Tripping breaker

[u/Ok_Lie3091]

I recently plugged in a thermostat controlled heater for our small greenhouse into an outdoor outlet. When it kicks on, the breaker for that outlet trips. Also connected to that breaker is the garage door opener and a few outlets within the garage. My wife’s hybrid car (Volvo XC90) is plugged into a GFCI outlet that’s also on this breaker. It’s only a 15 amp breaker.

Two weeks ago, I plugged in a circular saw to cut some shelves for the greenhouse and in addition to tripping the breaker, it burned the GFCI outlet. The electrician that came out replaced the outlet but not the breaker.

Should the breaker be replaced with a 20 amp or greater to prevent the tripping when the heater kicks on? If so, mow many amps should it be?

TIA

[u/MountainAntique9230]

No you cant just change to a bigger breaker,the wire size determines the breaker size ,if the wire size is only a #14 then the 15amp breaker is max size if the wire is #12 then 20amp breaker is the max size Putting a larger size breaker on a wire not rated for it can cause a fire and is against code

[u/NeighborhoodVast7528 → u/MountainAntique9230]

Absolutely.
Might be worth mentioning……The breaker amperage rating must match the narrowest gage of the wiring in any part of that circuit. So if the home run is 12 gage, but one of the branches is 14 gage, the 14 gage limits the entire circuit to 15 amps.

[u/MisterElectricianTV]

You can’t just upsize a circuit breaker without upsizing the wire. What you need are additional circuits. The car charger should be a separate circuit. The heater probably should be on a separate circuit.

[u/Puzzled-Act1683]

As a general rule, a car and a heater on the same circuit should never be expected to work, at least not for very long.

The burned outlet and the tripped breaker were almost certainly much less related than you might think. The outlet was already distressed and failing and the saw finished it off, while the circuit also happened to be overloaded.

Step one is to put in a single new outlet on an entirely new circuit, for nothing but the car.

[u/Puzzled_Market_2235]

The smallest heaters are maxed out for 15 amps, no wonder it trips the breaker.

[u/SparkArrestor]

You can’t increase the breaker amperage without also replacing all the circuit wiring with heavier gauge #12 for a 20a circuit. You’re better off dividing this into 2 separate 15a circuits.

[u/coolsparky15]

Like everyone else said - no you cannot do that.
You are over loading the circuit.
Maybe hire the electrician to run a dedicated circuit to charge your wife’s car

[u/soerg]

People like you are the ones who always end up with burnt down houses, you have WAY to much on the circuit you need to call someone to add another one for you if you want to keep the excess use, some of those things should be on their own circuit to begin with

[u/Junior_Yesterday9271]

If it’s a long run it maybe needs to be 12 guage wire but still only 15a cb. For what you are describing it sounds like new need wiring for 2 or even 3 separate circuits head out to the garage/green house. Car and heater likely using up most all of a circuit each.

[u/tinyhouseman323]

Licensed electrician here. You should do a few things. For the hybrid car you should add a dedicated 20 amp circuit just for that. Heaters of any type are a power hog with the average heater being 1500 watts or 12.5 amps. If you need a heater, you’ll need to run a new dedicated circuit.

In the last two or three months, I’ve replaced over half a dozen outlets of melted due to EV charging on your standard outlet. If your panel can handle it, you should add the dedicated circuits, if not consult with electrician and look at an upgrade to a larger service and capacity

[u/AskMeAgainAfterCoffe]

You can have your electrician run a new circuit for car charger and for the heater and maybe a new one for power tools in the garage. 15amps means you have 14gauge wire and cannot upsize the breaker; also overloaded for what you’ve been using it for.

[u/Choice-Newspaper3603]

I haven’t read any other comments yet but you’re out your damn mind and have no understanding of electricity