Lever Edge electrical switches & outlets

Discussion in 'Fred's House of Pancakes' started by Stevewoods, Jul 18, 2026 at 3:47 PM.

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  1. Mr.Vanvandenburg

    Mr.Vanvandenburg Senior Member

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    Everyone knows there can be many sockets on either 15 or 20 amp duplex circuits. Two 10 amp loads can be plugged into a single 15 amp duplex outlet. The circuit breaker sees no difference. The invitation is the same to do so. Then add an extension cord with three plugs on it and get three more invitations. Makes no sense to me, that having a 20 amp outlet on a 15 amp circuit poses any issue. But does make sense to me a 15 outlet on a 20 could.
     
    #21 Mr.Vanvandenburg, Jul 22, 2026 at 5:46 PM
  2. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    As suggested conventional wisdom, "common sense" or whatever is sometimes wrong. Typical 20 amp appliance or garage loads are not series connected to other outlets. Multiple continuous loads will trip a 15 amp breaker if they reach 19-20 amps. Just not right away.

    Making an argument the electrical code and design engineering "does not make sense" is unlikely to hold up in court.
     
    #22 rjparker, Jul 22, 2026 at 6:10 PM
  3. Stevewoods

    Stevewoods Senior Member

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    Gosh. I solved my 20 amp issue, where I installed the 20 amp black outlets in the kitchen on what I thought was a 15 amp setup.

    As I noted earlier, I looked and one 20 amp circuit breaker was labeled kitchen. Just checked and my black 20 amp outlets are on the 20 amp circuit. Yeh!

    I do remember, when I had the kitchen remodeled some 18 years ago, the electrican was all flopdoddle over installing an induction cooktop. Induction appliances were sort of new to the home cooking scene and he was bathering around about how induction drew so much power, so I guess as long as the walls were torn to pieces, he ran 12 AWG to everything.

    You would think, just for safety, that nowadays, the code would call for 20 amp all through a house.

    Anyway, my black outlets are safe.
     
    #23 Stevewoods, Jul 22, 2026 at 6:57 PM
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  4. Mr.Vanvandenburg

    Mr.Vanvandenburg Senior Member

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    You haven’t said why the code says it’s ok to have several 15 amp sockets on one 15 amp circuit. Kitchens usually have two outlets on a 20 amp circuit. Each outlet has two sockets 20 amps each, so four invitations to overload. Every 15 or 20 amp gfci has the bottom connection to go to the next outlet, protecting both, or more than two.
    I have an electric kettle and air fryer on one 20 amp outlet and circuit in the kitchen, since there are two plugs inviting me on a duplex outlet. They each draw about 13-14 amps. I only use one at a time, maybe I’ll put em both on and wait to see how long it takes to throw the breaker. The kettle heats water fast maybe no time to BURN THE HOUSE DOWN. So you are always safe as long as breaker and wire is correct, up to a certain wire length. I suspect at 28 amps the wire is going to get pretty hot. It’s close to the panel though. 15 amp duplex outlet is not rated for this.
    A very close neighbor had a house fire in the middle of the night recently. I heard all the fire trucks, and wondered what kind of tree fell that chain saws were running full speed so long. I am not sure what wall they made an opening on or why. Eventually everyone will talk about it to get the scoop. I suspect electrical.
     
    #24 Mr.Vanvandenburg, Jul 22, 2026 at 7:27 PM
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