I started looking at replacing my electric cook-top and had a question regarding the circuit breakers.

Currently it is connected to double pole 30 amp breakers. From the few models I'm seeing online a new one requires 40 amps.

Additional searching showed in order to run double 30a wire gauge needs to be 8, it seems double 40a also needs 8.

Should I be able to just swap the breakers? Am I able to check wire gauge just by looking at them?

I wanted to check before doing anything it's just a cooktop and beakers, or new wiring as well! House was built in 2004.

Typically 30A circuits are pulled with #10 copper, but it can depend on some other factors in your installation.

Sometimes, aluminum is used, which has lower ampacity, and needs a bigger conductor, so that may be what you're seeing on 30A circuits with #8. #8 aluminum is not OK for a 40A circuit.

It is possible to tell what size wire is installed through a couple methods. If you can read the sheathing, it has the size information. However, the sheathing is not always very accessible and is stripped back at the ends once the cable enters the electrical enclosures. You can also measure the diameter of the conductor with a caliper if you have one. Guys who do this all the time can make the distinction often without measuring - there's enough visible difference when you work with it enough. #10 is roughly 0.1 inches, and #8 is roughly 0.13 inches (bare conductor, no insulation).

You should not swap breakers until you confirm the wire gauge is at least #8 copper. It's possible there are other factors we don't know that could require it to be upsized, but I'd bet in a 2014 house, you've got #10 copper on a 30A circuit and you'll have to consider some additional options.

AtlAg05 said:

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I started looking at replacing my electric cook-top and had a question regarding the circuit breakers.

Currently it is connected to double pole 30 amp breakers. From the few models I'm seeing online a new one requires 40 amps.

Additional searching showed in order to run double 30a wire gauge needs to be 8, it seems double 40a also needs 8.

Should I be able to just swap the breakers? Am I able to check wire gauge just by looking at them?

I wanted to check before doing anything it's just a cooktop and beakers, or new wiring as well! House was built in 2004.

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they sell 30amp induction cooktops.