20 amp recepticle

[PoorOwner]

Can I put a 20 amp duplex wired to a 20 amp breaker.. can they continue to feed downstream or does it have to be the only recepticle. It is the one with a smalk horizontal slot added.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Do u need the 20a 5-20 outlet?

15a 5-15 duplex outlets can be used on 20a circuits. Theyre capable of 20a pass through.

Code says that if u use a single outlet(not a duplex) then the outlet needs to be rated for the ampacity of the circuit. A duplex outlet is considered 2 outlets so u can use a 15a rated outlet on a 20a circuit.

Believe it or not the only difference between 15a and 20a outlets is the faceplate/T-slot.

This discussion comes up quite a bit on here. Did u try searching for previous threads on this subject?

 

[ForceFed70]

Can I put a 20 amp duplex wired to a 20 amp breaker.. can they continue to feed downstream or does it have to be the only recepticle. It is the one with a smalk horizontal slot added.

To answer the question: Yes you can add additional outlets. That restriction (only 1 plug/outlet) only applies to circuits of a certain size/type (E.G. Oven or Dryer) and not to general receptacles.

 

[PoorOwner]

Thanks, I though the 20a have better plug retention..

Also i can wire 2 different circuit into one square conduit box right?

2 duplex receptacle, one will be 15 and one will be 20 amp breaker. I wanted a way for me to remember without writing with a sharpie.

 

[ForceFed70]

Thanks, I though the 20a have better plug retention..

Also i can wire 2 different circuit into one square conduit box right?

2 duplex receptacle, one will be 15 and one will be 20 amp breaker. I wanted a way for me to remember without writing with a sharpie.

That's a lot of 120VAC in a small/tight location but yes it's allowed.

Have you considered running split receptacles instead? Seems like it would be a much better solution for what you are trying to do.

 

[CGT80]

Thanks, I though the 20a have better plug retention..

Also i can wire 2 different circuit into one square conduit box right?

2 duplex receptacle, one will be 15 and one will be 20 amp breaker. I wanted a way for me to remember without writing with a sharpie.

This seems backwards.

It is easy to label a box or receptacle and I haven't ever had a client ask for a 20a circuit to be replaced with a 15a circuit. If this is new work, or if you have #12 wire, then use a 20 amp breaker.

If they are both 20 amp breakers already, then I suppose you could use one 15a and one 20a receptacle. Another option would be to use a different colored receptacle for one of them. In commercial buildings, it isn't uncommon to mark the receptacle with the circuit number and marking the rating of the breaker for that circuit does not seem out of line. You could put a colored dot of paint, or a sticker, on the cover plate to identify one from the other as well.

 

[PoorOwner]

Thanks I will return the 20 amp receptacle and put a label on the 20a breaker's receptacle.
The 15a circuit came from a quad breaker that give a spare 15a. 15/30/30/15.
But I cannot retrofit the other 15 into 20 due to already existing with 14 ga wires.. Nor do they make a 15/30/30/20 that I can find. hope that make sense.

 

[CGT80]

Yeah, that makes sense..........I think. You are dealing with existing wire and breaker limitations.

The commercial or heavy duty receptacles may have better plug retention. So, yes, some 20amp receptacles likely fall into this category, but I think they make 15a with better retention as well.

Sometimes the higher retention is a PITA and isn't really needed if the plug and receptacle are both in good shape.

It all comes down to personal preference for some of it, so do what will work best for you, in your garage.

20a receptacle on a 20a circuit should be ok, but I wouldn't do a 20a on a 15a circuit. I used to think that the 20a receptacles and plugs were different but eventually figured out it was just a safety issue.

 

[pattenp]

.........
20a receptacle on a 20a circuit should be ok, but I wouldn't do a 20a on a 15a circuit. I used to think that the 20a receptacles and plugs were different but eventually figured out it was just a safety issue.

It's a NEC violation to use 20A outlets on a 15A circuit. Safety issue???... 20A 120V outlets are different than 15A 120V outlets simply because you can plug in an appliance that has a 20A plug.

 

[MagKarl]

My plan for my 20A receptacle circuits is to use 20A breaker and 12g wire with 15A receptacles, in the event I get a tool someday that has a real 20A plug, I'll swap out one of the 15A receptacles for a 20A. Somebody please correct me if that is not a good idea.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

My plan for my 20A receptacle circuits is to use 20A breaker and 12g wire with 15A receptacles, in the event I get a tool someday that has a real 20A plug, I'll swap out one of the 15A receptacles for a 20A. Somebody please correct me if that is not a good idea.

Why bother? You've got everything else for the 20A circuit, spend the extra $1.00 and get the 20A recepts. It's not like you can't use 15A appliances with them...

Tommy

 

[pattenp]

My plan for my 20A receptacle circuits is to use 20A breaker and 12g wire with 15A receptacles, in the event I get a tool someday that has a real 20A plug, I'll swap out one of the 15A receptacles for a 20A. Somebody please correct me if that is not a good idea.

That will most likely be a cold day in hell. If 20A it will probably be 240V. I'm going to disagree with LS6 Tommy and say just save your money and use 15A duplex outlets.

 

[PoorOwner]

Pattenp so you are telling us they make nothing that has a 20amp plug? My understanding is that some welders in 110v might have it.

 

[checkthisout]

Pattenp so you are telling us they make nothing that has a 20amp plug? My understanding is that some welders in 110v might have it.

I agree with him. I've never seen a 20 amp plug on anything in my life.

