Which tools have a 120V, 20A plug?

[gamp945]

Hi all,

I don't own (nor do I recall ever using) any appliance or tool that had a 5-20R plug for use with 120V, 20A receptacles.

I am aware of only a single type of tool that uses a 120V, 20A plug: high-end dust extractors / vacuums.

I am curious what other modern workshop tools or appliances use a 120V, 20A. If you know of any, please let me know! I'm trying to assess whether it is likely that I would ever own such a tool as I expand my tool collection.

 

[Gunfixr]

Well, the 5-20 link went to Amazon home page, so idk.
But, I have both a wire welder and a plasma cutter that have a 20 amp plug on them, the basic 15 amp type, but one of the blades is turned horizontal.
They did come with 15 amp plug adapters, but you cannot get the full capabilities from the machines using them.

 

[theoldwizard1]

The only device I have ever run across that had a 5-20 plug was a very old computer server.

 

[Citation]

A few older 120V air compressors have them. I've also heard of janitorial/service departments installing them on vacuum cleaners so people will only plug the vacuum into a few dedicated outlets vs just any outlet in reach (which might have other heavy loads).

 

[edc1911]

I've only seen medical equipment that have 5-20 plugs.

 

[DeeKay]

NEMA 5-15R and 5-20R outlets

We toured newly constructed homes in TN and AZ. Pulte and Del Webb. Both homes had NEMA 5-15R style outlets for the kitchen counters. I didn't look in the panel at the TN home. The home in AZ had A & B circuits on 20 A breakers, yet the outlets looked like 5-15R. My understanding is the...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[rlitman]

...If you know of any, please let me know! I'm trying to assess whether it is likely that I would ever own such a tool as I expand my tool collection.

This is one of those things that if you don't have a tool with it now, you're likely not ever going to encounter one later.

My floor sander has an L5-20 plug on it, but even that's not a 5-20.

 

[gamp945]

Thanks for the responses. This seems to confirm what I've suspected: 20A receptacles are all but useless to install. If you have a tool with a 20A plug, then you know you need a compatible receptacle and can install one easily enough.

 

[Chris705]

My electric pressure washer has the plug that the Amazon link shows….

 

[jsaw]

Shore line chargers on some Emergency vehicles use the 20 amp plug

 

[The Cobbler]

we had some floor sanders with a 20 amp plug , but they always got plugged into drier or stove receptacles with frankestein adapter

 

[ItsNemo]

The Evolution electric concrete saw has a 20 amp plug on it and will trip a 15 amp breaker if you get on it, so actually uses those 20 amps.

 

[DHCrocks]

the UPS for our server has a 20amp plug.

 

[rlitman]

we had some floor sanders with a 20 amp plug , but they always got plugged into drier or stove receptacles with frankestein adapter

The big drum sanders I'm familiar with are 230V, so they would work in a stove or dryer receptacle (most guys use clamps and a long extension cord and grab the main in your panel), but might come with a NEMA 6-20. Still not a 5-20 though unless you're thinking of an edger or square pad sander, but that would be 115V.

My four pad RO floor sander came with an L5-20, so that's close, but it still wouldn't fit in a regular 20A receptacle.

 

[Lassen Forge]

Our magnetic core drill at work had a 5-20R plug on it; we also had an adapter cord to go from it to the L5-20P outlet on our generator... The only other one I remember was our kitchen air conditioner growing up... Not too common.

 

[dscheidt]

A fair amount of commercial foodservice equipment has 5-20 plugs on it. Blenders, slicers, etc. Some of it really does use 20A, some of it is just "think about where this gets plugged in".

 

[csp]

My Century 150 amp MIG welder has a 5-20R plug on it.

 

[AA/FC]

Old school wall mount A/C units. My grandmother lived in the same apartment for the last 40 years of her life and I remember her A/C unit had the 5-20 plug.

I'm not an electrician but I have several good friends who are..... at one point I remember discussing this style of plug with one of them and I'm pretty sure I was told that a "dedicated 20amp circuit" (one breaker with only one receptacle on that circuit) must have that style of receptacle. Take that for what it's worth. (nothing. lol)

 

[rlitman]

I'm not an electrician but I have several good friends who are..... at one point I remember discussing this style of plug with one of them and I'm pretty sure I was told that a "dedicated 20amp circuit" (one breaker with only one receptacle on that circuit) must have that style of receptacle. Take that for what it's worth. (nothing. lol)

That's true, but only when the 20A circuit has only a single receptacle like this:



It does not apply when you have a duplex outlet.

 

[nadogail]

I visited a counter top shop and asked why the had 20 Amp plugs on their small tools; I was told so the employees don't steal them.
They are also replacing their small electric drills with pneumatic drills because their employees don't have compressed air at home.

 

[RTM]

I bought a portaband that had the rotating lock plug on the end, from an ex contractor. Suspect there may be similarities to their background.

 

[NC Fabricator25]

NorthStar brand electric hot water pressure washer is so equipped and will trip a 15A circuit if you try to use a short pigtail that has a 15A male / 20A female.
Edit: Will run on the 15A circuit in cold water mode (I.e., pump only), but adding the electric blower/fuel pump to fire off the diesel burner pushes it over the edge and requires the 20A circuit.

 

[The Cobbler]

The big drum sanders I'm familiar with are 230V, so they would work in a stove or dryer receptacle (most guys use clamps and a long extension cord and grab the main in your panel), but might come with a NEMA 6-20. Still not a 5-20 though unless you're thinking of an edger or square pad sander, but that would be 115V.

My four pad RO floor sander came with an L5-20, so that's close, but it still wouldn't fit in a regular 20A receptacle.

yes, the drum sanders were 240 , and we used the stove outlet normally. this was an edge sander that had a 20 amp 120v plug on it, we had a cord for stove or drier to run it on 1 leg.

 

[rcjoy]

My MIG welder uses that 20 A plug.

 

[KnurledNut]

Some 10awg extension cords have a 20A rating and use this configuration.
This can be great for running high draw items from a distance.

 

[brownbagg]

everything in my house is 20 amp

 

[ItsNemo]

everything in my house is 20 amp

You missed the point of this thread...

 

[javyLSU]

My Twin Busch scissor lift uses a 5-20R plug.