Fire hazard?

[imported_goku]

I just realized something, hmmm, well I've noticed that for the longest time i can remember, I was always advised to not plug in too many devices into an outlet otherwise it will cause a fire hazard, right?

Well i've got some questions then..

1. If you have the standard 15amp or 20Amp electrical outlets, are you limited to connecting them to a 15amp/20amp circuit breaker or could you put them on a 30 amp circuit breaker?
2. If you can put them on a 30amp circuit breaker, is the only concern you need to have is not to put more than 15/20amps through that one outlet?
3. I had a third question but forgot...

I ask this since it would make sense to put multiple 15amp/20amp outlets on a 30 or 50 amp breaker so long as you didn't draw more than 15/20amps per outlet and had sufficent guage wiring BUT at the same time you shouldn't/can't put the outlets on more than a 15/20amp breaker because it's a safety precaution to prevent the drawing of more than the outlet's rated amperage by having the breaker flip before hand,,,,

 

[sswingle]

All those numbers confuse me. I say scew it and plug in another power strip

 

[iamwiz82]

What happens when you put too much draw on the 15A outlet and it burns up, but it's not enough draw to flip a 30A circuit?

 

[woowoo]

Originally posted by: goku


1. If you have the standard 15amp or 20Amp electrical outlets, are you limited to connecting them to a 15amp/20amp circuit breaker or could you put them on a 30 amp circuit breaker?
2. If you can put them on a 30amp circuit breaker, is the only concern you need to have is not to put more than 15/20amps through that one outlet?

1. 15 amp for 12ga wire.
You size a breaker to the wire.
2. This is darwin territory.

DO NOT put a 30A breaker on a 15A line!!!

 

[imported_goku]

Originally posted by: woowoo

Originally posted by: goku


1. If you have the standard 15amp or 20Amp electrical outlets, are you limited to connecting them to a 15amp/20amp circuit breaker or could you put them on a 30 amp circuit breaker?
2. If you can put them on a 30amp circuit breaker, is the only concern you need to have is not to put more than 15/20amps through that one outlet?

1. 15 amp for 12ga wire.
You size a breaker to the wire.
2. This is darwin territory.

DO NOT put a 30A breaker on a 15A line!!!

Ah, but you could put 10 guage wire with 15A outlets connected to a 30A breaker, but the problem with this setup is that if you draw more than 15A on one outlet, the breaker won't trip...

 

[Greenman]

It's all about wire size. So yes you can use #10 wire with a 30amp breaker and lots of outlets, as long as the outlets are rated at 30amps. But it's a lot easier and cheaper to use multiple 15 amp circuits. The rule of thumb in residential wiring is to figure 1.5 amps per outlet and 80% of breaker capacity.

woowoo, it's 15 amps for 14ga wire, 12ga will carry 20 amps.

 

[imported_goku]

So, why is it a fire hazard to have like 5 power strips, daisy chained and coming out of one outlet, with a bunch of devices plugged into the free outlet of those powerstrips?