Replacing a 15/20 Breaker

By

Red Neck

15/20 that sure sounds like a weird, specialty combination.

Trying to kludge it with a 15/15 or 20/20 will probably violate your electrical code in some manner. The former may leave you with insufficient capacity in a place like your kitchen (as well as having 20 amp outlets with their cross slot on a 15 amp circuit) and the latter may overload wiring that is not rated for it.

If your electrical box allows it, you may be able to put a 15/15 where there had been a single 15, or a 20/20 where there had been a single 20. Then fill your original 15/20 with a single 15 or single 20. Keep the moved circuit on the same phase as the original. If any of this does not make perfect, clear sense, call a professional electrician. He (or she) might even be able to dig up the correct breaker from old stock.

By Leo the repair guy (Guest Post)

You need to consider what the breaker feeds, most outlets are 15amps, while some lites are on a 20 amp, turn off the 20 & see what does not work, this is what the 20 feeds, now do the same with the 15, toasters & micro wave outlets can draw more than 15amps & might need a 20, WHY do you need to replace the breaker? most places like Home Depot or Lowes should have what you need, I sugest you go to a 15/15 befor you go to a 20/20.