I'm bought a 15 amp GFI outlet for my kitchen that doesn't currently have one. The home was built in the late 70s, and I believe it's the original wiring.

I took the old outlet out, and noticed that the wiring is a heavier gauge than 14. I thought that was odd for a regular outlet, and when I looked at the amp rating on the old outlet, it said 15, so I didn't think much about it.

When I went to shut the breaker off, it's a 20 amp breaker, and I was expecting a 15.

Should I be putting a 20 amp GFI outlet there now, and the original one was not correct? I thought 20 amp outlets have that extra horizontal slot on them, and I've never seen that in a kitchen before.

Can anyone clue me in? Thanks.

 

The 15 amp GFI is fine.

If there is more than 1 physical spot to insert a plug on the circuit 15-amp devices are fine on 20-amp circuits.

The difference between a 15 amp and a 20 amp receptacle is the slot configuration.

 

To add: Kitchen countertop circuits must be 20 ampere. This requirement has been in place for many years.

 

Post your location. If you are in Canada the rules are different.

 

Cool, thanks for the info. I'm in the us, Phoenix area.