20 Amp Circuits

[mbrooke]

Why does the code require 20 amp circuits when in Canada 15 amp circuits are the norm for everything?

 

[James L]

Why does the code require 20 amp circuits when in Canada 15 amp circuits are the norm for everything?

I have no idea about Canada, but the stuff here that's gonna get plugged into a bathroom or kitchen will a lot of times draw more than 12 amps, which is 80% of 15 amps.

Most anything with a heating element is 1500w, or 12.5 amps

 

[infinity]

Why does the code require 20 amp circuits when in Canada 15 amp circuits are the norm for everything?

1875 watt blow dryer on a 15 amp circuit?

 

[480sparky]

You don't have any teenage kids, do you?

 

[mbrooke]

I have no idea about Canada, but the stuff here that's gonna get plugged into a bathroom or kitchen will a lot of times draw more than 12 amps, which is 80% of 15 amps.

Most anything with a heating element is 1500w, or 12.5 amps

80% only applies to a continuous load. 15 amps will not trip a 15 amp breaker, ever.

 

[mbrooke]

1875 watt blow dryer on a 15 all circuit?

Yes

125 volts @ 1875 watts = 15 amps or 8.3 ohms

8.3 ohms at 120 volts = 14.4 amps

And that is being highly optimistic. Any manufacturer can stick a 1000 watt heater inside a tube and label the exterior as 3,500kw.

 

[James L]

80% only applies to a continuous load. 15 amps will not trip a 15 amp breaker, ever.

Heck, sometimes 20 amps won't trip a 15 amp breaker. That's not the issue anyway, imo. The question was why 20 amp circuits, and it's because 80% of 15 amps is 12. And someone has decided 80% is enough. And 12.5 is more than 12.

And as @infinity mentioned, it's upward from there

And I know it's for continous load. And I know stuff cycles on and off. But the answer is still there.

 

[mbrooke]

Heck, sometimes 20 amps won't trip a 15 amp breaker. That's not the issue anyway, imo. The question was why 20 amp circuits, and it's because 80% of 15 amps is 12. And someone has decided 80% is enough. And 12.5 is more than 12.

And as @infinity mentioned, it's upward from there

And I know it's for continous load. And I know stuff cycles on and off. But the answer is still there.

Code is wrong in their inference or lack there of I think yet again...

 

[infinity]

A 20 amp circuit for a bathroom makes sense, you could be powering a hair dryer, lights, exhaust fan, curling iron, makeup mirror, radio and what ever else your significant other or kids have plugged in.

 

[James L]

A 20 amp circuit for a bathroom makes sense, you could be powering a hair dryer, lights, exhaust fan, curling iron, makeup mirror, radio and what ever else your significant other or kids have plugged in.

20 amps is also a good idea in a kitchen when you have a microwave, toaster, rice cooker, air fryer, hot skillet, and a bunch of other crap on 2 circuits.

 

[mbrooke]

A 20 amp circuit for a bathroom makes sense, you could be powering a hair dryer, lights, exhaust fan, curling iron, makeup mirror, radio and what ever else your significant other or kids have plugged in.

Right, if you use the code exception in 210.11 C 3.

 

[mbrooke]

20 amps is also a good idea in a kitchen when you have a microwave, toaster, rice cooker, air fryer, hot skillet, and a bunch of other crap on 2 circuits.

So how does Canada not encounter tripping?

 

[petersonra]

So how does Canada not encounter tripping?

They don't blow dry?

I think it is just another case of the code writers venturing into design where they do not belong.

 

[James L]

So how does Canada not encounter tripping?

Maybe they do, and nobody has told us about it

 

[mbrooke]

They don't blow dry?

I think it is just another case of the code writers venturing into design where they do not belong.

They dry, cook, iron, wash, grow hydroponically and circuits are not tripping.

 

[mbrooke]

Maybe they do, and nobody has told us about it

Don't see the Canadian sparkies making many complaints.

 

[480sparky]

It's colder in Canukland. Circuits don't overheat like they do south of the 49th.

 

[James L]

Don't see the Canadian sparkies making many complaints.

Probably an insider secret that they don't tell Americans about.

 

[mbrooke]

Probably an insider secret that they don't tell Americans about.

Or Americans don't listen, particularly those on the code making panels.

 

[rc/retired]

Probably an insider secret that they don't tell Americans about.

Yeah, they only install Federal Pacific panels.