nogard1126
Member
- Location
- WI
I had an instance where something had to be changed. I wanted to make sure I was right before letting the customer know they had a code violation. I looked it up and confirmed my interpretation with a co-worker.
My new code book is at work, so I'm looking at an older one as I type this. In 210 there is a cord and plug connected load to receptacle chart, and a receptacle ratings for various size circuits.
I my instance I had a dedicated 20A circuit (hot, neutral, ground) to a cord drop. The THHN in the conduit was #12, but the cord was only #14 with a 15A 125V twist lock cord cap. To my understanding this is a code violation, so I changed it to #12 cord with a 20A 125V cord cap. Changing this was a big deal because now only the tools with the "new" 20A cord caps could be plugged in and the same tools from other machine lines with 15A cord caps can no longer be used. One of the tools used is rated at 10A, and other tool used I measured with a meter to draw 13A. I would have just changed the breaker to a 15A, but I didn't because of the 13A draw of the larger tool.
The way I interpret the code is that if the circuit is 20A and dedicated the receptacle or cord cap in this case has to match. Code states "A single receptacle installed on an individual branch circuit shall have an ampere rating not less than that of the branch circuit."
In 210 it does state that where a branch circuit is supplying two or more receptacles it shall conform with the table in 210.
So the way I understand it, if I have a dedicated 20A circuit with a single receptacle then I need to use a 20A receptacle and it would have a max load rating of 16A. Also if I put two or more receptacles on that same 20A circuit then I can use 15A rated receptacles, I know that a single duplex receptacle is actually "two" receptacles, so this one 15A device can be put on a 20A circuit by code. But each 15A receptacle of a duplex is only rated for a max load of 12A according to the chart.
Here are my three questions:
1. So in my instance even if the 20A circuit I was working on had two or more receptacles I wouldn't be able to put the larger tool that draws 13A on a 15A receptacle (only max rated to 12A)? By code it needs to be on a 20A receptacle (max rated to 16A)?
2. I try to put some logic behind the reason of the code. I understand having one receptacle on a dedicated 20A circuit would need a 20A receptacle. Why when adding two or more receptacles to the circuit this changes the rules, and 15A receptacles can be used?
Someone that doesn't know any better could plug a splitter into the 15A receptacle and have a combined load, or one large tool that will plug into the 15A receptacle. It could draw more than the 12A max load for the 15A receptacle overloading it, but stay under the trip level of the 20A breaker and stay functional without tripping the circuit.
3. Why wouldn't the code simply state the receptacles need to be rated at the same or higher ampere rating as the circuit the are connected to?
My new code book is at work, so I'm looking at an older one as I type this. In 210 there is a cord and plug connected load to receptacle chart, and a receptacle ratings for various size circuits.
I my instance I had a dedicated 20A circuit (hot, neutral, ground) to a cord drop. The THHN in the conduit was #12, but the cord was only #14 with a 15A 125V twist lock cord cap. To my understanding this is a code violation, so I changed it to #12 cord with a 20A 125V cord cap. Changing this was a big deal because now only the tools with the "new" 20A cord caps could be plugged in and the same tools from other machine lines with 15A cord caps can no longer be used. One of the tools used is rated at 10A, and other tool used I measured with a meter to draw 13A. I would have just changed the breaker to a 15A, but I didn't because of the 13A draw of the larger tool.
The way I interpret the code is that if the circuit is 20A and dedicated the receptacle or cord cap in this case has to match. Code states "A single receptacle installed on an individual branch circuit shall have an ampere rating not less than that of the branch circuit."
In 210 it does state that where a branch circuit is supplying two or more receptacles it shall conform with the table in 210.
So the way I understand it, if I have a dedicated 20A circuit with a single receptacle then I need to use a 20A receptacle and it would have a max load rating of 16A. Also if I put two or more receptacles on that same 20A circuit then I can use 15A rated receptacles, I know that a single duplex receptacle is actually "two" receptacles, so this one 15A device can be put on a 20A circuit by code. But each 15A receptacle of a duplex is only rated for a max load of 12A according to the chart.
Here are my three questions:
1. So in my instance even if the 20A circuit I was working on had two or more receptacles I wouldn't be able to put the larger tool that draws 13A on a 15A receptacle (only max rated to 12A)? By code it needs to be on a 20A receptacle (max rated to 16A)?
2. I try to put some logic behind the reason of the code. I understand having one receptacle on a dedicated 20A circuit would need a 20A receptacle. Why when adding two or more receptacles to the circuit this changes the rules, and 15A receptacles can be used?
Someone that doesn't know any better could plug a splitter into the 15A receptacle and have a combined load, or one large tool that will plug into the 15A receptacle. It could draw more than the 12A max load for the 15A receptacle overloading it, but stay under the trip level of the 20A breaker and stay functional without tripping the circuit.
3. Why wouldn't the code simply state the receptacles need to be rated at the same or higher ampere rating as the circuit the are connected to?