Run 12 gauge wire and install 10 20 AMP receptacles

[John Manning]

Hi,

I need to have a circuit in my house replaced with 12 gauge wire and the existing 15 amp receptacles replaced with 20 amp ones. There is good attic access to do the run and they can use the existing 14 gauge wire to pull the

12 gauge wire down to the receptacles(I would guess). The circuit is for 2 rooms and the rooms share a common wall. It is about 80 feet from the main breaker box to the farthest receptacle.

What would be a reasonable price to have this done(barring any unforseen problems)? The house is in NE Florida if that matters.

TIA,

John

[toller]

The existing #14 is probably stapled to the studs and isn't going anywhere.

Why not add another 15a (or 20a if you want) circuit and put half on each?

BTW, unless you want to plug a 20a device into them there is no difference between 15a and 20a outlets; either can go on a 20a circuit.

[RBM]

[HorneTD]

Sorry but you guessed wrong. The original wiring is stapled or otherwise secured to the structure within twelve or eight inches of the box depending on whether the box has internal clamps or not. The cable is then secured every X feet there after with "X" depending on the type of cable. That usually works out to two staples or more per wall cavity.

If you really do need twenty ampere receptacles then you will need to run one circuit for each such receptacle that you really need. Twenty ampere receptacles are only required were the device to be supplied has a twenty ampere plug on it's cord. That is only true on loads that draw more than fifteen amperes for a short period or more than twelve amperes for more than three hours. So do you really need to be able to plug in multiple twenty ampere loads or not? If you have one load that you want to be able to plug in a bunch of different outlets than your original approach is good.

The information is not adequate to even guess.

Additional questions: Is the local electrical inspector honest or on the pad? Does he/she make up their own rules on the fly or stick to the US NEC? Are the walls in your home fire blocked?

The best you will get here is a guess. Obtain three bids from local electrical contractors and then you will know. You see the local electrical contractors already know what the regulatory environment is like and they are familiar with local construction practices.

-- Tom H

[John Manning]

Thanks for all the replies. I spoke to someone today who suggested just splitting the circuit and put each room on a different fifteen amp breaker. That way there would not have to be any wires pulled since it would just mean splitting it in the attic and running the new wire to the breaker box in the garage. That should not be too expensive.

John