Replacing generic RECEPTACLES
elizabeth ... 20 amp duplex on 15 amp wires NEC says no. The NEC is not the wire police. They are guides used by electricians as to what they can and cannot do since they are contractors and THEY have legal and liability concerns ... Those concerns are not a law, You cannot go to jail for using a 20 amp duplex on a 15 amp line!o, you will not go to jail. But in the US, almost all jurisdictions rely primarily on the NEC, so it will be a violation of local code to put a 20A receptacle on a 15A line. That's because the breaker would not reliably trip if the load exceeded 15A. The breaker's primary purpose is to prevent the wire in the wall from overheating. |
elizabeth The requirement for a 20 amp service line is 12 gauge wire....As long as we are getting all technicalNot necessarily. Check the NEC and your local code. Code also almost always (there are some exceptions) requires that any "device" (receptacle) connected to the circuit have the same rating or better as the breaker. |
lowrider57 Running both lines to the ground bar in the panel means that they will share the same ground, less chance of a ground-loop.This is required by NEC in the US. All grounds must be connected to the ground bus at the service panel. |
laserjock1963 If you have 12ga wire and a 20A breaker, just change the receptacleCheck NEC and local codes. How long is the branch circuit? Is the wire in conduit or confined space? 12ga might not be sufficient and even when it is, it's a minimum spec. You can reduce voltage drop, for example, by using 10ga wire. |
tomfoolery And yes, you can replace a 15 amp outlet with 20 amp one. It makes thing safer!You can replace a 15A outlet with a 20A outlet provided the wire connecting the outlet to the panel is of the gauge specified under the NEC and your local code for a 20A circuit. Otherwise, you have a code violation and a definite safety hazard. And there is nothing inherently "safer" about a 20A line compared to a 15A line. If they are each properly installed, they are of equal safety. |
handymannm According to UL and NEMA, the only difference between a 125 vac 15 amp receptacle and a 20 amp receptacle, is the plastic cover governing the type of plug it will accept.This is mistaken. A 20A receptacle is designed to safely conduct 20A of current. A 15A receptacle is not designed to safely conduct 20A of current. |
dynaquest4 Elizabeth...why should we try? I’ve done that with speaker wire and interconnects and found no difference over appropriate and inexpensive cables.There’s no reason for you to experiment with power cables - your mind is already made up. It’s called confirmation bias. Your assertion that "anyone really intelligent and logical would discern as a ’gimmick’ " an improved cord isn’t consistent with the facts, btw, but that doesn’t really matter. Your mind is made up. |
jhills In fact lower amp equipment should not be used in high amp circuits. If something fails, something might burn before the breaker trips.That's silly - properly installed 15A and 20A lines are equally safe. In each case, the breaker's function is to protect the line itself, not the device connected to it. Components have their own fuse or breaker for that purpose. There is no hazard in connecting a low-amperage device to a 20A line. |
