Changing 15amp to 20amp outlet in garage

[jcs401]

I moved and my new house has a 20amp breaker in the garage. The outlet is only a 15amp gfci and I am trying to change it to 20amp gfci for my element.
I was told to make sure that the wire in the wall is 12awg and not 14awg. (Which 12 is needed for a 20amp outlet).
Can someone please assist in looking at the pics and see if the wire in the current 15amp outlet will work with the new 20amp outlet? Someone said it would be clear if it was 14 and not 12awg but I am not sure??View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1468638012.620505.jpgView attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1468638026.420122.jpgView attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1468638039.142010.jpgView attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1468638048.793849.jpg

 

[user 224599]

See if you can pull the jacket into the box, or the whole box out of the wall (if it's an "old work" box) and read the jacket.
It's tough to tell in pics, although an electrician may be able to tell by just looking.

 

[rjmaillie]

If you can see the jacket and its yellow, it will be 12 wire. However if its white that doesn't necessarily mean its not. Like brew38 said, an electrician will be able to tell right away.

 

[dcrog]

One of these, usually pretty cheap at the hardware store, will tell you pretty quickly. Pull the end of a wire out of the outlet and check the size of the wire in the stripper portion. If it's 12 the 14 spot will be trying to cut into the wire.

 

[The_Bishop]

The gauge of the wire is printed on the wire jacket, see the text on it?

Quick eyeball measurement says that it looks like 14. If it is, I'd change that 20 amp breaker for a 15 to play it safe.

Also, make sure the breaker is off before doing anything with it!

 

[jcs401]

I'm just confused because it's a newer house (less than 8yrs old). Why would they put a 20amp breaker but only 14awg wire?

 

[CU_tony]

When you are wiring a whole house you can save a few bucks by using 14awg instead of 12awg.
14awg is rated for 20a, however that's peak and continuous draw at that rate may overheat the wire and cause a short. According to code your overamperage protections for 14awg wire shouldn't be higher than 15a, that way you will trip a breaker before shorting the wire.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...QiWmU7rsH1t_uAd6g&sig2=89a0GeY6HLLYqnOsEumNHw

 

[milldoggy]

Edit: taking back my comment

 

[The_Bishop]

I'm just confused because it's a newer house (less than 8yrs old). Why would they put a 20amp breaker but only 14awg wire?

Possibility one: The electrician was a slimy POS that made a few extra bucks by using cheaper (but wrong) materials.

Possibility two: Previous owner had something plugged in there that kept tripping the 15 amp breaker, so they put in a 20 to 'fix' the problem.

Are you the original owner?

 

[mxstar21]

Pretty sure it's 14 awg. I don't think you can back stab outlets with 12 awg.

 

[mxstar21]

If it's 14AWG it's not up to code and you should fix it. If you need a reference, go to Lowes or HD and look at #12 and #14. Pretty easy to tell the difference once you know what you are looking at.

 

[milldoggy]

Pretty sure it's 14 awg. I don't think you can back stab outlets with 12 awg.

Was thinking the same thing, but this gfci, the screw pulls a plate tight and it accepts 12g. I added a 12g to the same gfci at my mom's last week.

 

[mxstar21]

Was thinking the same thing, but this gfci, the screw pulls a plate tight and it accepts 12g. I added a 12g to the same gfci at my mom's last week.

I missed that in the pictures, but good point. Going back I see it now. Hard to tell size in the picture, I guess it could be either size. Up close though, it should be easy to tell the difference. I think OP should look at wirein the hardware store and I bet he could tell the differenece between the two.