20A recep on 15A circuit?

[user 100]

??? 6-20 ???

just like many other specs, NEMA has a goofy system. the 5-20 is not a "5-20", its a 5-15/20

A 6-20 is for 250v at 20a....

True that a 5-20 receptacle will accept both 5-15p and 5-20p, but it will also accept a 1-15p

So what do we have now?- a 5-15/20/1-15r

 

[kwired]

??? 6-20 ???

just like many other specs, NEMA has a goofy system. the 5-20 is not a "5-20", its a 5-15/20

A 6-20 is for 250v at 20a....

True that a 5-20 receptacle will accept both 5-15p and 5-20p, but it will also accept a 1-15p

So what do we have now?- a 5-15/20/1-15r

I suppose the 5-15/20 sort of is proper thing to call most receptacles that are labeled 5-20, I would have to look into the standards more to confirm this though.

I meant what I said with average HO not knowing there is a difference between 5-20 and 6-20. They are pretty much the same thing but one is a mirror image of the other. They see a cord cap with a round ground pin, a vertical pin and a horizontal pin with either one, only realizing there is a difference when it don't match the receptacle they might want to plug it into.

 

[K8MHZ]

I suppose the 5-15/20 sort of is proper thing to call most receptacles that are labeled 5-20, I would have to look into the standards more to confirm this though.

According to my Hubbell chart, a 5-20 has a T slot and a vertical so it can accept a 15 amp plug, where a 5-20 Canada has no T slot so it can't accept a 15 amp plug.

I meant what I said with average HO not knowing there is a difference between 5-20 and 6-20. They are pretty much the same thing but one is a mirror image of the other. They see a cord cap with a round ground pin, a vertical pin and a horizontal pin with either one, only realizing there is a difference when it don't match the receptacle they might want to plug it into.

You aren't the only one that noticed that.

20 amp. 250 volt
2-Pole
3-Wire Grounding​

Most common household 250 volt plug. Used in many larger window air conditioners and some large home use air compressors, certain machines and office equipment in commercial applications. 2 hp rating

Notice that this configuration is the opposite of 20A/125V but can be confusing when looking at the plug. They are mirror images of each other.​