Residential Wiring

[kwired]

I have never been called back for overload issues on a 15 amp circuit.

I have, well maybe not so much called back because I put in a 15 instead of a 20, but simply because more than one circuit should have been run in the first place with what they are using. Doesn't happen too often in dwellings unless they are using space heaters or portable AC's though.

 

[James L]

To make my point, let me take it to the extreme:

Even ten 15a circuits can not supply certain loads that one 20a circuit can.

Every single plug-in load in my house, except one, functions fine on a 15 amp circuit.

The only one that can't is a hot pot with griddle. It draws 2000 watts.

Two fun facts about that:
1) it's still higher than 80% of a 20 amp circuit

2) I don't use it in my bedroom

 

[kwired]

mostly when vacuuming, because they tend to turn on all of the lights.

Haven't seen them tripping breakers for the most part in that situation but rather having issues with other items on the circuit because of voltage drop when the vacuum is running. 30 some years ago seen a television that the display went wacky whenever vacuum was used on same circuit - 15 amp circuits involved on that one - on top of that it was mobile home and possibly had some poor connections in those self contained devices you didn't need a separate outlet box for. Today cheap LED lights might not like voltage drop - even if it is deemed an acceptable level.

 

[andyman]

I think what it comes down to is that 15A receptacle circuits are inferior, especially if they are sharing the load with anything other than just recpt. If electricians wire 20A #12 receptacle circuits you will likely not have any nuisance tripping because of someone plugging in a vacuum or if the exterior receptacles get used for someones EV or whatever skill saw or something like that. You can still use 15A receptacles on a 20A circuit, that's the way I do it.

 

[James L]

I think what it comes down to is that 15A receptacle circuits are inferior, especially if they are sharing the load with anything other than just recpt. If electricians wire 20A #12 receptacle circuits you will likely not have any nuisance tripping because of someone plugging in a vacuum or if the exterior receptacles get used for someones EV or whatever skill saw or something like that. You can still use 15A receptacles on a 20A circuit, that's the way I do it.

Of course 15 is inferior to 20
And 20 is inferior to 30

I think this business about nuisance tripping is boogeyman myth stuff. It can happen, but nowhere near what the sensationalist over-reactionaries would have us believe.

One time a lady told me that when she plugs in her vacuum by the bed it trips the breaker. But if she plugs it in by the door it doesn't. My advice? Don't plug it in by the bed

 

[andyman]

Of course 15 is inferior to 20
And 20 is inferior to 30

Right, but the argument seems to be that 15A receptacle circuits are just as good as 20A which myself and others have found to not be the case. I am not ok with getting a call after completing a project with a customer having problems with our install. If I wire your house and you are tripping breakers I feel obligated to find a solution. Unless of coarse you are doing something out of the ordinary. If you call me because your vacuum trips a circuit when you plug in next to the bed I'm going to go out and take the receptacle out and find our why that is happening.
If they made a 30A receptacle that was configured for 15A cord ends that could be best

 

[LarryFine]

If they made a 30A receptacle that was configured for 15A cord ends that could be best

The receptacle and its ampacity itself is not part of the problem we're discussing.

Plug-in loads have changed over the years. Most receptacles were "lighting outlets" decades ago.

Now we have loads in living rooms, dens, bedrooms, etc., that we never imagined years ago.