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D Smith

(Doug Miller) writes:

In article , D Smith wrote:
(Doug Miller) writes:

In article , sylvan butler
wrote:
On Sat, 20 Jan 2007 13:42:27 GMT, Doug Miller wrote:
In article , sylvan
butler
wrote:

Since the L14-30 is a 30amp system, if you use 20amp outlets on each
leg, you may draw 50% more power thru an outlet than it is designed to
handle.

How do you figure that?

What is the amperage rating on an L14-30? 30 amps.

What is the amerage rating on a standard "duplex" outlet? 15 or 20 amps.

How do you propose plugging a 30A device into a 15A or 20A receptacle?

IIRC, his original proposal was to wire this system to several outlets.
Let's see: 15A off the toaster oven in the top plug, 15A off the hair
dryer in the bottom plug, 15A off the table saw in the plug on the other
wall, 15A off the garage door opener running off the extension cord so he
can get his car out of the house.... Do we see anything that adds up to
over 30A here?

Nothing that overloads any of the *receptacles* -- which was the claim I was
objecting to: "... you may draw 50% more power through an outlet that it was
designed to handle" is utter nonsense.

If it's a duplex receptacle, trying to get 15A off each plug will do
it.

...saying nothing about the defective toaster oven that shorts out and
draws 29A all on its own through its 15A plug...

Of course, it's completely Code-compliant to install a 15A receptacle on a 20A
circuit anyway, and your hypothetical toaster would cause just as big a
problem under that circumstance, too.

OK. But if the 15A receptacle is the only 15A-rated part of that, then
it's at the receptacle and the device that the over-current condition will
exist.

Again, not remembering the details of the original post, it sounded
like the individual was going to run several outlets off the generator. If
he is using 14ga wire everywhere, and does NOT have 15A breakers in there
somewhere, he will not be code compliant. Overheated wire inside the wall
is not a good idea.