 

[pattenp]

Pattenp so you are telling us they make nothing that has a 20amp plug? My understanding is that some welders in 110v might have it.

No, I'm not saying that. I think power equipment used in a home/residential shop that's 120V will with all odds not have the 5-20 style plug on it. As checkthisout said, I can't recall any 120V tool I've used or come in contact with having a 5-20 plug on it.

 

[sberry]

The only place I have seen 20A outside a real factory is cleaning equipment for institutions. Even then its not due to the fact the appliance really needs 20 but to prevent cleaning tools from being plugged in to other general use circuits.
We don't want the janitor to trip up a circuit in a lab or where other sensitive equipment may be on it. Look in hallways in schools etc sometime and you can see 20.

 

[csp]

Sears Craftsman 150amp rated 120v welder with a 20 amp plug.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

To answer the question: Yes you can add additional outlets. That restriction (only 1 plug/outlet) only applies to circuits of a certain size/type (E.G. Oven or Dryer) and not to general receptacles.

Thats incorrect.

U need to read 210.21(b)(1)....

Thanks, I thought the 20a have better plug retention..

Also i can wire 2 different circuit into one square conduit box right?

2 duplex receptacle, one will be 15 and one will be 20 amp breaker. I wanted a way for me to remember without writing with a sharpie.

No difference in retention between 5-15 and 5-20 outlets. They have almost the same construction the only difference being T-slot and faceplate.

 

[sberry]

Sears Craftsman 150amp rated 120v welder with a 20 amp plug.

I have heard there are a few out there, never ran across one. I don't think they do it anymore.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Cheap receptacle vs expensive one. Note the expensive one, spec or commercial grade, on the right, has contacts for a NEMA 5-15/20 plugs, even though the faceplate has only the vertical slots of a NEMA 5-15. Same innards, different faceplate.

Second example is a Hubbell provided illustration, showing the NEMA 5-15 faceplate and the innards of a 5-15/20

 

[CGT80]

It's a NEC violation to use 20A outlets on a 15A circuit. Safety issue???... 20A 120V outlets are different than 15A 120V outlets simply because you can plug in an appliance that has a 20A plug.

Yes, a safety issue..........exactly as I stated. I know the difference.

Running a 20am load on a 15 amp circuit qualifies as a safety issue in my book, and a 20a plug can prevent someone from doing this.


That is interesting that the contacts on the 15a receptacle are the same. They can make one body for both and snap on the face plate that is needed for the finished product being made.

The push in wiring vs. screw down is a great point. I will not use the push in style as I have seen too many of them fail. The back wire style with a screw down connection are a great compromise, in my opinion. The traditional side wire/screw down are fine. After installing hundreds of receptacles, you get good at bending a hook on the end of the wires.

I have worked on customers' animal dryers that have 125v 20a plugs on the cord..........molded ends and built that way. The Lamb motors will easily pull 9amps each at 122-123v on average and all of the decent dryers use two vacuum cleaner motors. I want to say it was an edemco brand dryer and the company went out of business. Double K dryers use a 15a 125v plug but still have two motors. Our business is an authorized repair center for Double K but we work on most brands of grooming equipment. Many customers have problems with overloading circuits in their shops due to running multiple (sometimes 4-5) force dryers at one time. Even a 20a receptacle would not help here, unless they had only a single per breaker and didn't use the duplex receptacles. With that said, 125v 20a plugs are not all that common but they do exist. Some may even get cut off and replaced with 15a versions when the customer finds they don't have the right receptacles.

 

[PoorOwner]

Sometimes I am on top of a ladder I just use the backside screw down clamp. I don't do the loop thing except for the ground wire.

I do replace the spring loaded kind if I see one.

Also I have been getting the leviton PRO receptacle which seems to have good plug retention. One was so stiff I couldn't plug in the first time. But in the garage I want good retention.

 

[sberry]

Maybe some commercial kitchen appliances too.

 

[dfiler2]

One thing to keep in mind is that I believe GFCI will be required and if running two circuits you can only share the neutral if you use a 2 pole GFCI breaker. Sorry if this was mentioned above but I didn't see it.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Running a 20a load on a 15a circuit qualifies as a safety issue in my book, and a 20a plug can prevent someone from doing this.

I think I have only seen a 20A plug on one item (a computer) in my entire life time.

You can use 15A outlets on a 20A circuit, but I do not.

 

[sberry]

It took some work to come up with 20A items.

You can use 15A outlets on a 20A circuit, but I do not.

I got a fair size shop. I am sure at some point there is 20A ends on some tools, I don't own any. A thing to remember is one is using a 15 end anyway and unless it is a dedicated circuit I might not want a 20 on it.
Lots of 12 cords come with 15 ends, even some 10. With a 12 wire one can add multiple recepts without additional over current protection.

 

[sberry]

I believe I have seen janitorial with 14 wire and a 20A end. In a home garage the operator can monitor the fact he has the beer fridge on a different circuit than the small air comp that is notorious for breaker trips.
I just roofed a house and did put it on a circuit pretty much dedicated. Its about 10 ft from the service and its sturdy. Sure as sheet trip. We added a 50 ft 14 cord and it limited the trips to about twice the rest of the job.

 

[sberry]

Most common cases would be fixed equipment circuits and for service equipment. I had a bud wiring something the other day and picked one out of a box of parts, after he did it I would have changed had I caught it but all the wire in the circuit is 12, its really not likely to get used for 20A
I have a couple tool circuits I installed when I built that have them, never needed the feature.