Commercial wiring question

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GerryB

Senior Member
Location
woodbridge, ct. USA
Is it code or common practice to install 20a duplex receptacles as opposed to 15a. I am going to finish this small 600 sf space this week. We roughed it in all 20 amp, 6 circuits for 10 quad outlet locations. I put a dedicated 20a surge outlet for their printer. I was going to use up whatever leftover 15a non TR devices I have for some of the other receptacles. I know I usually see all 20a devices but is that somewhere a requirement? This is three people in an insurance group with computers.
 
Unless specified that they need to be 20 amp I would use up the 15 amp devices and not think twice about it. :cool:
 
I always use 15A receptacles in commercial office spaces. The only place I use 20A receptacles is commercial kitchens. Manufacturing facilities, machine shops, etc, I install all 20A devices.
 
sparkyrick said:
The only place I use 20A receptacles is commercial kitchens. Manufacturing facilities, machine shops, etc, I install all 20A devices.
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Add to that spaces designated for compute servers/telecom. If the customer installs a UPS bigger than ~1500va, it'll have a 5-20 plug on it, as do some rack-mount power distribution units. I've seen too many 5-20 -> 5-15p adapters on these things (and 2/3 of those the $5 ones from Harbor Freight.)
 
zbang said:
Add to that spaces designated for compute servers/telecom. If the customer installs a UPS bigger than ~1500va, it'll have a 5-20 plug on it, as do some rack-mount power distribution units. I've seen too many 5-20 -> 5-15p adapters on these things (and 2/3 of those the $5 ones from Harbor Freight.)
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Yup, that too :D
 
zbang said:
Add to that spaces designated for compute servers/telecom. If the customer installs a UPS bigger than ~1500va, it'll have a 5-20 plug on it, as do some rack-mount power distribution units. I've seen too many 5-20 -> 5-15p adapters on these things (and 2/3 of those the $5 ones from Harbor Freight.)
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There is a small server closet that I will put 20a in there. Just to mention I haven't put one in in years but the surge outlet was $36, 20a and it had feed through protection like the gfi.
 
zbang said:
Add to that spaces designated for compute servers/telecom. If the customer installs a UPS bigger than ~1500va, it'll have a 5-20 plug on it, as do some rack-mount power distribution units.
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But any of those locations should have individual branch circuits and not general purpose branch circuits.



I've seen too many 5-20 -> 5-15p adapters on these things (and 2/3 of those the $5 ones from Harbor Freight
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We can't stop stupid. :)
 
If the location has 20 amp, then i put them but only because it matches.
One of my supervisors puts 20 amp spec grade on all of them, switches too.because he can.
My boss , if he is there or is in on the conversation at that moment says put the cr 20 amp devices because its easier to give them the plugs than prove to them a 15 is good enough.
 
electricalist said:
If the location has 20 amp, then i put them but only because it matches.
One of my supervisors puts 20 amp spec grade on all of them, switches too.because he can.
My boss , if he is there or is in on the conversation at that moment says put the cr 20 amp devices because its easier to give them the plugs than prove to them a 15 is good enough.
Click to expand...


That is kind of my thought too. Also, around here, every job that has an engineer on it specifies 20 amp receptacles.
 
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