Hair Dryer electrical issue

[Anonymous user]

This young lady I know owns a hair salon. I have been trying to get a fire inspection of her salon. She has occasional fuse trips at her workstation using her hair dryers. The fire inspectors want her to have a better configuration of wiring. She currently has a 15 amp 8 outlet surge protection unit. I looked at her hair dryers and one is rated slightly higher than 15 amps, so I thought I would get her a 20 amp unit. I asked her to change the main panel fuse to a 20 amp and then I would get her one. Am I missing something here and what unit would do the job? She is of course on a limited budget. She does not make much money. What is the best approach to take in such a situation? I also noticed one unit had different plug box connectors. Isn't 20 amps within regular specs for wiring?

Message was edited by: renewedman

Message was edited by: renewedman

[K-Dog_apc]

"I asked her to change the main panel fuse to a 20 amp and then I would get her one."

DO NOT change the main panel fuse to a 20 amp higher capacity fuse without having a licensed electrician check the wiring. Smaller size wiring (14 gauge) is used for a 15 amp circuit and larger sized wire (12 gauge) is used for a 20 amp circuit. The larger diameter wire on the 20 amp circuit can handle the higher current of the 20 amp circuit. Putting a 20 amp fuse on a circuit wired for 15 amps will overheat the wiring and is a fire hazard especially since the 15 amp in the panel seems to be tripping because of the hair dryer.

[BillP · Accepted solution]

A 20 amp plug will look something [like this picture|http://partyrental.home.att.net/cornelius-plug.jpg]. We do not have any stand alone surge protectors that work with a 20 amp plug or 20 amp items as far as I know.

According to electrical code, the current on a circuit is not to exceed 80% of the breaker rating. Thus, the equipment you are using on the 20 amp breaker shouldnt exceed 16 amps according to electrical code. [See this for reference on that|http://nam-en.apc.com/cgi-bin/nam_en.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=1123].

You'd need to look at something along the lines of hardwire surge suppression it looks like which mounts right next to the electrical panel. Unfortunately, I dont think this is as cost effective as you are looking for.

Here is a link to our hardwire surge suppression line for residential: http://www.apc.com/products/family/index.cfm?id=174

Commercial: http://www.apc.com/products/family/index.cfm?id=175

We have UPSs that can use 20 amp plugs though. But I dont know if battery back up is needed.

Someone else may have some ideas I am missing here..but I hope this helps.