker)
- Three circuits hung on that single breaker.
- Each circuit's wire is spec'd to handle up to
15 amps.
- Seems to me like no single wire can experience more
than 15 amps because the breaker will trip at 15.
- The 20-amp fuse in the switch (instead of a 15-amp fuse)
is so that the breaker will take the hit on overload
and the fuse will be less likely to blow.
Do I have it right? If not, where am I going wrong?
--
Pete Cresswell
Posted by Vaughn on December 7, 2012, 3:12 am
On 12/6/2012 9:19 PM, (PeteCresswell) wrote:
> - One 15-amp breaker (NOT 20.... the twenty amp fuse
> is in the switch's circuit feeding the 15-amp
> breaker)
> - Three circuits hung on that single breaker.
> - Each circuit's wire is spec'd to handle up to
> 15 amps.
> - Seems to me like no single wire can experience more
> than 15 amps because the breaker will trip at 15.
I see nothing dangerous here, but it may turn out to be inconvenient if
your load is more than you think it is. There is no chance that you
will want to run window units in any of those bedrooms?
When I installed my 6-circuit transfer panel I believe I combined a
couple circuits.
Posted by (PeteCresswell) on December 7, 2012, 11:23 pm
Per Vaughn:
> There is no chance that you
>will want to run window units in any of those bedrooms?
Right now, we're thinking "Lifeboat", not "Cruise Ship".
OTOH, I did buy an itty-bitty microwave for use during outages
and maybe a very small window box would not be out of the
question.... OTOOH, we very seldom have outages during hot
weather and when we have they've been fixed within hours.
--
Pete Cresswell
Posted by Vaughn on December 7, 2012, 11:48 pm
On 12/7/2012 6:23 PM, (PeteCresswell) wrote:
> Per Vaughn:
>> There is no chance that you
>> will want to run window units in any of those bedrooms?
> Right now, we're thinking "Lifeboat", not "Cruise Ship".
Yes, but if you combine your circuits, you will be power-limited all the
time, not just when you are on emergency power.
I asked about the window shaker because that's one of the more common
big power users you will find in a bedroom. Other possibilities include
space heaters and medical equipment such as oxygen concentrators.
> OTOOH, we very seldom have outages during hot
> weather and when we have they've been fixed within hours.
Things are a bit different here in south Florida.
Vaughn
Posted by Mr Clarke on December 8, 2012, 6:12 pm
> On 12/7/2012 6:23 PM, (PeteCresswell) wrote:
>> Per Vaughn:
>>> There is no chance that you
>>> will want to run window units in any of those bedrooms?
>>
>> Right now, we're thinking "Lifeboat", not "Cruise Ship".
> Yes, but if you combine your circuits, you will be power-limited all the
> time, not just when you are on emergency power.
> I asked about the window shaker because that's one of the more common big
> power users you will find in a bedroom. Other possibilities include space
> heaters and medical equipment such as oxygen concentrators.
>>
>> OTOOH, we very seldom have outages during hot
>> weather and when we have they've been fixed within hours.
>>
> Things are a bit different here in south Florida.
> Vaughn
Whole lot could be sensed and controlled using existing wiring; I`m sure
you`re aware of the
various mains carrier transceiver kits available?
>#12 anywhere in the system before or after your 20A breaker, you've got
>a problem.