Receptacle rating for permanently installed microhood

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crtemp

crtemp

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Wa state
Shouldn't it be permissible to install a 15 amp duplex receptacle on a dedicated 20 amp circuit for a microhood, as long as the appliance draws less than 12 amps?
 
Two outlets IF you interpret the OP's question to be about adding a new simplex receptacle in addition to a hard wired microhood, or if you somehow consider an integrated microwave and hood combo to be two outlets.
But not OK to install a single simplex receptacle into which you will plug the microhood.

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GoldDigger said:
Two outlets IF you interpret the OP's question to be about adding a new simplex receptacle in addition to a hard wired microhood, .

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But you could not plug anything into the receptacle.

OP said dedicated circuit by which I infer he meant individual.

Branch Circuit, Individual. A branch circuit that supplies
only one utilization equipment.
 
jumper said:
But you could not plug anything into the receptacle.

OP said dedicated circuit by which I infer he meant individual.

Branch Circuit, Individual. A branch circuit that supplies
only one utilization equipment.
Click to expand...
If you connect another outlet (the receptacle) the circuit is no longer dedicated, i.e. not an individual branch circuit.
 
Smart $ said:
If you connect another outlet (the receptacle) the circuit is no longer dedicated, i.e. not an individual branch circuit.
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AFAICT a plain receptacle is not another piece of utilization equipment........

Utilization Equipment. Equipment that utilizes electric
energy for electronic, electromechanical, chemical, heating,
lighting, or similar purposes.
 
jumper said:
AFAICT a plain receptacle is not another piece of utilization equipment........

Utilization Equipment. Equipment that utilizes electric
energy for electronic, electromechanical, chemical, heating,
lighting, or similar purposes.
Click to expand...
I'm not saying it is... but as soon as you plug in something, the branch circuit is supplying two pieces of utilization equipment. It cannot be an individual branch circuit.
 
Smart $ said:
I'm not saying it is... but as soon as you plug in something, the branch circuit is supplying two pieces of utilization equipment. It cannot be an individual branch circuit.
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So, to sum it up, the additional receptacle is OK, you just are not allowed to plug anything into it ever.
Sort of like a receptacle above a suspended ceiling. The code does not prohibit it, it just does not let you plug a portable cord into it. (Regardless of how you feel about power cords that are part of listed equipment.)
 
Smart $ said:
I'm well aware of the definition... and what I'm saying is when you add a second outlet to an individual branch circuit... it is no longer an individual branch circuit. It's not rocket science.
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IOW, by using a duplex receptacle - you now have 2 outlets and it is no longer a Branch circuit, Individual;)

Now is the microhood required to be on an individual branch circuit? Likely depends if the instructions included in the listing require an individual circuit.
 
Smart $ said:
I'm well aware of the definition... and what I'm saying is when you add a second outlet to an individual branch circuit... it is no longer an individual branch circuit. It's not rocket science.
Click to expand...

I would like to hear from the OP. I don't see where you get the impression he was installing an additional outlet or your distinction of two outlets for the microhood. In fact, I think it is a stretch to interpret it that way. He says "dedicated" it is a much more likely interpretation that he is installing a circuit and a receptacle for a microhood. Not extending an existing one, thereby adding a receptacle. A few months ago we were chastised for overcomplicating our answers and I argued that complexity is one of the benefits of the site, but this answer is definitely what iWire was referring to.
 
Strathead said:
I would like to hear from the OP. I don't see where you get the impression he was installing an additional outlet or your distinction of two outlets for the microhood. In fact, I think it is a stretch to interpret it that way. He says "dedicated" it is a much more likely interpretation that he is installing a circuit and a receptacle for a microhood. Not extending an existing one, thereby adding a receptacle. A few months ago we were chastised for overcomplicating our answers and I argued that complexity is one of the benefits of the site, but this answer is definitely what iWire was referring to.
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I think it is splitting hairs to some extent, but with a duplex receptacle and the fact the NEC allows you to use a 15 amp receptacle because the duplex makes it a multioutlet circuit - you have to at least give this one some additional consideration.

Technically if you install the duplex you have a circuit that maybe is intended to supply one utilization equipment but has relatively easy possibility to supply something else. Reality is even with a single receptacle it is still easy to use a splitting device and supply other items anyhow. I doubt many seriously consider this a multioutlet circuit though technically it is.
 
For clarification I am installing a individual 20 amp circuit to a box in the cabinet above the microhood and installing a standard 15 amp duplex receptacle. The microwave plugs in to one of the receptacles on that duplex leaving one other receptacle unused. It is just one device, not two separate devices. The inspector is saying I can't do that because it says on the microwave that the circuit input is 1800 watts. But it also says the output is only 1100 watts. He is claiming I have to go by the input and not the output of the appliance. It doesn't say in the instructions that is has to be on a individual circuit either. The inspector doesn't care that it is a duplex receptacle, he just wants it to be a 20 amp rated receptacle.
 
crtemp said:
For clarification I am installing a individual 20 amp circuit to a box in the cabinet above the microhood and installing a standard 15 amp duplex receptacle. The microwave plugs in to one of the receptacles on that duplex leaving one other receptacle unused. It is just one device, not two separate devices. The inspector is saying I can't do that because it says on the microwave that the circuit input is 1800 watts. But it also says the output is only 1100 watts. He is claiming I have to go by the input and not the output of the appliance. It doesn't say in the instructions that is has to be on a individual circuit either. The inspector doesn't care that it is a duplex receptacle, he just wants it to be a 20 amp rated receptacle.
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If it needed a 20 amp receptacle they would have put a 20 amp cord cap on it IMO.

That 1100 output watts is likely the microwave output, you also ordinarily have a range hood fan and light(s), though they are not normally going to be 700 watts - the difference is all inefficiency.
 
kwired said:
If it needed a 20 amp receptacle they would have put a 20 amp cord cap on it IMO.

That 1100 output watts is likely the microwave output, you also ordinarily have a range hood fan and light(s), though they are not normally going to be 700 watts - the difference is all inefficiency.
Click to expand...

Agreed. And for your comment on my post. I answered him correctly for the question he was asking in my first post.
 
Strathead said:
I would like to hear from the OP. I don't see where you get the impression he was installing an additional outlet or your distinction of two outlets for the microhood. In fact, I think it is a stretch to interpret it that way. He says "dedicated" it is a much more likely interpretation that he is installing a circuit and a receptacle for a microhood. Not extending an existing one, thereby adding a receptacle. A few months ago we were chastised for overcomplicating our answers and I argued that complexity is one of the benefits of the site, but this answer is definitely what iWire was referring to.
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My bad for going the outlet direction. I read the OP as a hardwired microhood and the receptacle being in addition to.

However installing one duplex receptacle on a circuit disqualifies that circuit from being considered an individual branch circuit... IMO... unless you break the tabs and leave one receptacle dead or wire it to a different circuit.

Also, when wired as a duplex the requirement of 210.21(B)(2) concerning total cord-and-plug connected load kicks in. At 1800W input for the microhood, that's 15A, so a 20A duplex is required.
 
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