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Jim Stewart Jim Stewart is offline
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Default Electrical wiring question - shop related

Michael A. Terrell wrote:

Jim Stewart wrote:

wrote:
On Tue, 7 Dec 2010 05:33:03 -0800 (PST),
wrote:

Is it permissable to have an outlet that is rated for less curent than
the circuit breaker is?

I wired the detached garage for 40A 220v service (it seemed like a lot
of capacity 25 years ago!). In the garage is a subpanel with (4) 110V
and (1) 30A 220v circuits. Originally the 30A breaker fed one single
outlet (for the arc welder and compressor that I would someday own) -
eventually I got tired of unplugging the welder to plug in the
compressor or phase converter and now have (3) 220v outlets side by
side in one box. Over the years I made up an extension cord to be able
to weld on the opposite side of the garage and to power the bandsaw.
I am considering adding an outlet at the bandsaw. The bandsaw has a
15A 220v plug on it. So back to my original question is there an
issue with having a 15A outlet on a 30A circuit (the circuit is wired
in #8 romex)?
Does not meet code, but you COULD put a fuse or breaker in the outlet
box to protect the outlet to 15 amps.


Would this meet code:

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=... tbs%3Disch:1



That is a single pole device made for 120 VAC. It would leave one
side of the line unfused at 30A, so a short to ground could start a fire
without tripping the breaker.


Of course you are correct. When I posted the picture
I had somehow misunderstood that he wanted to break
off one side of the 220 for a 110 outlet.

For 220 both sides must be protected. This device would
be better than nothing in that it would limit the hot-
to-hot current to 15 amperes, but it would not meet code.