Doug Miller wrote:

16A is the limit for a continuous load (explicitly defined by the NEC as
maximum current for 3 hours or more) on a 20A circuit.

16A is also the limit for any *single* cord-and-plug-connected load on a 20A
circuit.

Thanks for the clarifications.

In this particular case it seems likely that a 2HP DC is
cord-and-plug-connected, no?

Chris