Can you use a 20A recepticle on 15A circuit?

nap

show me that a 20 is legit on a 15 amp circuit.

and the fact is, it is always a problem, just not one realized yet.

KE2KB

Hey nap; Now look who's misspelling receptacle; in your last post, you spelled it "receptacel"

So Chirs75, you've got a gripe with me?
I think you're like I am... opinionated. There's nothing wrong with disagreeing with someone, or expressing your opinion. I don't take offense to anything I read here. After all, isn't that what the Internet is all about? Expressing ourselves, and hopefully providing some good advice to those who aren't so endowed with that knowledge?

I do see your point though. Why am I making a big thing of this? So I read it in the code. The code isn't perfect.
I just get stuck on these pet peeve things sometimes. I like to know why everything is the way it is. I get it from my dad. He wants to know everything. He's still searching for the one who does.

Whatever, it's a lot of fun.
I'm back to the code<g>

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chris75

You guys are nuts, I'm not making a bid deal about anything, just telling you guys what the code says. I was not picking on you, just using your words as an example, I was only pointing out how its funny that every day people install 50 amp receptacles backed by a 40 amp breaker, but when you install a 20 amp receptacle backed by a 15 amp breaker all hell breaks loose. RELAX GUYS...

chris75

210.21 (B)(1), but we are talking about a SINGLE receptacle here, not a DUPLEX.

KE2KB

Now I think I've lost it!
I look at 210.21(B)(3) in the 2005 code, and nowhere do I see that the use of a 20A receptacle on a 15A circuit is legit.
For 15A, it says "Not over 15".

So, where did I, and anyone else get this info?

I hope we can all laugh about this.

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HouseHelper

Look at 210.21(B)(1) in the 2008 as Chris pointed out. It says a single receptacle on an individual branch circuit shall have an ampere rating not less than that of the branch circuit.

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KE2KB

210.21(B)(1) only states that a single receptacle on an individual branch circuit shall have an ampere rating of not less than that of the branch circuit.
Not less than on a 15A branch is 15A, by table 210.21(B)(3).

So, what's the argument? Like I said. I think I've lost it. Spending too much time online, and reading the code<g>

Edit: Sorry HouseHelper; I cross-posted you.

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chris75

Re-read it another hundred times and you'll get it.

KE2KB

No matter how many times I want to read it, I'm not going to see that the code (either 2005 or 2008) states that a 20A single receptacle can be used on a 15A branch.

Tell me how you have arrived at this conclusion, please.

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nap

not even close. all that says is a recep shall have a rating not less than the circuit it serves. It says nothing of the sort that the recep can have a rating greater than the circuit that supplies it.

as I posted, three sections following that say that it is specifically not allowed.

try again.

HouseHelper

It says not less than. There is no prohibition on using a single receptacle that is more than.

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nap

yes there is. I posted several citations that do restrict that.

210.24 does not specify, include, or exclude single or multiple receps so it is applicable to 210.21

chris75

If you dont believe me, then would you want to show me where then a 50 amp receptacle can be backed by a 40 amp breker then?

chris75

Actually i'm 100% correct, so re-read what it says and get back to me.

Ive been down this road a thousand times, the code says what it says, a 20 amp single receptacle on a 15 amp individual amp circuit is very legal.

why cant you guys just read what it says and accept that?

HouseHelper

210.24 starts by saying"The requirements for circuits that have two or more outlets..."

210.21(B)(1) is for a single receptacle on an individual circuit.

I'm with Chris on this one.

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