|
11-17-2011, 03:10 AM
|
#1
|
Montana Fan
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Ronan
Posts: 385
M.O.C. #7615
|
15 amp breaker
We use a small electric heater at times and and when the coffee pot comes on in the morning it trips the kitchen breaker, this also happen across kitchen at plug by table, the kitchen is on a 15 amp breaker, can this be changed out to a 20 amp breaker.
We took out the washer and dryer and they have 20 amp breakers not being used
|
|
|
11-17-2011, 03:43 AM
|
#2
|
Montana Master
Join Date: May 2003
Location: New Bern
Posts: 4,295
M.O.C. #311
|
Your concept sounds great, but what is not discussed is the wire size that support the outlets. When a circuit is installed it is wired with the total wattage is will consume (wattage = Volts times amps). Therefore changing the breaker could put you in danger because the wires may not be "strong enough" to handle the additional power. When not strong enough they could get HOT and cause fires. Since the voltage never changes the breakers are listed by amps therefore wire size is also associated with the amperage it can handle.
Most electrical heaters are 1500 watts which is about 12.5 Amps (1500 watts / 120 volts = 12.5 amps) this is under perfect conditions. The 15 amp breaker gives you a little cushion.
You say you are not using the washer dryer outlets. I recommend plugging the electrical heater in one of those outlet. That is what we did.
Best of luck.
|
|
|
11-17-2011, 03:43 AM
|
#3
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Englewood
Posts: 3,095
M.O.C. #164
|
I am sure the wiring will not support a 20 AMP Breaker. Locate a plug on another breaker
|
|
|
11-17-2011, 03:47 AM
|
#4
|
Montana Fan
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Adirondack
Posts: 367
M.O.C. #10754
|
I'm not an electrician but I would be sceptical of the size wire and recepticals in the circuit. a 15 amp cercuit probably only has components rated for 15 amps. (14 ga wire, 15 amp recepticles) 20 amps could overload it. I'd have a licensed electrician look at it.
|
|
|
11-17-2011, 03:59 AM
|
#5
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Winfield
Posts: 7,327
M.O.C. #6846
|
Even if you plug both into a 20 amp circuit, if it is a typical Mr Coffee 10 cup pot, you are still going to kick the breaker. The amperage draw on a coffee pot is typically 10 amps. I think John has your best solution, find an unused circuit that you can use solely for the space heater (and again as John stated: washer/dryer outlet would be perfect). On the note of the wiring requirements, I am really curious if the Amish craftsmen actually differentiate the wiring runs with 12 and 14 gauge wire or default to (hopefully) 12 gauge for the rig for simplicity reasons? Might have to do some investigating unless someone has this knowledge of what is in the walls already? Good topic!!
Bingo
__________________
Bingo and Cathy - Our adventures begin in the hills of WV. We are blessed by our 2014 3850FL Big Sky (previous 2011 3750FL and 2007 3400RL) that we pull with a 2007 Chevy Silverado Classic DRW CC dually.
|
|
|
11-17-2011, 04:05 AM
|
#6
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: K.C.
Posts: 11,731
M.O.C. #5980
|
I feel your pain.... I had the same problem, so I tapped into the 20 amp line that feeds the 1/2 time oven. I have warmed things when the coffee machine is still on, it has never tripped the breaker.
This is an easy task if you are handy at all, just turn off the breaker before work and observe polarity.
How to slide show:
http://s112.photobucket.com/albums/n...hine%20outlet/
|
|
|
11-17-2011, 04:19 AM
|
#7
|
Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wilsey
Posts: 18,799
M.O.C. #11455
|
I wouldn't want to bet that they use the same wires for all circuits. These are the same people that put Marathon tires on the rigs because the sidewalls say you can. When we were at the factory tour they told us that now with the depressed conditions they were "only" completing 15 trailers a day. Take the savings from using the specified wire times the length of the wire runs in a 38' trailer times 15 then times 50 weeks or more per year and you have a lot of money. Now multiply that times all the trailer names they make. They wouldn't leave that on the table.
__________________
Dick, Joyce, Diego, Picatso and Gustav
2017 3720 RL, and 2013 HC 343RL
Pullrite Hitch, IS, Disk Brakes, 3rd AC, Winegard Traveler, Bathroom door mod, Dometic 320, couch for desk swap, replaced chairs, sun screens, added awnings, etc.
|
|
|
11-17-2011, 02:21 PM
|
#8
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Eastern
Posts: 1,155
M.O.C. #7270
|
I had the same problem. my wife uses a bunn and it would trip it. what I found out was the wall plugs in the kitchen in mine is on the same breaker so I had to move something. I still plan to do some more rewiring to mine.
Bobby
|
|
|
11-18-2011, 02:17 AM
|
#9
|
Montana Fan
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Naples
Posts: 178
M.O.C. #9521
|
I was tripping the kitchen breaker when running a small electric heater and while we brewed our morning coffee. I saw Ozz's posting regarding using the microwave's circuit. I followed his directions (as shown above) and solved the problem.
|
|
|
11-18-2011, 03:51 AM
|
#10
|
Montana Fan
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Ronan
Posts: 385
M.O.C. #7615
|
Thanks Ozz, that is a great idea, the plug across from the kitchen by the kitchen table must also be on the same breaker.
That's what is so great about this forum, if one has a problem there is someone here or many that have a fix for it
thank you
|
|
|
11-18-2011, 04:14 AM
|
#11
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: K.C.
Posts: 11,731
M.O.C. #5980
|
Thanks,
Another easy fix to the breaker overload problem is to tap into the vacuum power. I think there may be something on that circuit, but not much, if anything.
|
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Threads |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|