[akeys_11]

Whenever I plug in my electric heater on one side of my house it knocks out the circuit breaker.Is it possible to add another breaker panel in the box or increase the size of the panel in the box? The panels in the box are 15amps, what is the next largest size iI can increase it to?

[Washington1]

Whenever I plug in my electric heater on one side of my house it knocks out the circuit breaker.Is it possible to add another breaker panel in the box or increase the size of the panel in the box? The panels in the box are 15amps, what is the next largest size iI can increase it to?

Adding a sub-panel or upgrading your service want correct the problem. As far as upsizing the breaker, this will depend on your current wire size serving your 15amp disconnect?

Edit to rid the service question, seeing that this will confuse the reader

[labman]

What size wire and breaker your heater needs depends on its wattage and voltage. You may have to run a new #12 wire.

[Washington1]

Lab, size wire doesn't depend on voltage.
Also, note that the op has a plug in heater. I believe the op is thinking of upsizing the breaker. As presented (above), it will depend on the current wire size.

As far as upgrading the service, or panel. This want correct the problem. Nor will doing a panel change.

[labman]

I am sorry, but starting with a wattage, whether it is 240V or 120V makes a big difference in wire size.

[donf]

Time out, the OP is having a problem with the breaker tripping.

Dear Akeys,

You have a circuit overload condition or a short circuit at the outlet you are plugging into. The biggest amp hogs are heating appliances such as irons, toasters, room heaters.

First you need to examine the entire circuit that you are using. See what plugs into the circuit. Check that the devices are functioning properly. Determine if there are any devices that you can turn off to reduce the overall load on this circuit. Also check to see when the breaker trips. Try plugging the heater in with the unit turned oiff. No failure, turn the unit on. Failure, check the outlet connectons and replace the receptacle.

As to your original question, If your breaker is a 15 amp breaker, then more than likley you conducting wire is #14 AWG, particularly if this is an older house. #14 AWG is not rated for any higher amperage than 15 amps. A higher amperage will cause the wire's insulation to melt and a fire to start.

To upgrade to a higher amperage, you must:

1) Get an electrical permit
2 )Remove the Breaker and the conducting wire for the entire circuit.
a) disconnect all taps (receptacles and switches) from the entire circuit length
3) Install a 20 amp breaker and a #12 AWG conducting wire for the entire circuit length.
a) Reconnect all taps for the entire length of the circuit.
4) Call for your inspection.

If the circuit is approved, file the approval with your insurance papers.

Or you could call an electrician an let him/her take care of everything from the permit to the inspection. Do not get the permit for the electrician. If you are asked to do that, call another electrician. No exceptions!

[Stratmando]

If the wire is #12 you can increase breaker to 20 Amps.
If breaker is triping, maybe bad breaker. Can you swap the breaker with a known good circuit. Be sure wires are tight, or breaker may trip.

[Washington1]

donf,

I like a lot of what you posted!
I believe it's lucid that the circuit is overloaded based on the op's post. But, none us really know until we get the best information possible from the person seeking our help. If it's an overload, then it's a usage problem. To correct this problem would involve getting information on the capacity of said circuit, and compare your findings to the total load (wattage) being served. Upsizing the breaker will work, but can only be done if specifically permitted per Article 240.4.
I'm going to rule out a short, but more than willing to accept input from other's qualifying a "short" as the problem. ***Please note that the circuit is working fine, until the heating unit is installed on the circuit.

Also, do not be so quick to jump to the conclusion that the wire gauge is 14, because it's on a 15 amp OCPD. I've seen a few or more homes that say different (all being older homes). Not to mention 12AWG being served by 30A breakers :(, or part of a room being wired using 16AWG cord :(

Stratmando,

I agree
Lab,

I hear ya! :)

[donf]

Washington et al,

My thinking was rather binary for this one as well as an information search.

Either he's overloaded, there is a short or physical problem at the outlet itself. <Reasoning> Failure does not occur until heater is turned on. Also, he doesn't report any other circuit failures when the heater is not on the circuit. SWAG - Either the overload, defective heater or a "toes up" receptacle.

Wiring, SWAG - Either he does not know what he has in the wall or it is #14 AWG. SWAG, define what conductor size is used for what amperage. Warn about over amping the #14 AWG conductor follow that with an answer regarding next conductor and breaker size up and instructions to the entire install process along with a suggestion to call a pro.

Is the veribage in my post confusing or am I guilty of the sin of "To much information?"

I would like to hear back from you regarding your thoughts. I would prefer it to offline of this topic and either via an e-mail or PM.

Labman, I already know the esteem in which you do not hold my responses so if it's the same rhetoric, please, no response is necessary from you. If, however, you have specific suggestions or ideas for improvement, I'm always ready to listen.

[vodoc]

Most electric space heater operate around 1500w at 120v, which equals 12.5 amps. So if anything else is in use on that same circuit, that would bring the total amp draw to over 15 amps the breaker will trip. As akeys states it only happens on one end of the house I wuld think its safe to say that he is overloading that circiut. Now, if you upgrade that entire circiut to #12 cu wire (as #12 al is only rated at 15 amps) you also have to upgrade all receptacles to 20 amp rated as well. The easiest solution is to pick a location that the heater always be in (preferably an interior wall-easier to fish new wire into) and run a new 15 amp circiut-1 plug-to that location. You don't need to upgrade, just add new.

[Washington1]

DonF,

Clear your mail box. :)

[donf]

Washington,

Done, thanks for the reminder. :)