What is the difference between 15 and 20 amp breaker

My microwave is plugged in a 15 amp outlet, don't know what happened, but the outlet some how shorted out , microwave was not damaged, I tested it on a different outlet and works fine,, I replaced the outlet with an 20 amp outlet thinking this will prevent the outlet from over heating, the circuit is still 15 amp, is this ok.??

I would think it's okay as long as someone doesn't plug something that truly requires over 15 amps. Maybe mark the outlet with some text that says 15 amp? That's what I would do. I would check the wire and breaker and see what size it is. If it's a 15 amp breaker and the wire is 14 then go back to a 15 amp receptacle. Not safe and also a code violation. Older homes usually have no ground.

No code violation. Unless you want to run new wire. If the house is old and the outlets have no ground. You would be wise to use a ground-fault circuit interrupter GFCI outlet. I second replacing ungrounded receptacles with GFI receptacles if a ground cannot be achieved from the device box. This is what we do in DC regularly. If I have a 15 amp breaker, can I install 20 amp outlets? This would, at the very least, trip the 15 amp breaker.

At worst, it could be a fire hazard. It is also a code violation. If you don't plug anything that requires over 15 amp draw, you're fine. The newer appliances that draw over 20 amps have a different style plug apparently. To use 20 amps, you need to be wired with 12 gauge, the same gauge wire that is used for baseboard heaters, hot water tanks. This is how you identify 15 and 20 amp receptacles.

While you may not exceed the amperage, you will be violating code, and if it does mess up, you'll burn the wire before the breaker trips. Not the place you want the weakest link. The misinformation on this thread is staggering! The 20A receptacle outlet has the special neutral configuration, like a cross. This identifies it as a 20A outlet. So on a typical kitchen counter 20A circuit with say 4 receptacle outlets, you would have to use 15A rated receptacles.

If only 1 outlet existed for a fixed appliance say a disposal or dishwasher, then use a dedicated 20A circuit with the 20A receptacle.

I want to reiterate an earlier point, that this dedicated circuit needs a minimum of 12 AWG wire run to it, serviced by a 20 amp breaker. Great stuff! Thanks to all who have added input. What type of 20A circuit breaker should be used and what are the pros and cons? How do I know if my breaker box can take another added circuit and not encounter an overload issue i. Should spot switch have same amp reading as breaker? Should amp of spit switch match Geico amp and amp at main breaker box?

Should amp of switch match that of Ground fault and amp of breaker at main breaker box. If it is being said that only one 20 amp duplex outlet can be on any 20 amp circuit that must be dedicated, why do I see electrical how to books by Taunton Press, CodeCheck Electrical Table 9 , etc. It's a signal to people using the outlet. Appliances with a cord that needs the cross are for example some window air conditioners and they use too many amps alone that anything else on that circuit would blow the breaker.

They need a dedicated outlet. The outlet itself doesn't have stronger contacts whether its a 15 or 20 amp. The weak spots on a 15 amp circuit are the wire and the breaker, not the outlet itself. Kitchen equipment, on the other hand, is considered a larger consumer and therefore needs 20 amp outlets that are wired to volt circuits.

Sector regulations stipulate that a 20 amp outlet is set up on an individual branch 20 amp circuit, which means there is only one recipient at the end of that connection.

This type of grid is issued with circuit interrupters GFCI meant to protect the system by shutting it down in case of overload. The greatest number of household electric networks use outlets with a 15 amp rating, basically because they are cheaper than the 20 amp ones and they can also connect to 20 amp circuits. Devices that come with 15 amp plugs, like lamps or ceiling fixtures, can use either one of the electric circuits available in residential grids.

The 20 amp outlets are designated for big consumption appliances and power tools, like air compressors, so it is not unusual to find them in almost every kitchen and sometimes even in garages. The wires from a household electric circuit can carry up to 20 amps and in most settings, there are a few 15 amp recipients that connect to a 20 amp circuit breaker.

The reason behind that is to allow several devices to plug in to the same 20 amp circuit, without overloading the system. If the power usage exceeds 20 amps, the circuit breaker will discontinue the circuit and the only way to restart it is to plug out one or a couple of devices before resetting the electric network. In the end, it is not a question of 15 amp vs 20 amp outlet, but rather choosing the best fit for your household electric needs. This includes not only the type of outlets, but also the number of circuits, the number and type of receptacles, and so on.

This is why working with a licensed, experienced electrician is important. State State CA. Project Details. If you are a homeowner or business owner within a 20 mile radius of Redondo Beach and are looking for the best electrical contractor in the South Bay, then call Penna Electric.

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However, a amp GFCI outlet may not be installed to a amp circuit. If you are looking to install a amp outlet, make sure:. For commercial and industrial power distribution, the circuit breakers will have a higher amperage. If you want to calculate how many outlets can be installed on a volt and amp circuit, its simple.

Lucky for you we took the math out of the equation and made this chart. Total Outlets Allowed. Lighting, for example is normally run on a amp circuit.