looking for a licensed Electrition
 

I want to upgrad one of the Breakers in my fuse box and I think that you need a lisenced electrition to do that.. I am not sure but forsome reasons that is sticking in my head..

is this true? and if it is, is there anyone on the island that is licensed and will work for cheep ;)

Steve

I have a guy who does them in Vancouver, but I guess that wouldn't make sense for you.

My recollection is that your homeowners policy regarding fire insurance may have something to do with the Licensed Electrician.


Zulu

You can't just upgrade a breaker. The wire, usually 14 gauge or 14-2 in lumex terms is rated for 15 amps. If you go to a larger amperage breaker you also need to increase the wire gauge. e.g. 12 gauge.

if you are just changing out the breaker from a single circuit to a double of the same amperage than no problem.

well I was original thinking of looking and seeing if I could put a bigger breaker acording to the wire size but now I am thinking maby I might just have to run another circut somehow.. my fish tank stuff alone adds up to 15 amps if everything is running at once so I just calculated :roll:

and if I install the two 250 watt MH I will be over.. sooo I need to now figure out how to run another 15 amp circut to that area so i can move all my lights off that circut.

I was thinking I could put a remote pannel in the stand (30 amp pannel) and just run a sub to the stand.. I am going to call around about that option tomorrow I think..

Steve

Hi,

Upgrading an existing breaker can be done without the use of an electrician. I would pick up a copy of the simplified version of the canadian electric code (I think Revy and HD have it...its a red book that is 1/4" thick). It contains most of the imformation for safe installation of domestic electrical system (like spas, domestic switchgear and junction boxes).

In a normal breaker box, there are two sets of breakers. There is one set that controls the individual circuits that spread around your house. These are compact switches that trip when a particular circuit is overloaded. So these are called circuit breakers. The other set, is the house breaker...it is usually a double throw breaker and it is quite large. Usually, the numbers 100, 200 or 400 are written on the breaker.

If you are thinking about the house/main breaker...forget DIY. It usually costs around $1000 to $1500 for this type of job.

If it is just the circuit breaker, then you'll need to buy that book and figure out what is needed. Like Tau2301 said, most houses use 14 guage wire for 15 amp service. 12 guage for 20 amp service. You can DIY this, but you'll need to invest some time on the book and equipment.

The cost will depend on if you have room in your existing box. If there are empty slots in your box and your are not constantly tripping the main breaker, then it is a fair simple exercise. Put in a new breaker. Run some wire between the breaker to the new outlets. Wire the outlets and breaker together. Throw the circuit breaker...done. The hard part is actually running the wire so that you can't see it. I would say about $25 in parts if DIY or $100 to $500 for a professional. If the box is full and it is on the verge of overload, then it will cost you -- $1000 to $1500.

- Victor.

Steve,

Do you have outlets around the tank that are lightly loaded ? If there is another outlet that is on the other side of the wall, above the tank or below the tank ? It is possible to drop a feeder from those light loaded outlets to your tank and use it.

- Victor.

no thats the problem.. my whole front room is on one breaker.. I am going to try find out what the one in the hall is coupled with maby i can hide a extension corde that way.

Steve

Ok I am a licenced Electrician, and would be happy to fix it for you. All I need is an airplane ticket, and hotel reservations. :D :D :D :D
Then when the job is done i can go visit my parents' grave in Victoria. :D

hehe Thanks Bob, but I think I will have to find some wone who is a little cheeper :D

anyways I found a 15 amp breaker that is for a old "fridge" outlet that isn't used anymore.. so now I just have to figure out how to get that wire from the back of the house to the front and I am set ;)

Steve