Hello. I have a 15A breaker with #14 wire which has several 15A receptacles. All good. Is it a code violation to replace one of the 15A receptacles with a 20A receptacle? Keeping the 15A breaker & #14 wire, only swapping one receptacle. I understand you can now plug in something that is rated for 20A, but the 15A breaker will still protect the wire. I just want the 20A rating and the harder prong force of the 20A recpt vs the 15A. No need to go into the why would you do this, just is it a code violation.
20A receptacle on a 15A circuit residential
- Thread starter Booma5150
- Start date
- Occupation
- Licensed Electrician
Yes it is a code violation. Your logic is sound and would apply for a single device.
20A duplexes are different behind the plastic than a 15A if of equal quality.
20A duplexes are different behind the plastic than a 15A if of equal quality.
wwhitney
Senior Member
- Location
- Berkeley, CA
- Occupation
- Retired
Yes, it would be a violation, see 210.21(B)(3).
Cheers, Wayne
Cheers, Wayne
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
Not under the 23 code.
The value listed in that table for a 15 amp circuit is 15 amps and 20 amps is not less than 15 amps.
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
The are identical...when comparing the same brand and model, the only difference between a 15 and 20 amp receptacle is the face of the 20 has the "T" slot. The metal parts of both are identical.
LarryFine
Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
- Location
- Henrico County, VA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
To add: looking only at the receptacle on the right (below), note that the contacts on both sides can accommodate either a vertical or a horizontal blade.
For a given grade of receptacle, the conductive parts are identical. That's why 15a receptacles may be used on 20a circuits, and at either 120v and 240v.
Receptacle slot configurations are actually rejection features. If you want better contact pressure, get a better grade of receptacle, not a greater rating
For a given grade of receptacle, the conductive parts are identical. That's why 15a receptacles may be used on 20a circuits, and at either 120v and 240v.
Receptacle slot configurations are actually rejection features. If you want better contact pressure, get a better grade of receptacle, not a greater rating
Seven-Delta-FortyOne
Goin’ Down In Flames........
- Location
- Humboldt
- Occupation
- EC and GC
I was gonna say, just get the commercial grade receptacles if you want better quality. 
wwhitney
Senior Member
- Location
- Berkeley, CA
- Occupation
- Retired
Yes, thanks, forgot about that 2023 NEC change.
There were 3 PIs for the 2023 NEC First Draft, one of which proposed changing "conform to" to "not be less than". The committee response to each PI was to refer to their new text, which adopted that changed, with the statement "The text in the table has been modified to match existing receptacles that are available. The title of the table has been changed to make it clear that this table applies to circuits with more than one receptacle or receptacle outlet as the parent language of the table states."
I find it odd that the comittee statement does not address the wording change, just other incidental changes. But there was a 2026 PC on the First Draft that proposed changing the language back, and it was rejected. So apparently the change was intentional.
It is also odd that Table 210.21(B)(3) was not updated as part of the change, as there is no reason to list two values separated by "or" for some of the line items in the table if the table values are just minimums. Including only the lower value would suffice. The presence of those line items with "or" is what implied that the previous "conforms to" language meant "matches exactly" rather than "is at least".
Cheers, Wayne
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
What code cycle are you on? 2020 and earlier=violation, 2023 not a violation.
- Occupation
- Licensed Electrician
I meant to say they are "no different behind the plastic". Thank you for catching that.
Can you tell me what article that's in? I want to read both versions to compare. Thanks!
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
210.21(B)(3).
So under the 2023 Code you can put a 50A receptacle on a 15A branch circuit? OK.
- Occupation
- Licensed Electrician
That was allowed even before 2023 code.
Seven-Delta-FortyOne
Goin’ Down In Flames........
- Location
- Humboldt
- Occupation
- EC and GC
- Occupation
- Licensed Electrician
Prior to 2023 you could only put a single 20A or greater receptacle on a 15A circuit. I didn't know about the '23 change that allows more than one receptacle when I posted my first reply.
Only if it was the only receptacle on the circuit, correct? Now it can be done on multiple-receptacle circuits.
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
Yes it originally applied only to single receptacles.
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
You can put multiple 50 amp receptacles on a 15 amp branch circuit under the 2023 code...under previous codes you could only install one 50 amp receptacle on a 15 amp circuit using the provisions of 210.21(B)(1).
There is no real hazard, assuming the OCPD does not exceed the ampacity of the conductor. There may be inconvenience when the breaker trips, but no hazard.