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In Reply to: RE: Circuit breaker - Equipment protection fuse question. posted by jea48 on June 12, 2014 at 06:37:18
If you do change the breaker to 20A, you also need to change the receptacles to 20A
Dan Santoni
Follow Ups:
If you do change the breaker to 20A, you also need to change the receptacles to 20A
Dan Santoni
Hi Dan,
Per NEC electrical code 2 or more 15 amp receptacles can be installed on a 20 amp branch circuit. (A duplex receptacle is 2 receptacles.)
Jim
Things must be different where you live. By code each bathroom needs to be on a separate GFI circuit. A kitchen needs to have 2 GFI circuits and a receptacle needs to be on every 12" of counter. A garage needs it's own GFI circuit. up to 2 bedrooms can be on a circuit. Smoke detectors need to be tied together and on it's own circuit. there is no limit on living, dining or rec rooms but a receptacle needs to be on every 12' of wall. There needs to be at least 1 covered receptacle outside. The rest are 220 appliances. Most electricians use 15 amp circuits (14 ga wire) for the living room and lights and most use 15 amp receptacles on 20 amp circuits. Forgive me if I am wrong, but that is what happens in the real world. Also a receptacle cannot be over 48" high on an inside wall but there is no lower limit. I am afraid to say anything because codes may have changed in the last 5 years. I will give you an example. NEC code used to require 1 72" ground rod sticking just above the ground. One day an inspector tripped over it and now they require 2 ground rods completely buried because they got sued...
Things must be different where you live. By code each bathroom needs to be on a separate GFI circuit. A kitchen needs to have 2 GFI circuits and a receptacle needs to be on every 12" of counter. A garage needs it's own GFI circuit. up to 2 bedrooms can be on a circuit. Smoke detectors need to be tied together and on it's own circuit. there is no limit on living, dining or rec rooms but a receptacle needs to be on every 12' of wall. There needs to be at least 1 covered receptacle outside. The rest are 220 appliances. Most electricians use 15 amp circuits (14 ga wire) for the living room and lights and most use 15 amp receptacles on 20 amp circuits. Forgive me if I am wrong, but that is what happens in the real world. Also a receptacle cannot be over 48" high on an inside wall but there is no lower limit. I am afraid to say anything because codes may have changed in the last 5 years. I will give you an example. NEC code used to require 1 72" ground rod sticking just above the ground. One day an inspector tripped over it and now they require 2 ground rods completely buried because they got sued...
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RE: Circuit breaker - Equipment protection fuse question.
Posted by Blackdog (M) on June 12, 2014 at 12:16:19
In Reply to: RE: Circuit breaker - Equipment protection fuse question. posted by jea48 on June 12, 2014 at 06:37:18:
If you do change the breaker to 20A, you also need to change the receptacles to 20A
Dan Santoni
> > > > > > > > > > >
My response to dan.
Hi Dan,
Per NEC electrical code 2 or more 15 amp receptacles can be installed on a 20 amp branch circuit. (A duplex receptacle is 2 receptacles.)
Jim
> > > > > > > > > >
cloudwalker,
NEC 2011 Table 210.21(B)(3) Receptacle Rating for Various Size Circuits
Circuit Rating ...... Receptacle Rating
...(Amperes) ...........(Amperes)
...15 .................. Not over 15
...20 ................... 15 or 20
...30 ..................... 30
...40 ................. 40 or 50
...50 .................... 50
As you can see from the table a NEMA 5-20R 20 amp receptacle can only be installed on a 20 amp branch circuit.
Note that two or more 15 receptacles can be installed on a 20 amp circuit per NEC code. A duplex is 2 receptacles.
NEC 2011 210.21(B)(3)
Receptacle Rating. Where connected to a branch circuit supplying two or more receptacles or outlets, receptacles ratings shall conform to the values listed in table 210.21(B)(3),
The breaker handle rating determines the size of the branch circuit.
Example a 15 amp branch circuit is a circuit with a 15 amp breaker. Minimum size wire used, #14 awg ga. The wire can be bigger than #14 but not smaller.Remember NEC Code is bare minimum electrical safety standards.
Residential electrical contractors use #14 awg ga wire for 15 amp branch circuits because NEC Code says that is the bare minimum size they can use. A contractor can use #12 awg ga wire for 15 amp branch circuits if he so chooses? Why doesn't he? LOL, it would be money out of his pocket that's why. The home builder sure isn't going to pay for it.
Jim
Edits: 06/18/14
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