Dear TanningBeds.org,

We have an 1984 suntana bed-model SB-3 24 bulbs and it keeps thowing the breaker.It’s 120 volts and the breaker for the bedroom is a 20 amp. What do we need to do? We are not sure if the wiring in the bedrm would carry a 30 amp breaker.

Pamela
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Dear Pamela,

You need to wire a new circuit. That bed REQUIRES a 120V/30A circuit, and you can NOT just add a 30 amp circuit to that wire, or you risk a serious fire hazard. Sorry, but its time to get an electrican.

15 amp circuits use 14ga. wire. 20 amp uses 12 ga. and 30 amp uses 10ga. Pushing 30 amps through 14 or 12 will make it dangerous.

That is a very unusual bed, in that a 120V/30A circuit is very uncommon to begin with (excepting at the camp ground). It is also a very good bed, so it is worth the $100-$150 typical charge for an electrician to wire the circuit.

Dennis