25-ampere breaker for 12 AWG wire

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lj

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Tampa, FL, USA
My project requires a plug strip to serve cord-and-plug connected equipment (fans, laser printer, computer, monitor). By actual current measurement, the initial connected load is 12.8 amperes, so a 20A breaker with 12 AWG wire is being installed. Next year, a paper shredder (7A load) will be added to this circuit. This is too close to the 20A circuit rating, so it seems the circuit should be 25A with 10 AWG wire. However, the electrician says when the new load is added, all he has to do is replace the 20A breaker with a 25A breaker and leave the 12 AWG installed. Does this not violate NEC 240.4(D)(5)?
Thank you.
 
Both options are direct NEC violations.

Using a 25 amp breaker with 12 AWG supplying receptacles violates 240.4(D)

Supplying a 15 or 20 amp 120 volt receptacle with a 25 or 30 amp circuit, regardless of conductor size violates 210.21(B)(3).

Run a second circuit.
 
by 'electrican' do you mean handyman that knows wires?

I cant imagine any licensed electrican would make these suggestions.

That being said, the laser printer only draws power when its printing or cycling the heater. Just plug it all into the outlet strip and dont print and shred at the same time. (unless this is a high volume setup)
 
25-ampere breaker for 12 AWG wire

Honestly, there were too many people in that meeting, and I don't know if he was a real electrician or not. Given what I know now, I hope he was not the electrical contractor. This is for a high volume print application, and the user does not want to be restricted on shredder operation. The shredder is integral to the process and will periodically operate at the same time as the printer. Too bad they could not use the diversity. Nevertheless, many thanks for your advice.
 
25-ampere breaker for 12 AWG wire

I completely agree, in theory. In practice, though, aren't some 20A/1P breakers a little faulty and liable to trip with less than rated load? Thanks.
 
lj said:
... aren't some 20A/1P breakers a little faulty and liable to trip with less than rated load? Thanks.
Click to expand...

There are also some 20A/1P CBs that will not trip with significantly more than than the rated load :wink:
 
If this is an all new pipe run I don't see a problem with running in the future circuits now and don't mess with it later, it would be far cheaper now.
 
lj said:
Honestly, there were too many people in that meeting, and I don't know if he was a real electrician or not. Given what I know now, I hope he was not the electrical contractor. This is for a high volume print application, and the user does not want to be restricted on shredder operation. The shredder is integral to the process and will periodically operate at the same time as the printer. Too bad they could not use the diversity. Nevertheless, many thanks for your advice.
Click to expand...


ahhh....accounting department at circuit city?
 
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