Dch4831, what size wire and do I use 2x15 amp breaker or 30 amp

Breaker must be 50A and the size wire should be a 8/3.

For residential water heater, 30 amp is best... but must have 10 gauge wire.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-troubleshoot-electric-problems-with-water-heater.html#trip-breaker
http://waterheatertimer.org/Color-codewire.html
If you have 12 gauge wire, then use 20 amp breaker and install 3800 watt elements in place of 4500 watt elements
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-replace-water-heater-element.html
Add a comment and say which size wire you have

If you need further help, I’m available over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/gene_9f0ef4df2f9897e7

Always match breaker and wire size:
http://waterheatertimer.org/Color-codewire.html
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-replace-circuit-breaker.html

Feel if breaker is getting warm.
Listen for crackling sound.
Breaker is tripping.
Move wires to another same-size circuit breaker and see if problem continues.

Check watt or amp load on breaker.
For example water heater label shows 4500 watt non-simultaneous.
4500 watts divided by 240 volts = 18.75 amps.
You might think 20 amp breaker was good in this case.
However electricians use 80% safe maximum.
20 amp breaker x 80% safe max = 16 amps.
Water heater is 18.75 amps, so install 30 amp breaker.
30 amp breaker uses 10 gauge wire.
This means wire to breaker will run cool and not get hot, so breaker lasts longer, and there is more efficiency.
Using 80% safe maximum rule protects home, reduces heat wear on breakers and breaker box so everything lasts longer.

If you need further help, I’m available over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/gene_9f0ef4df2f9897e7

A 30 amp circuit breaker or fuse is NOT a typical size used for the protection of convenience outlets & general lighting circuits, especially in a residential setting. In fact the National Electrical Code (NEC) prohibits anything larger than a 20 amp breaker to protect a #12 copper wire and and a 15 amp breaker to protect a #14 copper wire. These are the size wires used to supply nearly all outlet and lighting loads in a residence.

It's not clear to me from your question if this 30 amp breaker is a double pole type that is providing power to a second, smaller circuit breaker panel and these outlets are fed from it. This would be in line with what the NEC would allow and what I suspect is the situation. I'm only going to get into this a minimal amount as more information is needed for me to be able talk intelligently about it.

I would shut off the loads that are connected to the 30 amp breaker. If that is a panel, I would shut off all the circuit breakers in it, then turn onn the 30 amp breaker. If it trips, then there is a problem between the 30 amp breaker and the panel. You may have connected line cables to ground or neutral - and vice-versa.

Can you please explain in as much detail as possible what is connected to the 30 amp breaker? Is it a single pole (120 volts) or double pole (240 volts) circuit? What size wires are connect to the breaker terminal(s) What type of cable is connected to it? How many wires are in the cable assembly or pipes? What is the size of wires? If they feeds a second, smaller breaker panel, where do the wires terminate - into lugs on the top or bottom of the panel or terminals of a circuit breaker? What happened or changed to cause this circuit breaker to start tripping? Is this part of a new installation - and if so, was the wiring done by an electrician? Was the work inspected?

Please try to answer as many questions as possible. The more information you can provide will help me get you the best answer.

Hello, the unit runs on 220 volts that's why # 10 wire must be used. The best bet is to use a 40amp breaker for 220 volts, gives the circuit more protection.

Hello Sbilko,

I understand that you are tring to find a breaker and wire size for your GE JKP28 Double Oven. As I look up the specs on your oven I find that both ovens are rated at 30 amps. This requires you to use two thirty amp breakers one for each oven. The industry standard for Oklahoma requires that you use at least #10/2 wire for a 30 amp breaker. However, in some places it states that you can use #12/2 although I would not recommend using #12 gauge wire.

My suggestion to you is two 30 amp breakers and #10/2 gauge wire, this should be what will take care of the circuits and keep the wire form heating up.

Thank you for choosing FixYa.com

Justin

Not enough amps. Check your wire size and see if it's safe to up the size of your breaker without having to run new wires

You could get em here :
http://www.baybreakers.com/catalog/search.html

Why anyone would use a twin 2pole 30am breaker I'll never understand.
There is no way this size breaker could match up in quality to two full size 2-pole 30 amp breakers. If one wants to double up, do it with the 15-20 amp sizes.

The breaker is sized according to the size of the wire used in the circuit. The breakers task is to protect the wire from an over current.
The allowed sizes are
#14 wire .... 15 amp breaker
#12 wire ..... 20 amp breaker
#10 wire .. 30 amp breaker
To check if the oven and circuit are compatable .. run an extension for the oven to an outlet outside the kitchen and see if it holds.

Please Vote !!

If you don't have an AMP clamp to measure the amount of AC current draw. Then I would replace the breaker with a new 30amp. If the electrical panel is a sylvania or Zinco then that is most likely the problem! Those panels use the same breaker type and are terrible at having breakers going bad and tripping premature. If it is one of those type of breakers better dig deep in your wallet as those breakers run $1.25 to $1.50 per amp !