Max 15A outlet load

Status
Not open for further replies.
M

megloff11x

Senior Member
The obvious answer is 120V times 15A is 1800 Watts or probably more appropriately 1800VA.

But... for appliances designed for use in normal household outlets, is there any rule of thumb or better yet regulation that says don't go over XX Volt-Amps for your load? This allowing for the usual 10% Voltage level variation, sensitive breakers, and or variations in the real load.

I have a gadget in the works that will be pushing the envelope. I do not want customers running to their breaker box before boxing it up and sending it back to me with expletive filled complaints. And I am trying to avoid a 20A plug for it because that also limits customer desire to buy.

Let me know.

Matt
 
210.23 Permissible Loads. . . . A branch circuit supplying two or more outlets or receptacles shall supply only the loads specified according to its size as specified in 210.23(A) through (D) and as summarized in 210.24 and Table 210.24.

(A) 15- and 20-Ampere Branch Circuits. A 15- or 20- ampere branch circuit shall be permitted to supply lighting units or other utilization equipment, or a combination of both, and shall comply with 210.23(A)(1) and (A)(2).

(1) Cord-and-Plug-Connected Equipment. The rating of any one cord-and-plug-connected utilization equipment shall not exceed 80 percent of the branch-circuit ampere rating.
 
(1) Cord-and-Plug-Connected Equipment. The rating of any one cord-and-plug-connected utilization equipment shall not exceed 80 percent of the branch-circuit ampere rating.
Click to expand...
That is a code section that does not even belong in the code. If the equipment has a 15 amp cord cap it can be used on a 15 amp circuit. There are a lot of 1875 watt blow dryers out there with 15 amp cord ends. Don
 
This falls into unenforceable code. How does the electrician, designer, AHJ, or anyone else control what is plugged into a receptacle? If the plug fits, or can be made to fit, people will use it. Another example is the requirement that vending machines be equipped with GFCI. How is that going to be enforced? All these types of rules do is give the lawyers ammunition for law suits. Some poor maintenance guy plugs a non-GFCI protected vending machine into an existing non-GFCI circuit and someone gets hurt: now he has violated the NEC, which he has probably never seen, and subject to being sued for negligence!
 
I'm a landlord in my other life.

Remember that most hairdryers are model 1500's or model 1250's. They are referring in reality to pulling 1500w or 1250w and using that for the model number.

The 1500w hairdryers are notorious in older homes for blowing the fuse or breaker. Largely because you may have only one or two receptacle runs for the home. Stick a TV, a few lights, ...

For this reason I would be cautious of buying anything over 1250w unless I had an idea of what was on the rest of the circuit. The bathroom and kitchen circuits are usually the safest.
 
Our circuitry is sized according to the standards of 210. I agree with this Article and am glad to adhere to it. I think some appliances are morphodites in that they somehow test but are manufactured ignoring this article 210.

I recently had a Hobart microwave with a spec of: 120V 2400W & 20A rated with a 15A size 14 cord. What size circuit is required for this?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top