"MiamiCuse" wrote in
:

I am a dummy when it comes to electrical.

When you say 20 amps versus 15 amps sockets. I have two electrical
panels, one for each wing of the house. The circuit breakers are all
20A and above and the wirings are all 12 gauge. Of course the big
appliances have higher amps and bigger wires. I just checked I only
have one breaker that is 15A which is a dedicated circuit to a single
outlet in a hallway - which is strange...

Here is a picture of Panel A:

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...pub/PANELA.jpg

and Panel B:

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...pub/PANELB.jpg

Does this mean I can use 20A receptacles?

Should I change out the lone 15A circuit breaker?

Thanks,

MC


"Stormin Mormon" wrote in message
...
Not if the breaker is sized for the wire. However, you may
get some irritated people, when they find out their 20 amp
socket only delivers 15 amps.

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
.


"Joe" wrote in message

... On Feb 3, 9:29 am, Phisherman wrote:

snip

Buy a box of Leviton 20A electrical receptacles. The
"heavy duty" or
commercial types won't break and fail like the 50-cent
kinds.

That might lead to a problem if a high current device is
plugged into
a 14 ga circuit which OP apparently has. Might be a code
issue.

Joe





Providing the wire is truly 12ga, you could install 20A receptacles with
or without the extra leg.

20A receptacle needed for a 20A plug has an extra leg so it can't be
plugged into a 15A outlet.

20A receptacle
http://www.acehardwareoutlet.com/Lar...3107I_ NS.jpg
20A plug:
http://www.acehardwareoutlet.com/Lar...70601 _al.jpg

Virtually nothing has a 20A plug. Even some of the heavier rental
equipment like floor sanders & insulation blowers only require 15A
lines. They just tend to pop the breaker of other household stuff is
operating on that line.

Having at least one 20A extra leg receptacle is not a bad thing. Since
GFCI's often are on 20A lines anyway, they are available with the extra
leg.

http://www.acehardwareoutlet.com/Lar...ge=3195922.JPG

Not all 20A receptacles have the extra leg. There are ones with just the
standard config.

I think the last time I saw a 20A plug was on a heat gun in a shop long
ago.