Easy receptacle question.


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Old 04-05-08, 09:07 PM
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Easy receptacle question.

Hello all,
I'm almost ashamed to ask this, but it's late, worked all day and my mind needs a recharge.
I wired my whole house when I built it 8 years ago, and "knew it all,(almost)" back then. now, my memory is a bit rusty.
My son just bought a 45 year old house, and last week I upgraded his service to an all new 200 amp service...no problem.
Today I was ripping out half of the old wiring in his kitchen and replacing it with new. I have a new 15 amp circuit for the lights, and new 20 amp circuits for counter plugs, (3 circuits total for those) A 20 amp circuit for the refrigerator, another 20 amp circuit for the microwave.

My question is simply this. On the countertop circuits, I am using 20 amp GFCI's, then off of those a few more recepticles,,(only 2 or 3 more.) Do those receptacles need to be rated 20 amp? Could they be 15 amp receptacles?

i'm having a hard time finding 20 amp recepticles....I am finding "pro-line" 15 amp receptacles. I don't remember what I used when I built the house. I like using the better recepticles...the pro-line ones, not the el-cheapo ones, but I just do not remember what receptacles I need to use for a 12-2 wire/20 amp circuit....??

thank you in advance for your help.

Frank D.
 
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Old 04-05-08, 09:38 PM
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In the US 20amp receptacles are not required if there are two or more receptacles on the circuit. A duplex receptacle counts as two.
 
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Old 04-06-08, 05:41 AM
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Thank you! I thought I remembered something like that.
couldn't find my electrical code book anywhere...
thanks again for the quick and kind response!

Frank D.
 
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Old 04-06-08, 07:12 AM
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You could have used a 15 amp GFI receptacle. The difference is in the slot configuration, they are rated for 20 amp feed through.
 
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Old 04-06-08, 07:24 AM
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Not to get off topic...But a question for the "Pros"

The Recepts are interchangeable in the situation mentioned. Do the "T-SLOT" receptacles require a 20 amp circuit.?
 
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Old 04-06-08, 07:47 AM
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The t-slot cannot be installed on a 15 amp circuit. The are for a 20 amp circuit.
 
 

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