- Mar 28, 2004
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Ok, I've got this down.. You can't put a 20 amp outlet on a 30amp circuit with a 30 amp receptical let alone by its self because if you were to put enough devices on the 20 amp circuit, you could very well put more current through the outlet than it's designed for and the breaker won't trip, right? So thats why if you have 20 amp recepticals you put them on 20 amp circuits. Well I have some questions.
1. Why are you allowed to put 15amp recepticals on a 20 amp circuit (most outlets are 12guage anyways).
2. What differs between a 20 amp receptical and a 15amp receptical is the 20amp has a little "t" on one of the slits. So you've got two slits going down, and on one of the slits, comes out another line making a 3 way crossroads so to speak. So, couldn't one draw 20 amps with a 15Amp plug? (Nema 5-20R with Nema 5-15P drawing more than 15 amps)
1. Why are you allowed to put 15amp recepticals on a 20 amp circuit (most outlets are 12guage anyways).
2. What differs between a 20 amp receptical and a 15amp receptical is the 20amp has a little "t" on one of the slits. So you've got two slits going down, and on one of the slits, comes out another line making a 3 way crossroads so to speak. So, couldn't one draw 20 amps with a 15Amp plug? (Nema 5-20R with Nema 5-15P drawing more than 15 amps)