Thread: Need more juice... ALL outlets on same circuit

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I guess I'm screwed in this house. We are moving out in November, so I'm not investing anything into it...

I checked all the outlets outside, in the garage, near doors, etc... and they ALL tie to one 15A circuit that also powers our living room.

So, some genius electrician thought that was a good idea. We have a fridge, freezer, mini fridge, microwave, 4 televisions, etc... ON ONE CIRCUIT! We have a space heater on now, and if it is on high and you run the microwave, the fuse blows and half the house goes dark.

This house was built in 1973... I really assumed that code was better then. Apparently having outlets every 6 feet was years to come, as well.

Why would they have linked all the outlets to one fuse??

Is my best option to consider using the dryer power like someone mentioned in a previous thread, (seems risky) or just give up the idea of running a fogger and air compressor this year?

back in 1973 power requirements in the house was a lot less, just a single TV and a fridge, maybe a microwave. Now days we have PCs, TVs, microwaves, and many many other items we plug in. They just didnt need the power back then.
I was going to buy a house and it had small circuit breakers also, I was told by the inspector I would need to upgrade because of the power requirements of today vs when the house was built.....

Well....

I've been wiring houses since 1971 in (I]llinois), and:


1.) I've ALWAYS put in no less than a 200-amp panel in all new houses that I've wired. ALWAYS!

2.) I'm not a journeyman electrician, but my father is, and I learned from him. Most rooms that I have wired (I'm talking bedrooms, family rooms, etc.--not kitchens) are on at least two breakers--one for fixtures (lights) and one for recepticals (outlets).

3.) My kitchen in my old 1889 Victorian house I've rewired to have no less than six circuits. One for microwave, one for the 'fridge, two for the countertop recepticals, one for lighting, and one for the washer.

4.) It doesn't matter WHEN the house was built, some electricians always take the easy way out (for them) by ganging several (many) rooms on the same circuit. What you have was NOT NEC code--even in 1973!

I don't blame you, though. I wouldn't put any more money into the house either, if I were moving like you. Just make sure when you move that your circuitry is adequate and meets code before you sign on the dotted line, especially if you're buying.

Good Luck!

Ron

P.S.--

I'd forget using the dryer outlet. Typically, they are 220v. 30A recepticals. That means, to be safe, you'd have to replace the dryer receptical with a two breaker disconnect panel, reduced to 20A per breaker, and then run the wiring for the outside weatherproof GFCI circuits. Probably more expense and time than you'd like to invest, I'm thinkin'...

JMO

Ron

I miss our old house so much. So many outlets and so many circuits. ;-)

If you blew a circuit with something you plugged in, the lights didn't go off.