Any Electricians in the house?

It would be better to run that wire inside conduit, unless you plan to enclose the wall.

But if you are the main one in there (ie no children) it's probably not that big of a deal, just be careful not to pull it loose or have stuff rubbing on it.

A home inspector probably wouldn't pass that if it comes to that in the future.

 

Thread revival! Just a quick question for anyone more experienced than me with electric work. Just got a chest freezer. Haier 7.1 cu. Foot to be exact. Anyway the plug I have it plugged into right now I noticed is 14/2 wire going to the plug. Now I plan on changing this out with 12/2 probably in a couple weeks when I get the time. Do you guys think its safe for now running off that plug? It's been running for about 3 hours now and felt the wire and box and its not warm at all. Any help with this would be appreciated.

 

Is the outlet on a 15 or 20 amp breaker?

 

It's 15 amp. Which according to the directions that's ok. But all of my house is on 15 amp breakers. I plan to have that updated.

 

There is nothing wrong with that configuration, the worst that should happen if anything does go wrong would be your breaker tripping.

 

Ok. Thanks for the quick response.

 

I'm also an electrician if others need help in the future...

 

Not a problem, just make sure the freezer is the only thing on that circuit if you can help it. It would def. suck to load that thing up with food, not look at it for a few days, then come back and find that the circuit had tripped because the circuit was over loaded and now all of your food is garbage.

 

We should have a ask the electrician thread. Since we have an ask a plumber thread.

 

True! I think the washing machine is on that. But I'm not sure if anything else. Atleast there is a bright green light on the front so I know it has power. The breakers are not labeled too well. I label them whenever I have to kill power to something.

 

if the freezer is not drawing more then like 12amp your good to stay with 14/2. 14/2 is rated to 15 amps, and if your on a 15 amp breaker it will trip before your wire gets hot. If your worried about it you could just keep the 14/2 and put it on its own breaker. if the directions said you can run it off 14/2 theres no need to upgrade to 12/2. just my 2 cents. im a licensed electrician so If anyone has questions send me a pm and i can help you out.

 

Ya. I'm not sure how many it actually pulls. It only says in the directions that it has to be 15 amps. So from what you said should be good. I have always been told 14/2 is pretty much made for lighting, so that's what made me a little nervous about it. I'll probably still change that wire out for my piece of mind.

 

14/2 is typically used for lighting circuits. if its on a 15a breaker its ok. anymore most house are wired with 12/2 for there outlets and put on a 20a breaker. If your going to change to 12/2 you can leave it on the 15a breaker or swap it out for a 20a breaker. BE VERY CAREFUL if your going to swap the breaker!

 

14 AWG wire is typical for any residential wiring, lighting AND receptacles. (except for certain things like OVENS) 14AWG = 15AMP breaker
You won't find a house with 12 AWG throughout unless it's custom. When i was going to build my house I planned on using 12/2


Then again I'm a commercial electrician, only houses i deal with are my own and side jobs and ive never came across a house wired in 12 AWG

 

Ya your right most houses are 14. I do mostly industrial and commercial. and side jobs are custom homes. the house im doing now he wants everything in 12/2 and he also has metal studs.

 

Thanks guys. Ya I don't F with breakers. That's way beyond my skill level, and quit frankly scares me.