On Fri, 01 Nov 2013 09:14:11 -0600, Tony Hwang
wrote:

Ralph Mowery wrote:

"Ashton Crusher" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 31 Oct 2013 21:30:12 -0400, Nate Nagel

and it sounds like OP might have a 10-50 recep and a 6-15 plug, don't
really want to be plugging a 15 amp or less device into a 50A circuit,
unless the device itself has a main fuse or breaker. Important concept
is recep amp rating must match the breaker, except in the instance of a
15A 120VAC recep being allowed on a 20A branch circuit.

nate

I'm not following why it's a problem to plug a 15 amp device into a 50
amp circuit, assuming they are both, say 220volts. How is it any
different then plugging a cell phone charger into a 15amp 120v
circuit?

I don't see that as a problem either. Maybe in some devices that do not
have any internal protection it could. The devices plugged in should have
their own fuses/breakers for their own protection. The main breaker is to
protect the wiring.


Hmm,
I'd say load and wiring. 50Amp breaker can't protect 15Amp deivce most
likely.

It's not the job of the breaker to protect the load. The job of the
breaker is to protect the wiring and outlets (from burning). You don't
want 50A passing through a 15A outlet. AFAIK, the only exception to
outlets matching the wiring are with 15A outlets on 20A circuits. Even
there, 15A outlets are rated for 20A (pass through).