After 24 years my septic lift station pump and high water alarm needs to be replaced. It was tripping the breaker and the alarm was no longer working. When I pulled the wires out of the alarm, which serves as a junction box for the pump, pump float switch, and alarm float switch everything was corroded and possibly charred. How it was still functioning as a junction is a mystery. I noticed the power source was a 14/2 direct burial romex in conduit and I know my breaker is a 20 amp.
So my electricians ran 12/2 to a junction just outside the house fed with a 20 amp breaker. Then the septic installer ran 14/2 wire 150' buried in conduit to the lift station. My question is should I just replace the breaker with a 15A and leave the 14/2 wire. Or should I replace the 14/2 romex with 12/2 thhn? Obviously installing a 15A breaker is easier, if I knew I wouldn't run into any problems pulling the new 12ga wire with a 20A breaker is better. My new pump is a 1/2 hp that draws 22.5A on start up and 12A continuously. The old pump was similar and despite the 14ga wire on a 20A circuit it lasted a long 24 years.
So my electricians ran 12/2 to a junction just outside the house fed with a 20 amp breaker. Then the septic installer ran 14/2 wire 150' buried in conduit to the lift station. My question is should I just replace the breaker with a 15A and leave the 14/2 wire. Or should I replace the 14/2 romex with 12/2 thhn? Obviously installing a 15A breaker is easier, if I knew I wouldn't run into any problems pulling the new 12ga wire with a 20A breaker is better. My new pump is a 1/2 hp that draws 22.5A on start up and 12A continuously. The old pump was similar and despite the 14ga wire on a 20A circuit it lasted a long 24 years.