ECN Electrical Forum - Discussion Forums for Electricians, Inspectors and Related Professionals
ECN Shout Chat
ShoutChat
Recent Posts
Increasing demand factors in residential
by tortuga - 03/28/24 05:57 PM
Portable generator question
by Steve Miller - 03/19/24 08:50 PM
Do we need grounding?
by NORCAL - 03/19/24 05:11 PM
240V only in a home and NEC?
by dsk - 03/19/24 06:33 AM
Cordless Tools: The Obvious Question
by renosteinke - 03/14/24 08:05 PM
New in the Gallery:
This is a new one
This is a new one
by timmp, September 24
Few pics I found
Few pics I found
by timmp, August 15
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 265 guests, and 15 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2
#52300 05/25/05 03:02 AM
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 545
A
aldav53 Offline OP
Member
Why don't they make a 20 amp recept - without the extra slot, like a 15 amp. Guess its legal to use the 15 amp for kitchen recepts.
20 amp for individual recepts circuits.


The Golden Rule - "The man with the gold makes the rule"
#52301 05/25/05 01:47 PM
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,691
S
Member
Are you asking why they don't make 110V/20 amp receptacles so you cannot plug in a 110V/15 amp plug?

I believe that's the case in Canada, where the 20 amp receptacles are made so they will not take a 15 amp plug.

As for the logic behind that, I don't know. Maybe to prevent over-fusing? [Linked Image]

#52302 05/25/05 03:20 PM
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 693
L
Member
It's because receptacles are rated according to the plugs they reject. 20-amp 125v and 250v receptacles will accept 15-amp plugs of the same voltage. Why should they not?


Larry Fine
Fine Electric Co.
fineelectricco.com
#52303 05/25/05 05:04 PM
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 939
F
Member
maybe i can show the picture between both 15 and 20 amp at 125 volt verison

here is 15 amp verison [ both usa and cananda]
http://www.passandseymour.com/products/product.html?s=78&mkt=3

will someone please help me with this link above , thanks

[This message has been edited by frenchelectrican (edited 05-25-2005).]


Pas de problme,il marche n'est-ce pas?"(No problem, it works doesn't it?)

#52304 05/25/05 08:18 PM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 209
H
Member
Aldav53,
Your basic 15 amp duplex receptacles are rated for 20 amp when used as feed thru with more than one receptacle. So you can use them in the kitchen. I think this answers your question.

#52305 05/25/05 10:01 PM
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 267
W
Member
It's pretty simple. If a home owner buys an A/C and it has a 20 amp 125v 2p 3w male cord and they try and plug it into a 15 amp receptacle, they see it doesn't fit. Next logical step is to call an electrican who tells them you need a 20 amp circuit for that apliance and explains that you can't just change the receptacle because the circuit won't hold.

#52306 05/25/05 10:56 PM
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 693
L
Member
Correct, but the opposite doesn't hold true:

If you replace a 20-amp AC with a 15-amp one, nothing need be changed.


Larry Fine
Fine Electric Co.
fineelectricco.com
#52307 05/26/05 12:52 AM
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 545
A
aldav53 Offline OP
Member
HLCbuild,
Yes thats what I was wondering. It doesn't make sense though, whats the difference between a 20 amp feed thru and a 20 amp single recept circuit.


The Golden Rule - "The man with the gold makes the rule"
#52308 05/26/05 06:52 PM
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 456
C
Member
The bits inside are rated to pass 20A. The prong configuration is made to accept either a 15A only or a 15 or 20 A plug.

#52309 05/26/05 07:15 PM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 209
H
Member
aldav53,
I believe the thought is a 15/20 amp feed-thru rated at 20 amps won't have an appliance plugged into it that has more than 15 amps. If is it rated higher than that it would have a 20 anm male cord end and require a 20 amp receptacle. Yet the circuit will still be #12 good for 20 amps...if that makes any sense. It's starting to not make sense to me!

Page 1 of 2 1 2

Link Copied to Clipboard
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5