electrical outlet questions
"Mifflin Clay"
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,177
Likes: 4
From: Mifflin, PA
Originally Posted by MisterCMK
A 15amp outlet is perfectly fine on a 20amp circuit PROVIDED that it is not the ONLY outlet on that circuit.
What is the electrical difference with a circuit with a 20 amp breaker, #12 wire, and one 15 amp receptacle and a circuit with a 20 amp breaker, #12 wire, a 15 amp receptacle and a 20 amp receptacle when the 20 amp receptacle has nothing plugged into it? Note that I'm not asking what the NEC says about it, I'm asking what the electrical difference is.......
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 6,473
Likes: 4
From: Lafayette, IN
Electrically, the differences are that one circuit has one outlet, the other has two, and their configurations are different. The first, however, is not allowed by the latest version(s?) of the NEC. Most people never even install a single outlet on any 120V circuit, as duplex receptacles (which count as 2 outlets in the NEC) are generally cheaper and more easily obtained).
Having spent some time in Electrical Engineering, there are quite a few things in the NEC that are real head scratchers, as they make no sense in terms of electrical performance. But, somewhere, one time, there may have been a problem, so code is written to try to prevent that problem. It's kind of like having a guard rail next to a cliff: do you put the guard rail AT the cliff, a foot back, three feet? What if there's a sharp turn in a highway right before that--50 feet might be better in that case...
Jason
Having spent some time in Electrical Engineering, there are quite a few things in the NEC that are real head scratchers, as they make no sense in terms of electrical performance. But, somewhere, one time, there may have been a problem, so code is written to try to prevent that problem. It's kind of like having a guard rail next to a cliff: do you put the guard rail AT the cliff, a foot back, three feet? What if there's a sharp turn in a highway right before that--50 feet might be better in that case...
Jason
"Mifflin Clay"
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,177
Likes: 4
From: Mifflin, PA
Originally Posted by jroehl
Electrically, the differences are that one circuit has one outlet, the other has two, and their configurations are different. The first, however, is not allowed by the latest version(s?) of the NEC. Most people never even install a single outlet on any 120V circuit, as duplex receptacles (which count as 2 outlets in the NEC) are generally cheaper and more easily obtained).
Having spent some time in Electrical Engineering, there are quite a few things in the NEC that are real head scratchers, as they make no sense in terms of electrical performance. But, somewhere, one time, there may have been a problem, so code is written to try to prevent that problem. It's kind of like having a guard rail next to a cliff: do you put the guard rail AT the cliff, a foot back, three feet? What if there's a sharp turn in a highway right before that--50 feet might be better in that case...
Jason
Having spent some time in Electrical Engineering, there are quite a few things in the NEC that are real head scratchers, as they make no sense in terms of electrical performance. But, somewhere, one time, there may have been a problem, so code is written to try to prevent that problem. It's kind of like having a guard rail next to a cliff: do you put the guard rail AT the cliff, a foot back, three feet? What if there's a sharp turn in a highway right before that--50 feet might be better in that case...
Jason
1) I specifically asked NOT about NEC, but "electrically"
2) I said "receptacle", not outlet, which in general means a " duplex outlet"
3) Granted, the one circuit has 2 receptacles, the other one, but the 20 amp is "UNUSED". Would it make a difference if I said one had 2 of the 15 amp outlets, one unused?
From an electron's point of view, the circuits are identical.
On with the discussion - how I love playing devil's advocate......
Super Moderator
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 34,527
Likes: 2,830
OK, 20A circuit, 12 ga wire. Multiple 20A receptacles. Two 15A switchs to single light bulbs with 12ga wire also on the circuit. Based on what was quoted above regarding 15A items on 20A circuits, it seems like this should be OK.
And yes, it's polarized and grounded all the way.
And yes, it's polarized and grounded all the way.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 24,418
Likes: 3
From: San Francisco, Ca.
Over kill is when you plug in a high wattage/amperage appliance/device rated more than the receptacle can handle. 
I think 20amp twist lock receptacles should be the minimum standard.
(jk)
I think 20amp twist lock receptacles should be the minimum standard.
(jk)
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