Correct Circuit Breakers

[Dutchman6]

I don't know anything about electricity and I've had my circuit breakers replaced because I kept having power outs when I turned on my new 8000w shower heater. I live in a condo and outside my room there was a big panel with circuit breakers for all the rooms on my floor and I had them place a 40Amp circuit breaker in it. In my room there's a panel with a big double switch that sais "Main", if you pull it over all the electricity in the room goes out, I also replaced this on for a 40Amp circuit breaker. Then there are 2 small switches, one for the shower heater in which I put a 40Amp circuit breaker and another one for all my other electra like the light, fridge, fans, pc, microwave in which I put a 20Amp circuit breaker.

Now I'm pretty sure I did the right thing for the 40Amp circuit breaker for my shower heater and the 20Amp circuit breaker for my other devices but what about this "Main" switch, should this indeed be as high as the max amount of Ampere you expect the entire room will ever use together?

Also I was advised to change my meter from a 5/15 to a 15/45 meter since I used to live on a 16Amp circuit breaker and it's a 40Amp now, where can I buy a meter like this, do they have it in Home Pro for example and what does it cost?

Edited December 17, 2010 by Dutchman6

[Dutchman6]

As for the change from a 5/15 to a 15/45 meter might I add that my room uses 500w all day long (fan 100w, refrigerator 60w, pc 200w, light 100w) and there's just short peaks like I turn on my 1000w microwave for 2 minutes or I take a 8000w shower once a day for 5 minutes and I use a 1500w electrical cooker for an hour once a day.

Taking this in account should I still have the meter changed? I'd say the only time I need a 15/45 meter is when I take a 5 minute shower or am I wrong?

Edited December 17, 2010 by Dutchman6

[Crossy]

You are wrong in pretty much everything except your statement that you know nothing about electricity.

Simply swapping out beakers willy nilly will certainly lead to a FIRE, the ratings installed are for your protection.

An 8kW heater on a 5/15 is asking for trouble. The incoming breaker on a 5/15 should be no bigger than 20A.

Meanwhile, I see no value in having two threads running on essentially the same subject, so I'll close this one.