Comment by rib3ye
1 day ago
> I thought that I could not get a standard datacenter server because my apartment wouldn’t let me upgrade the circuits, so I needed to have 2 power supplies plugged into different circuits.
Why didn't they just put a higher amp breaker in the box?
> Why didn't they just put a higher amp breaker in the box?
1) note the word "apartment" -- they rent, not own, and doing so not only would likely be illegal, but might also get them kicked out of the apartment.
2) Unless the wiring on the circuit drop, and all the end points are rated to handle the higher current, doing so would be an electrical code violation (and therefore trip into that "illegal" arena that might result in getting kicked out of the apartment).
Most residences are wired using the minimum size wire rated for the installed breaker (because doing so saves costs). So a 15a breaker in the box would mean 14gauge (the US NEC minimum size for 15a circuits) wiring in the walls and 15a rated outlets/switches. Installing a 20a breaker in the box would be a code violation, and in many jurisdictions also illegal.
And all the above is without considering that installing a 20a breaker on wires rated for 15a increases the fire risk tremendously if those wires are now asked to actually carry 20a for any length of time.
It is unsafe for wires to be handling higher power than it was rated cause the wires act like very low ohm resistors. At some high enough I, you’re still gonna be generating power P=I^2R which is mainly thermal and melt the wires.