A 20 amp on #14 wire isn't a good idea as I stated above, it'll work but over time and with the degradation of the insulation it becomes an unseen hazard. The wires will get crispy with brittle insulation causing shorts & possibly fires. If it kept tripping a 15amp circuit then you were overloading that circuit changing the breaker to a 20amp is a stop gap treatment, just to use until you rewire or change some the load to different circuits. You might need to bite the bullet and have someone...if you can find them....to look it over and help you out......
You're a day and a halfs drive away and a bit to far for a house call...millage alone would kill my free help......
That receptacle has a burn on the lower hot side & a burn on the upper neutral side.....too much current or 2 - loose connections .....I'm guessing too much current in a 15 amp receptacle. it looks like you had 2 plugs in there cooking the plug & wires......Were the #14 wires in the box crispy at all when you changed it out? And did you put the black on the copper side of the plug & white on the silver side?........
Both Sides are copper but I put The Wires on exactly as I took them off.
I examined the outlet wires And the black one might be a little bit wrinkly,
I had the lights hooked up to the top outlet the other plug was used for the freezer but swithed to top when grow was over.
The bottom plug burn was caused by the saw cord being guillotined by the metal I was cutting
and i think that might have cause any damage to that black wire cause it did spark big and popped loud.
As far as the other 20 amp breakers, the power load is not so great as to cause damage to the wires I don't think.
I will have to have someone check it out to be sure.
We did replaces almost all the wiring downsstairs with that better yellow wire.
I understand what your saying bout the wired in the panel tho.
I really need a whole new box. During the first re-model bout 15-16 yrs ago they grandfathered in this box to avoid the expense of a new one.
More pic's
It would be cool but your plants and cats would be lonely.
I got my mechanic if he has time, he knows shit like you do.
I also got another number for a guy who installed elevators his whole life.
Not sure how much this will cost me tho.