Saw a new one last weekend: a dryer hooked up with 14/3, connected to a 2-pole 20 amp Homeline. Apparently this hookup was done by one of the tenants in the building. Evidently the breaker hasn't tripped, or is totally defective. How much do dryers draw anyway?

This house also has the whole first floor apartment on one 15 amp circuit. With the a/c running I measured 14 to 15 amps with my amprobe on that circuit around dinnertime. The breaker and romex were nice and warm.


I told my friend (whose mom owns the house) not to be surprised when he comes home from work some night and the fire trucks are at the house.

Ct,
We just finished a house where the dryer was supplied with a 12/2 romex that was connected directly to the 60A service DC then strung through an unaccessable ceiling space packed with insulation 20 or so feet to the dryer. When I opened the dryer receptacle all the insulation was burned off the conductors back into the romex jacket. This house also had a 3 wire subpanel in the garage fed the same way (#12/60A)and a surface mounted receptacle wired with twisted cloth covered lamp cord. It was the kind of job you feel good about when you leave. (Also put the original FPE subpanel out of it's misery)
Brian

Peter,
I've just had a similar experience with a high-power electric shower.


[This message has been edited by pauluk (edited 07-17-2003).]

Part of the reason I got (back) into the biz...
When I bought my house, I started investigating the five circuits on the panel - found out all the outlets on 2fl were connected to all the ceiling lights on 1fl. on 1 15a breaker.

(Oh, and when the jumped on the service upgrade grant program in the 1980's they only upgraded as far ad the 1st 1900 - just piggybacked everything into whatever fit)

Hey...whatever works, right?