Residential 15 amp switch installed on 20 amp circuit

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gjhayes66

gjhayes66

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Turbotville, PA, USA
Hi,
Is it code compliant to install a 15 amp toggle/rocker switch on a 20 amp, 12-2 wire, circuit in a dwelling unit? 2020 NEC, Section 404.14, seems to require a 20 amp switch on a 20 amp circuit.
Thank You.
 
gjhayes66 said:
Hi,
Is it code compliant to install a 15 amp toggle/rocker switch on a 20 amp, 12-2 wire, circuit in a dwelling unit? 2020 NEC, Section 404.14, seems to require a 20 amp switch on a 20 amp circuit.
Thank You.
Click to expand...
If the switch controls a receptacle, then it has to be rated the same as the OCPD (404.14(F)). If the switch is for a permanent connected load, like overhead lights, then as long as the connected load doesn't exceed the switch rating you could use a 15 amp switch on a 20 amp circuit (404.14(A)(1) - (3)). Answer based on 2017, don't have the 2020 yet.
 
Okay so I recently designed a workshop where the customer wanted to install a series of these new handy-dandy chain-hung LED strip lights that are daisy-chained together by all having 5' cords with 5-15P plugs and 5-15R receptacles on the opposite ends from the cord entry points of each light. So I put a receptacle in the ceiling specifically for these lights. In this case it was a 15A circuit with 14/2NM. But I had considered making it a 20A circuit. In this case I would have still installed a 15A switch since the lighting load was only going to be about 4 amps. Since it has a receptacle outlet, would that have been a violation if I had done it that way? (20A circuit, 15A switch, dedicated lighting load of 4 amps)
 
From what someone recently posted, a receptacle requires the switch be rated for the circuit, while hard-wired lighting doesn't.

A ceiling receptacle intended for stationary lighting may be questionable; in your example, I would probably use a 15a switch.
 
Thanks Larry! I think in the future, should I ever come across this situation again I'll just spec out a 20 amp switch AND receptacle just to avoid any question. It's not worth the few pennies of savings if it gets questioned by an inspector. Thanks for the reply!
 
gadfly56 said:
If the switch controls a receptacle, then it has to be rated the same as the OCPD (404.14(F)). If the switch is for a permanent connected load, like overhead lights, then as long as the connected load doesn't exceed the switch rating you could use a 15 amp switch on a 20 amp circuit (404.14(A)(1) - (3)). Answer based on 2017, don't have the 2020 yet.
Click to expand...
Never was aware of this rule and not sure how far back it goes. I do see that it is also in 2014 NEC. There is an exception in 2014 that could use a little better wording IMO but basically allows a 15 amp switch to supply an individual 15 amp receptacle that is otherwise on a 20 amp circuit.
 
RD35 said:
Okay so I recently designed a workshop where the customer wanted to install a series of these new handy-dandy chain-hung LED strip lights that are daisy-chained together by all having 5' cords with 5-15P plugs and 5-15R receptacles on the opposite ends from the cord entry points of each light. So I put a receptacle in the ceiling specifically for these lights. In this case it was a 15A circuit with 14/2NM. But I had considered making it a 20A circuit. In this case I would have still installed a 15A switch since the lighting load was only going to be about 4 amps. Since it has a receptacle outlet, would that have been a violation if I had done it that way? (20A circuit, 15A switch, dedicated lighting load of 4 amps)
Click to expand...

Off topic, but how did you install the required GFCI protection for those lights?
 
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