Is this right??

This forum is a great place to get advice...i've learned alot from reading all your posts! Too bad i didnt find this forum BEFORE i started my work! Anyway....I have just finished closing in my carport to make a game room and installed 3 new circuits. I'll explain what i did and if some of you can give me your opinion if i have done everything "right". I ran 14 gauge romex on 2 separate circuits and hooked them into the breaker box with 20amp breakers. (1)I've seen some of you saying that for that size wite to use a 15 amp breaker. Is this something i should be concerned about?? I can change the breakers but i'd rather not have to "go back into that box"!! (its scary) I only have 2 exterior lights and 2 outlets on this circuit. At most the outlets will have 1 computer plugged into it. (2) I also installed a wall air conditioner that draws 11 amps (i think) For this circuit i ran 10 gauge wire. What type of breaker should i use for that?? (3) Is it acceptable to run both the neutral and the ground to separate screws on the same neutral bus bar??? Thanks in advance.

 

The NEC ( Art 210.3) reads----- "Branch-Circuits shall be rated in accordance with---- the rating of the (circuit-breaker)"

This means you have 20-amp circuits operating on 15 amp conductors--- you must re-place the 20 amp C-B's.

Use a 20-amp C-B for the A-C circuit.

It's required that Neutral conductors and EGC's have seperate terminations on the Neutral bus-bar--- one terminal screw, one conductor. This presumes the Neutral and EGC terminations are at the Service-panel.

Good Luck & Enjoy the Experience!!!!

 

If you have 14 gauge wire then you need to have 15 amp breakers. You need to swap out the breakers.

11 amps (for the air conditioner) falls within the capabilities of either a 20 amp or a 15 amp circuit. While you can use 10 gauge wire, the circuit breaker must be sized for the device and the receptacle outlet it uses to connect. I would have run 12 gauge wire and a 20 amp circuit.

At the neutral/ground buss bar you did right. The neutral and ground should be under different screws. It is allowed to double up the grounds under a screw (if allowed by the panel), but not the neutrals.

I hope you have more than the outlets you mentioned. Code requires outlets within six feet of each door, and at least every 12 feet thereafter, with at least one on each wall (except in special situations).