Master Brian
DIY Senior Member
Can a 12/2 wire, currently acting as a dedicated circuit for a dishwasher be on a 20amp circuit? The reason for the question is that my understanding is a single 15amp receptacle isn't "code" on a 20amp circuit with 12/2 wire. It has to be duplex. I have absolutely no idea what this dishwasher is rated for. If I am correct on the single recept, wouldn't (if not why?) it be wrong for a 15amp rated appliance to be alone on the circuit? Trying to learn a bit!
A little background on why I ask....
I was under a small box out for my kitchen. The dishwasher currently sits above this box out. In any case, I found a 12/2 wire, which was eventually traced to the dishwasher. Over about 2-3' of this wire had various black, golden brown and melted looking sections.
Obviously this isn't a good thing, so I killed that breaker and cut out the wire. I ran a new 12/2 wire back to the panel, then directly to the dishwasher. I left the wire long as it will eventually be a new supply for that wall in the kitchen, when I have the kitchen remodeled in hopefully the next 6months. At that point I want it to be on a 20amp breaker as it will feed 3-4 duplex receptacles on that wall. I had an open/spare 15amp breaker, so not being positive, I wired it to that spot, but if it can be on 20amp, I'll move it to a "spare" 20amp spot, so it doesn't have to be moved later.
At first I thought this wire was melted by a torch, by someone doing plumbing or something, as when I peeled back a small section of the sheathing, the insulation on the wires looked ok. When I went into the dishwasher to make the connection, I found that whoever installed this used a wire nut on the neutral wire, but just taped the hot wires together. Nice huh? I then found a spot on the dishwashers junction box cover where one of the wire had arched and left a mark on the cover. My guess is that this probably happened more than once, which is what caused the wire to overheat. What are your thoughts? Why wouldn't this trip the breaker?
Then the rest of the questions:
To save time and not to get into the entirety (sp?) of this mess, the wire I replaced, eventually went to a juntion box which has old silverish looking "romex" and "armored" cable. How do I tell visually what gauge wires these are? The white romex said 12/2, the grey/silver and the armor wire doesn't. I belive the grey/silver is from the 70's? and that the armor is from te 50's?. At least that's what I thought the electrician said.
All this mess is on a 20amp circuit, should I downgrade it to a 15amp circuit, until I can get it replaced??
**I should note, on the 12/2 romex I pulled out, of about 15-20ft of cable only the 1st few feet had burn/melt marks on it. I am hoping this means the rest of the wire in the circuit is ok. Thoughts??? Am I better killing the entire circuit?? I obviously can't peer into the armored cable...
A little background on why I ask....
I was under a small box out for my kitchen. The dishwasher currently sits above this box out. In any case, I found a 12/2 wire, which was eventually traced to the dishwasher. Over about 2-3' of this wire had various black, golden brown and melted looking sections.
Obviously this isn't a good thing, so I killed that breaker and cut out the wire. I ran a new 12/2 wire back to the panel, then directly to the dishwasher. I left the wire long as it will eventually be a new supply for that wall in the kitchen, when I have the kitchen remodeled in hopefully the next 6months. At that point I want it to be on a 20amp breaker as it will feed 3-4 duplex receptacles on that wall. I had an open/spare 15amp breaker, so not being positive, I wired it to that spot, but if it can be on 20amp, I'll move it to a "spare" 20amp spot, so it doesn't have to be moved later.
At first I thought this wire was melted by a torch, by someone doing plumbing or something, as when I peeled back a small section of the sheathing, the insulation on the wires looked ok. When I went into the dishwasher to make the connection, I found that whoever installed this used a wire nut on the neutral wire, but just taped the hot wires together. Nice huh? I then found a spot on the dishwashers junction box cover where one of the wire had arched and left a mark on the cover. My guess is that this probably happened more than once, which is what caused the wire to overheat. What are your thoughts? Why wouldn't this trip the breaker?
Then the rest of the questions:
To save time and not to get into the entirety (sp?) of this mess, the wire I replaced, eventually went to a juntion box which has old silverish looking "romex" and "armored" cable. How do I tell visually what gauge wires these are? The white romex said 12/2, the grey/silver and the armor wire doesn't. I belive the grey/silver is from the 70's? and that the armor is from te 50's?. At least that's what I thought the electrician said.
All this mess is on a 20amp circuit, should I downgrade it to a 15amp circuit, until I can get it replaced??
**I should note, on the 12/2 romex I pulled out, of about 15-20ft of cable only the 1st few feet had burn/melt marks on it. I am hoping this means the rest of the wire in the circuit is ok. Thoughts??? Am I better killing the entire circuit?? I obviously can't peer into the armored cable...