On Tue, 4 Sep 2007 22:47:45 -0700, "42etus"
wrote:



And where do you have 20 amp breaker protection on domestic
circuits????? In North America?????
It has been commonplace, though not required, to wire outlets in homes on 20
amp circuits for years now, at least in the U.S.

I'm talking Canada, where copper AWG14 and 15 amps is still the
"standard".

Virtually all domestic branch circuits are 15 amp fused(or breaker
protected) 14 AWG copper or 12 awg Aluminum cable.
Wrong! Typically residential wiring uses 12 AWG wire on 20 amp circuits for
wall outlets.
Aluminum wire is NOT allowed in residential wiring except as service
entrance conductors and hasn't been for years.

Virtually all computer power cords are 18AWG fine stranded copper, as
are MOST lamp cords and many light duty extention cords.
That is the point I was trying to make.

Virtually all domestic 110 volt receptacles are 15 amp and it is
AGAINST CODE to install 20 amp receptacles on a 14 guage 15 amp
circuit.
Yes, but FWIW it is NOT against the NEC to install 15 amp receptacles on 20
amp branch circuits.

I believe it still is in Canada.
Our rules tend to be a bit more "conservative" than in the USA.
The OCCAISIONAL dedicated circuit for things like room air
conditioners are wired with 12awg and protected to 20 amp - using 20
amp receptacles and the odd "T" type power plugs
That would be a very small A/C unit indeed since the NEC requires that an
appliance on a dedicated circuit draw no more than 75 % of the circuit's
rating, or in the case of a 20 amp circuit, 15 amps. An appliance that draws
15 amps is not likely to have a NEMA 5-20P (odd T type) plug.
42
Lots of window air conditioners up here, 10,000 BTU? are rated at
something like 13 or 14 amps, and have standard 15 amp plugs - which
fit just fine in a 20 amp plug. Many people have 20 amp circuits
installed to run these to avoid the voltage drop associated with
lighter wiring, and to handle the startup surge more effectively.

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