Re: Electricans, quick question
[Re: Dirty D]
#7470124
01/23/22 03:36 PM
01/23/22 03:36 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,161 Piney va. soon be 19
cotton
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If you're putting in a new plug just use a 15 ampe one.
John 3/16
ifin your gonna be dumb ya gotta be tough VTA life member
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Re: Electricans, quick question
[Re: Dirty D]
#7470161
01/23/22 04:29 PM
01/23/22 04:29 PM
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Joined: Sep 2013
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Mike in A-town
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Are you asking if you can tap off of the 220 volt/30 amp circuit that's already in the receptacle box to add a 220 volt/15 amp receptacle? And you'll only use one piece of equipment at a time?
Mike
One man with a gun may control 100 others who have none.
Vladimir Lenin
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Re: Electricans, quick question
[Re: cotton]
#7470570
01/23/22 09:27 PM
01/23/22 09:27 PM
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,939 east central WI
Dirty D
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If you're putting in a new plug just use a 15 ampe one. I have to at a min add a new outlet, should it be a 15 amp to match the machine or just change the machine to 30 and add a 30 outlet.
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Re: Electricans, quick question
[Re: Mike in A-town]
#7470573
01/23/22 09:30 PM
01/23/22 09:30 PM
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,939 east central WI
Dirty D
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Are you asking if you can tap off of the 220 volt/30 amp circuit that's already in the receptacle box to add a 220 volt/15 amp receptacle? And you'll only use one piece of equipment at a time?
Mike using a 220/30amp breaker/circuit, am adding a 12 amp machine to the circuit, just add a 15 amp outlet to match the plug already on the machine (15 amp)? I only can use one machine at a time, if I ran all 3 at the same time I'm sure i'd probably trip the breaker.
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Re: Electricans, quick question
[Re: slowpoke]
#7470586
01/23/22 09:39 PM
01/23/22 09:39 PM
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Dirty D
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Problem is ... When you over fuse a 15 amp plug , wire , and receptical ... It could over heat and not trip the 30 amp breaker ...potential fire risk .. Fuse the circuit at the maximum circuit ampacity and NOT beyond .. If one should never use a machine or appliance less than the circuit what about all the 20 amp house circuits that one plugs in and uses a 2amp appliance? its the same thing, a 20 amp circuit with a 2 amp appliance or a 30 amp circuit and a 15 amp machine. Can't have an independent circuit for every load. besides all that I thought that if you had a lets say a 19 amp load you'd want to over size it to 25 or 30, not put it on a 20 amp circuit.
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Re: Electricans, quick question
[Re: Dirty D]
#7470633
01/23/22 10:10 PM
01/23/22 10:10 PM
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H2ORat
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If you're putting in a new plug just use a 15 ampe one. I have to at a min add a new outlet, should it be a 15 amp to match the machine or just change the machine to 30 and add a 30 outlet. thats what i would do -- that way you can plug in the equipment at either outlet and one extension cord will work with either machine. always lean towards the higher amperage plug type and size the wire on your extension cords to the higher amp draw machines.
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Re: Electricans, quick question
[Re: Dirty D]
#7470648
01/23/22 10:18 PM
01/23/22 10:18 PM
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Joined: Mar 2019
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maintenanceguy
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Sounds like you already have three receptacles on one circuit. You are only using two receptacles now and want to plug a machine into the third, unused receptacle. Right?
If I got it right, your 30A breaker will protect devices (receptacles) that are rated at least 30A. If you use a 15A receptacle for your new 15A machine, and that machine fails drawing 25A, your breaker won't trip but your receptacle might melt, or fail in some way - since it's only designed to carry 15A.
But...if your new 15A machine fails drawing 25A, the new machine might also burst into flames, or do something else bad because it's internal wiring is only rated for 15A.
I don't always do it the right way. In my shop, I cheat a little once in a while. But the right way would be a new 15A circuit with a 15A breaker, wiring rated for 15A, and a receptacle rated for 15A.
-Ryan
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Re: Electricans, quick question
[Re: maintenanceguy]
#7470718
01/23/22 11:02 PM
01/23/22 11:02 PM
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Joined: Nov 2014
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Dirty D
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Sounds like you already have three receptacles on one circuit. You are only using two receptacles now and want to plug a machine into the third, unused receptacle. Right?
Close but no. I have 2 receptacles on the circuit and the wires for a 3rd lacking only the receptacle. My question is the new machine has a 15amp male plug. should I finish the 3rd line with a 15 amp female to fit the new machines 15 amp male plug or should I just cut the male plug off the new machine and replace it with a 30amp male plug and wire in a matching 30amp female.
If I got it right, your 30A breaker will protect devices (receptacles) that are rated at least 30A. If you use a 15A receptacle for your new 15A machine, and that machine fails drawing 25A, your breaker won't trip but your receptacle might melt, or fail in some way - since it's only designed to carry 15A.
But...if your new 15A machine fails drawing 25A, the new machine might also burst into flames, or do something else bad because it's internal wiring is only rated for 15A.
How do you you account for any item that is sufficiently lower in amperage being plugged into a much higher circuit, like a 2 amp appliance being plugged into a 20amp typical house circuit? It happens all the time. There is a risk, yes, but its not feasable to have a separate circuit for every thing.
I don't always do it the right way. In my shop, I cheat a little once in a while. But the right way would be a new 15A circuit with a 15A breaker, wiring rated for 15A, and a receptacle rated for 15A.
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Re: Electricans, quick question
[Re: Dirty D]
#7470772
01/23/22 11:37 PM
01/23/22 11:37 PM
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Joined: Mar 2019
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maintenanceguy
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How do you you account for any item that is sufficiently lower in amperage being plugged into a much higher circuit, like a 2 amp appliance being plugged into a 20amp typical house circuit?
Appliances in the US are required to be "UL listed". Part of the testing makes sure that an appliance designed to be used on a 20A circuit is safe plugged into a 20A circuit, even if the actual amp draw is less than 20A.
-Ryan
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Re: Electricans, quick question
[Re: Dirty D]
#7470884
01/24/22 06:21 AM
01/24/22 06:21 AM
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Feedinggrounds
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Why not add a mini box with one proper size breaker next to outlet, or close to machine? Is machine location a dedicated spot? A small box and 15 amp breaker in Square D brand are about $30. I just added 2 for two 220V waste oil furnaces. I added 20 amp breaker per specs for furnace, and mini box at each furnace as a service disconnect, without having to walk around machines and almost 50 feet to kill furnace power for maintenance. Furnaces are hard wired with armor cable.
Last edited by Feedinggrounds; 01/24/22 06:24 AM.
you're only allowed so many sunrises... I aim to see every one of them!
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Re: Electricans, quick question
[Re: Dirty D]
#7471570
01/24/22 06:22 PM
01/24/22 06:22 PM
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 10,404 Northeast Oklahoma
Mike in A-town
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If the wire coming off of the 30 amp breaker is good for 30 or more amps, go ahead and add your 15 amp recep to the circuit... Just be aware, an inspector wouldn't like it, and your insurance company wouldn't either.
Also, keep in mind that if a fault develops in your 15 amp machine and it begins to draw too much current you run a good risk of burning up the machine AND/OR melting the 15 amp recep and possibly starting a fire.
I won't go all electrical inspector on you... But there is some possible risk involved.
Mike
One man with a gun may control 100 others who have none.
Vladimir Lenin
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