E
ehsjr
- Jan 1, 1970
- 0
That's 80 percent of the BRANCH CIRCUIT rating. 80 percent of 20 amps
is 16 amps. So in theory, if I have multiple NEMA 5-15R receptacles on
a 20 amp branch circuit, I could draw up to 16 amps from one outlet and
not violate this rule. I would not worry about it in a technical sense
with respect to the receptacle since I know it is rated to 20 amps. The
plug in use might not be, but 20 amp plugs don't appear to be any more
robust than 15 amp plugs; they just have a twisted neutral.
So which rule would I be violating if in this case a single cord-and-plug
connected appliance draw more than 12 amps? What rule requires equipment
over 12 amps to use a NEMA 5-20P or larger? A UL listing requirement?
Don't lose the concept in the minutae. The 20 amp T slot
receptacle serves two purposes: it allows devices with
NEMA 5-20 's to be plugged in, and it also identifies
the receptacle as being on a 20 amp branch. Manufacturers
have to follow a host of rules/standards/practices etc,
and to get UL listing, nust use the correct plug on
cord and plug connected devices they make.
The violation would occur if you wired a 20 amp receptacle on
a 15 amp branch, regardless of what gets plugged in. As you
noted in another post, 210.21(B) with a multiple receptacle
(or receptacles) on the branch. A dedicated (meaning serving
a single receptacle) 15 Amp circuit is ridiculous enough on
its own without compounding it by makeing the receptacle
20 amps.
Ed