20 amps??

Between two rooms i run on 1 20 amp breaker. In electrical appliances i use about 16 amps. If i wanted to run more appliances i need more amps. To do this, do i just go buy a little 40 amp box, take the old 20 out and wire the new 40 in? Cause im kinda borderline on my amp usage and want to run more. Thanks for the help.

Not unless your circuit was overbuilt to begin with. Breaker amperage must be matched to wire of the same rating or greater.

if you put a 40 in the wire will have to upsize to a #8AWG at least from the breaker to the first load maybe farther. If you have room for another 20 amp breaker just run a 12/2 with ground to the fartherest room off the new brreaker. Disconnect the feed from the nearest room that goes to the fartherest room. the new wire to the fartherest room. I am assuming alot.

whiteflour said:

Not unless your circuit was overbuilt to begin with. Breaker amperage must be matched to wire of the same rating or greater.

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If you are putting in a sub panel the wire would be matched to the breaker. Branch circuits can can be matched to the load.

listen to the people, don't burn your place down. and don't kill yourself. DIY people do it all but the electrical to dangerous if you get it wrong.

Peace

Just out of curiousity, are you outlets in the rooms you are using rated for 15 or 20 amps? 20 amp outlets will have a funny looking notch in one of the slots where the appliance plugs in, 15 amp outlets don't have them. If your running with 15 amp outlets you are only wired for 15 amps most likely (as indicated above, wire is matched to outlet and circuit normally) in which case your just lucky nothing has burned down yet given the load your putting on it.

If they are 20 amp plugs no worry. Some people think they can simply change from a 15 to 20 amp circuit and all is well, all is not well and fires result.

If you replace the breaker with a bigger one, and over amp your internal wiring...YOU WILL DIE! or shit will burn.
Have a professional install a 50+ amp circuit. Do not short cut electricity as it can and does kill.

Polecat said:

If you are putting in a sub panel the wire would be matched to the breaker. Branch circuits can can be matched to the load.

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How is what I said any different than what you said? A breaker can't be installed unless the wiring coming off of it is rated for it. In your example the homerun.

I just didn't bother explaining a solution since he hadn't asked for one. Honestly considering his question I figured he probably lacked the ability to install a circuit.

this post was more to prove a point to someone about the load they are putting on the circuit. He runs 1, 1k hps (9.5a 1000 watts) 1 AC (7.5a 825 watts) 2 fans, at which i dont know the power rating. And 3 floro fixtures at 70watts a piece and i believe .4 amps. He ran this setup last year...everything went fine. But when his window ac kicked on the cold cycle all the lights would dim for a second. I found it kinda scary. I believe he shouldnt run more then 2000 watts on this circuit. And he would be coming really close to using that much. Could he just build another breaker box inside of one of the two rooms and run from it? By HIM i mean someone who knows what they are really doing lol.

don't do it

Are there any open slots in the panel? If there were I would add another(or more) 20 amp breaker and wire directly to a 20a outlets. Keep it simple. adding an additional 20amp breaker would give your plenty of juice for this......

If he has some common sense and a little experience with electricity putting in a new circuit can be an easy DIY project. BUT If he has no experience or just does not feel up to it, have an electrician do it for him. I ran my own sub panel to my garage. I had one open slot for a 240V breaker and installed a 100 Amp 240 breaker the sub panel ties to. That gives me six slots in my garage for 110 and 240 volts and I can pull up to 100 Amps. Enough to run a small welder.
Doing a sup panel is a little more complex than just pulling in new wire and connecting to a new breaker.
What ever the poster decides to do, over do it. You want 30 amps? Use wire rated for 40. You can use wire rated for 50 Amps with a lower rated breaker. That will give some room to upgrade if you need more power.
What ever you do, if you have any doubt or fears of your skills, LEAVE IT TO A PROFESSIONAL!