What Size Breaker Do I Need for a Dryer?

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When you’re installing a new dryer or replacing an old one, it’s important to know what size circuit breaker is required for the appliance. Doing so will help prevent electrical problems that could be hazardous and save you money in repair costs.

Read on as we discuss the perfect circuit breaker size for your dryer.

National Electric Code (NEC) Rule

To find the exact answer, we will have to use the rules set by the NEC. Most households use 30 amp circuit breaker size. This is the most common size breaker used in residential use.

The NEC requires that the dryer breaker’s rating be at least 10 percent of the total load on a circuit. For example, if you have a 30 amp circuit, you will need a 30 amp breaker.

Dryers are not normally rated by amperage (amp rating) but by kilowatts (kW) or horsepower (HP). The higher the amperage rating, the more powerful your dryer is.

For example: A typical clothes dryer has an amperage of about 140 amps (1 HP = 1,000 watts). This means that it uses about 0.14 HP/hour to run.

If you have a 15A circuit, then you will need a 15A breaker for your dryer; and if you have an 18A circuit, then you will need an 18A breaker for your dryer.

Voltage ratings of the dryer

In as much as 30 amp is the most common size for the circuit breakers, dryers come in different sizes. This means that you cannot depend on any particular breaker size to suit your electrical needs.

Choosing a small circuit breaker size will be a big risk. Some common dryer sizes include:

240V dryers

These are the most common dryers. If you have this size, then you should follow the NEC’s recommended size for the circuit breaker, which is a 30 amp breaker.

Other than the breaker size, you should use the right wire size for this dryer. NEC recommends 10 AWG and 8 AWG aluminum wires for the dryer.

220V dryers

These are the same as the 240 dryers, but with a 20 amp breaker. This is for smaller circuits. So, which size is perfect?

You can still use the 30 amp circuit breaker. However, anything between 10 amp and 30 amp is still deemed safe for these circuits.

110V/120V dryers

These are small dryers usually used in small-scale applications. For these dryers, you will be safer with circuit breakers rated between 8 amp and 15 amp circuit breakers.

An attractive feature of these small dryers is you can fix them in any part of the circuit without having to upgrade the breaker size.

What are the effects of using low-rated circuit breakers for dryers?

There is always a danger of using a circuit breaker size that is not recommended for the dryer.

A lower-rated circuit breaker will be a major hazard to your dryer. It will continuously trip even when there is nothing wrong with the circuit. Also, with a small circuit breaker, the load( dryer) will pull more current than what it was designed for.

What are the effects of using high-rated circuit breakers for the dryer?

Similarly, it is not advisable to use a higher-rated circuit breaker in the dryer. This is because a higher-rated circuit breaker will trip only when the current is high.

This will cause unnecessary repairs and increase the operational cost of your dryer.

If you still want to use a high-rated circuit breaker for your dryer, make sure to check the electrical code of your building before you do so. Some buildings don’t allow you to use a high-rated breaker for your dryer.

What happens if you oversize a breaker?

If you use a breaker that is too large for your dryer, it will be difficult to break the circuit. So, this means that even in case of an overload, your circuit will remain vulnerable. The breaker will continue operating as usual even when there is an overload or even a short circuit. You definitely don’t want to be in such a situation.

Can I run a 30 amp dryer on a 20 amp breaker?

No, you can’t run a 30 amp dryer on a 20 amp breaker. As we have mentioned, this is a perfect example of underrating the dryer, whereby you are using a breaker whose rating is lower than that of the dryer.

You will have to replace the 20 amp circuit breaker with a 30 amp circuit breaker.

What is the best way to protect my dryer from overheating?

You need to install a thermostat with temperature monitoring in your dryer.

This will prevent your dryer from getting too hot and causing damage to it.

A thermostat is usually installed on the outside of the dryer, but you can also install one inside the cabinet of your dryer if you want too.

Can you replace a 30 amp breaker with a 50 amp breaker?

While this may seem to be a major upgrade, it is not a wise move to do such a replacement. One of the reasons is incompatible wires. This simply means that the wires that go to your dryer will not be able to carry the same amount of current that was fed previously.

This means that the dryer will have to work harder, which will result in an increase in energy consumption.

Another reason why you shouldn’t replace a 30 amp breaker with a 50 amp breaker is that you may need this extra capacity in the future.

Buy quality circuit breaker for your dryer

A good quality circuit breaker is not cheap. But it will make your dryer run more efficiently, saving you money in the long run.

Buy a circuit breaker that has been tested to work in your dryer. This will ensure that the circuit breaker you buy is compatible with your dryer, and will prevent any future problems.

At ICRFQ, we can connect you to reputable manufacturers and suppliers of quality circuit breakers in China.

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