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Doug Miller Doug Miller is offline
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Default Using #14 wire on a 20A if plugged in

In article . com, " wrote:
On Oct 1, 8:55?am, (Doug Miller) wrote:
In article om,

" wrote:


On Oct 1, 8:10?am, (Doug Miller) wrote:
In article . com,
" wrote:


On Oct 1, 6:47?am, (Doug Miller) wrote:
In article ,
wrote:
Here's a puzzler......


I put a permanent wall fan in my barn at the eaves. [...] I did not

hard wire
to the outlet, I just put a grounded plug on the end of the romex and
plugged it in to the outlet.[...]
My question is whether using #14 wires is up to code, when it's not
hard wired?


Yes. The Code basically stops at the receptacle. (This is an
oversimplification, but it gets the point across.)


the fire hazard is the same,,,,,,,,,,, bard fires are nasty..


WHAT fire hazard?


any time anyone plugs a device into a circuit capable of carrying
enough current to cause overheating thats a fire hazard.


And where exactly did you get the idea that the OP's fan is going to draw that
much current?

You realize, don't you, that all over your house you have appliances with
18-ga power cords plugged into outlets on 15A and 20A circuits?

What's the difference?


thats my point, every home is filled with fire hazards,,,,,,,,


Speak for yourself. Some of us know how to avoid creating them -- either in
reality or in our imaginations.

[snip irrelevant anecdote]
whats more likely to cause a fire?

a 14 gauge romex carrying 20 amps

or a 16 gauge extension cord beat up by use carrying 15 amps laying on
carpet?


Obviously the latter -- but so what? *Neither* has *anything* to do with the
question the OP asked.

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again.