Plug rating

H

hhsting

Senior Member
Location
Glen bunie, md, us
Occupation
Junior plan reviewer
I have cord and plug connected appliance that draws 13A. The engineer has specified 20A receptacle but the plug rating is 15A. Should not the plug be 20A as well?
 
An appliance with a 15 amp plug is permitted on either a 15 or 20 amp circuit. That's why 20 amp receptacles have a T slot for either configuration.
 
The appliance load may not be continuous. There is also an annoying difficult to enforce rule (210.23(B)(1)) that a branch circuit with more than one receptacle can not have a portable cord and plug item rated higher than 80% of the circuit rating plugged in. So if you have a 15A multioutlet circuit, you technically can't plug in a 13A rated portable item. But you can on a 20A circuit with multiple 15A receptacles.
 
But if it is a dedicated circuit, it should only have 1 receptacle (not a duplex) and IMHO then the receptacle rating and the plug rating should match. A general use receptacle/circuit is different is different.
 
infinity said:
The manufacturer of the equipment determines the size of the plug based on the listing. 1800 watt hair dryers have 15 amp plugs.
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1800 watt hair dryers don't run for very long at a time either. If they did run fairly continuously they would likely have 20 amp plugs on them.

Some kitchen appliances fit into similar situation.
 
kwired said:
1800 watt hair dryers don't run for very long at a time either. If they did run fairly continuously they would likely have 20 amp plugs on them.

Some kitchen appliances fit into similar situation.
Click to expand...
True, my point was that if it comes with a 15 amp plug then no one should be concerned if it's plugged into a 15 or a 20 amp circuit.
 
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