alt.energy.homepower

On Mon, 24 Sep 2007 17:34:40 GMT, "Pete C." < @ >
wrote:

>clare, at, wrote:
>>
>> On Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:10:22 GMT, invalid@ (Beachcomber)
>> wrote:
>> >The key concern is overloads. Both 15 and 20 amp breakers will trip
>> >on direct shorts (if they are working properly).
>> >
>> >There is a tradeoff.
>> >
>> >20A circuits have a convenience factor with the ability to delivery a
>> >considerable greater amount of power to a given situation. A typical
>> >example today would be a home office with multiple monitors, printers,
>> >computers and accessories in addition to whatever other routine loads
>> >(vacuum cleaners, electric heaters, etc.) are placed on the circuit.
>>
>> The CORRECT solution to this situation is a split 15 amp circuit.
>> 15 amps to the top outlet, 15 to the bottom. Done by using 14/3 cable
>> and double breakers. The legal way is a "tied breaker" which means if
>> you blow one, it trips the other as well. This is to prevent half of
>> the box being live.
>> Untied breakers are often used for this reason.
>
>Doing that will also put the two outlets on opposite poles / phases,
>giving 240V between the upper and lower hot connections. I'm not sure
>how that works with the ratings of the break off tabs on a duplex
>receptacle. At any rate a hinky solution at best.

Not "hinkey" Required by code in kitchen countertop applications in
Canada. The breakoff tabs are there for that purpose. You remove them.
>
>The truly correct solution is to just install more circuits in locations
>that need them. Basically instead of the all too common situation of
>every receptacle in a room being on a single 15A or 20A they should be
>individual circuits or at least two circuits alternated so any given
>location is within reach of both circuits.
>
>The alleged safety concerns of 18ga lamp cord on a 20A vs. 15A circuit
>are pretty much all bunk. The wire is rated at less than half of what
>even the 15A circuit is rated at, the 20A circuit introduces no
>additional risk. In both cases the circuit breaker properly protects
>what it is designed to protect - the wires in the walls. In neither case
>is the circuit breaker supposed to be the protection for the lamp cord
>and the liklihood of a fault developing in the lamp cord that would trip
>a 15A breaker, but not trip a 20A breaker is virtually non existent.


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