Had Pushmatics in the big duplex and upstairs tenant has a lot of electronics so I got a very good electrician, I thought, to replace them. He has everything together except he says the wire from the AC units is very thick and won't fit into the breaker in the box and he has to get adapters.

He started this before Christmas and has not been back. I gave him a deposit and he got a permit. He said there is plenty of time before spring but I would like to close out this job and get the inspection. Called him this week and no return call. He actually is an Electrical Engineer and teaches at a local community college. I am concerned because he has been forgetful during the job and his dad had Alzheimer's. He mentioned years ago being concerned about getting it.

Does this sound like a real thing with the AC electric wires being to thick for the breaker? Is there an adaptor or am I dealing with a sick man?

Possible, but unlikely.

Breakers have lugs designed for the largest wire that would be used to carry that amount of current.

Larger breakers have larger lugs.

It's possible some jackleg electrician (or homeowner) used a much larger wire than necessary for the ac.

If so, one solution would be to use a larger breaker and install a secondary breaker in the disconnect box at the ac unit that limits the circuit to the ac unit's maximum amperage.

He's an electrician and has been for many years.He has an electrical engineering degree also. He did work on my properties for twenty years since I started. It's possible he installed a box that was too small. I am concerned about his mental state since he was forgetting appointments. I will call his emergency line today. He teaches electricity at the local community college also.

Gevans, since he's not showing up perhaps he did need to install a larger breaker and can't because the box is too small now.

One possibility: It was "dumbing it down" for the client. It is possible that he just needs a larger clamp for the wires, for example, to connect it to the lug hole. (I've found myself in that same position before.)

Just throwing it out there as a possibility. He might not actually mean that he needs an "adapter" for a larger wire that won't fit. It might just be him trying to say in layman's terms that he needs some other part because the wire is thicker than he expected for the parts that he brought.

- John...

Holy cow. It wasn't a personal attack, Ally. It is normal for electricians and other professionals to "dumb it down" or put it in "layman's terms" for ALL of us. That's just got professionals will often tell us things.

It was nothing personal against you and it doesn't mean anyone is "arrogant or overbearing or talking down" to anyone when they do it.

It is done by electricians, doctors, lawyers, IT people, and almost all experts in their fields. It isn't personal.

- John...

Typo: "That's just got..." should have been: "That's just HOW professionals will often tell us things."

Ally, I also am an EE and a Master Electrician. As John stated he may not be insulting you, but rather taking the nomanclature of his expertise and making it easier for the non professional to understand. NEVER install a larger breaker to fit the wire size. The end appliance may not be able to handle the extra amperage that this delivers to it. There are devices to take a larger wire and downsize it to fit a smaller breaker.( ie: Mac adapter) This is not usual in a smaller residential application. But, it is not unheard of. ( It is common in larger buildings) A lesser electrician would cut a couple of strands off the wire and put it under the breaker. YOU would never know.

Without knowing all the details he may be doing an excellent job...not a good job , but an excellent job...or maybe not.

Jeff, thank you so much. I am very much heartened by your message that he is doing the right thing by finding an adapter. I understand what you are telling me when you say someone else might have just shaved the wire and said nothing. What would have happened then?

Ally, My apologies for the delay in getting back to you. Our wires have 19 strands of copper in each cable. If you cut one strand your 100 amp rated cable is now 94.7 amp wire. The electrician would still (illegally) put this under the 100 amp breaker.

The breaker manufacturers now make the wire access hole in the breaker just large enough to accept the largest rated diameter of wire for that breaker. In the old days there was more room to install the wire. I have personally spent 15 minutes getting two wires into a 100 amp breaker.

Typically a self employed electrician is more concerned about the small things then an employee of a company. It's their name and reputation...every time. I prefer self employed contractors rather than ones with lots of employees. there are pros and cons to this, as with every decision we make.

I hope he has come and you are all set now.