Handyman who hooked up the over range microwave now made it impossible to keep lights and TV on in living room without blowing breaker. We have to shut just about anything that's on just to microwave popcorn. Its hooked up to a 15/20 breaker. Am I able to resolve problem myself? Due to economic conditions I can't afford an electrician to come in to help.

No such thing as a 15/20 amp breaker, its one or the other. Check the panel and tell us what it is and also the gauge of the wiring if you can. Can you call the guy back and tell him to do it correctly with a new circuit?

Upgrade the breaker, upgrade the wires. Can't to one without the other.

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Originally Posted by stew_1962

Upgrade the breaker, upgrade the wires. Can't to one without the other.

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Thanks stew. Is it a hard job? How long should it take?

"Upgrading the wire" is rarely a viable or sensible option. Simply run a new dedicated circuit to the microwave like the handyman should have in the first place. Pretty much every OTR micro I have ever seen has required this anyway.

How long it takes depends on many factors. What is your level of experience in doing electrical work? From the sound of your post this is new to you, am I correct?

Your financial situation aside, an electrician would definitely be your best bet here. See if you can get a refund from the handyman who didn't do the right thing anyway.

Just for education purposes, a 15/20 amp breaker does exist, see photo. These are tandem breakers that have a 15 and a 20 amp pole together.

Tim does not explain further if this is what he has, and does not state which breaker trips, the 15 or the 20 amp.

Clearly the circuit the microwave was connected to cannot handle the load.

Handymen are not electricians, and are not aware of how to size circuits and loads.

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Originally Posted by stanfortyman

"Upgrading the wire" is rarely a viable or sensible option. Simply run a new dedicated circuit to the microwave like the handyman should have in the first place. Pretty much every OTR micro I have ever seen has required this anyway.

How long it takes depends on many factors. What is your level of experience in doing electrical work? From the sound of your post this is new to you, am I correct?

Your financial situation aside, an electrician would definitely be your best bet here. See if you can get a refund from the handyman who didn't do the right thing anyway.

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How do you run a separate circuit? Should I upgrade to a 20/20? I'm pretty sure I can handle something like this and definitely respect electricity. The handyman did it a long time ago. I don't even know if he's still in business. He built a separate socket which is what it is plugged into. The dimming has just started happening about 3 months ago.

In that case, the microwave magnatron is probably dying. Do the boil 1 cup of water test. How long does it take. 5 min is way too long, for instance.

Then I agree with KISS. I think were were all under the impression that this was a new install.

Installing a new circuit is not upgrading anything. DO NOT change that original breaker.
You would simply be adding a new circuit to the microwave. The best thing to do would be to eliminate the old shared one the handyman did.

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Originally Posted by stanfortyman

Then I agree with KISS. I think were were all under the impression that this was a new install.

Installing a new circuit is not upgrading anything. DO NOT change that original breaker.
You would simply be adding a new circuit to the microwave. The best thing to do would be to eliminate the old shared one the handyman did.

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OK thanks. Can I do that job myself?

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Originally Posted by timjam2000

can i do that job myself?

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Only you can answer this accurately.

I give up

That's not always a bad thing.

If you have to ask "Can I do this?", you probably already know the answer.