15 amp receptacles on 20 amp circuit ?

[bartajr]

:-?I noticed a job (resedential ) that had all branch circuits for receptacles
on 20 amp branch circuits . I can not determine if this is a violation , I have a few concerns one being a 15 amp receptacle on a 20 amp breaker . In specific
a customer had a faux fire place that draws 10 amps , I feel that this is a situation that could cause a overheating problem at that 15 A duplex ?The other half of the duplex is being used by a pda for the tv and such .

 

[iwire]

receptacle rating

 

[Rewire]

Their is no difference between a 15 and 20 amp receptacle on the inside

 

[infinity]

A duplex receptacle is actually two receptacles a 10 amp load will operate safely in a 15 amp receptacle. A single 15 amp receptacle is not permitted on the 20 amp circuit.

 

[Rewire]

A duplex receptacle is actually two receptacles a 10 amp load will operate safely in a 15 amp receptacle. A single 15 amp receptacle is not permitted on the 20 amp circuit.

It should be made clear that a 20 Amp circuit cannot feed a single 15 Amp receptacle with no other receptacles but it can feed several single 15 Amp receptacles.

If you have a single 15 amp receptacle on one wall and a single 15 amp receptacle on another wall they can be fed together with a 20 Amp circuit.

If you only have a single 15 Amp receptacle it can only be fed with a 15 Amp circuit.

 

[K8MHZ]

It should be made clear that a 20 Amp circuit cannot feed a single 15 Amp receptacle with no other receptacles but it can feed several single 15 Amp receptacles.

If you have a single 15 amp receptacle on one wall and a single 15 amp receptacle on another wall they can be fed together with a 20 Amp circuit.

If you only have a single 15 Amp receptacle it can only be fed with a 15 Amp circuit.

Is a duplex considered to be one, or two receptacles?

 

[Rewire]

Is a duplex considered to be one, or two receptacles?

yes,two outlets on a single yoke

 

[triplstep]

Is a duplex considered to be one, or two receptacles?

two.......

 

[roger3829]

:-?I noticed a job (resedential ) that had all branch circuits for receptacles
on 20 amp branch circuits . I can not determine if this is a violation , I have a few concerns one being a 15 amp receptacle on a 20 amp breaker . In specific
a customer had a faux fire place that draws 10 amps , I feel that this is a situation that could cause a overheating problem at that 15 A duplex ?The other half of the duplex is being used by a pda for the tv and such .

Why would 10amps cause an overheating problem on a 15a receptacle?

It's perfectly OK to use 15a duplex receptacles on a 20amp circuit

 

[charlie]

yes,two outlets on a single yoke

Sorry to nitpick but it is two receptacles (duplex) on a single yoke in a receptacle outlet. :smile:

 

[Rewire]

Sorry to nitpick but it is two receptacles (duplex) on a single yoke in a receptacle outlet. :smile:

well to really nit pick: two contact devies on the same yoke is a duplex receptacle:smile:

 

[Joe Rocker]

15 amp receptacle on 20 amp circuit

15 amp receptacle on 20 amp circuit

You all are much smarter than I am when it comes to this so I just want to make sure I understand. I can put a 15 amp duplex receptacle on a 20 amp circuit because it counts as two outlets. Right?
Thank you
Joe

 

[480sparky]

You all are much smarter than I am when it comes to this so I just want to make sure I understand. I can put a 15 amp duplex receptacle on a 20 amp circuit because it counts as two outlets. Right?
Thank you
Joe

Yep.

 

[Rewire]

You all are much smarter than I am when it comes to this so I just want to make sure I understand. I can put a 15 amp duplex receptacle on a 20 amp circuit because it counts as two outlets. Right?
Thank you
Joe

That is correct as internal componets are the same for 15 and 20 amp duplex receptacle

 

[TexasMaster]

That is correct as internal componets are the same for 15 and 20 amp duplex receptacle

thats a little misleading, you can't deny that the neutral is of a stronger design on 20 amp recpt. It should be said, and this is reading it right off a box; 15 amp duplex recpts can supply up to a 15 amp load (12 cont.) (obviously one outlet at a time with that much load):grin: but have a 20amp feed thru rating

 

[bartajr]

The other half of the duplex is drawing 4 amps and is being used as a feed through device for the 15 amp branch circuit , I understand it is compliant
I still do not like it .

 

[wireguru]

Why would 10amps cause an overheating problem on a 15a receptacle?

$0.49 receptacle backstabbed with conductors that were stripped before the painters got at them.

 

[LarryFine]

thats a little misleading, you can't deny that the neutral is of a stronger design on 20 amp recpt. It should be said, and this is reading it right off a box; 15 amp duplex recpts can supply up to a 15 amp load (12 cont.) (obviously one outlet at a time with that much load):grin: but have a 20amp feed thru rating

The neutral is never asked to carry more than the line side, and yes, for a given grade of receptacle, the metallic parts of 15a and 20a receptacles (and probably most 30a receptacles, too) are the same.

The ratings of these receptacles are based on slot shape, which determines which plug configurations are rejected. The reason a 15a receptacle is rated for 20a feed-through is because the parts are the same.

 

[roger3829]

$0.49 receptacle backstabbed with conductors that were stripped before the painters got at them.

Sorry, it guess I just wasn't thinking!!:smile:

 

[TexasMaster]

The neutral is never asked to carry more than the line side, and yes, for a given grade of receptacle, the metallic parts of 15a and 20a receptacles (and probably most 30a receptacles, too) are the same.

The ratings of these receptacles are based on slot shape, which determines which plug configurations are rejected. The reason a 15a receptacle is rated for 20a feed-through is because the parts are the same.

if they are the same and if the neutral does not endure more "heat" why is it that everytime if I have seen an overloaded 15 amp recpt. the neutral slot is burned, oh and I made it never happen again by replacing with a 20amp, they are only similar but react nothing alike when used at over 12amps cont. btw anyone can look in to the 2 recpts and see the difference plain as day on the design of the metallic parts of the neut. side. The feed thru yes, is the same, but not the outlets.