On Mon, 13 Nov 2017 15:09:25 -0600, dpb wrote:

On 13-Nov-17 12:06 PM, wrote:
...

Sure, but why is that wire less susceptible to a short than a wire not
feeding a motor? If the OCD is there to protect the wire, it doesn't
matter what fails on the other end of it.

It isn't, but a short is by definition a high-current event so the size
of the breaker is essentially immaterial.

That's not my point. Forget the motor operation. What happens when
it, or the outlet itself, shorts?

The amperage rating of the breaker protects against continuous
overcurrent; the motor is different in that the high current only lasts
for a few msec at most; the current draw is well within the ampacity of
the wire otherwise.

Again, not the point. OCDs are there to protect the wiring during a
failure. Motors, or devices with motors never fail?