Breakers compatible with Federal Pacific Stab-Lok Load Center

A NEMA 5-15 plug and cord set applied to a 20-ampere branch circuit could be exposed to approximately 78% more real power than it's Listed rating. The conductors are essentially resistors ... and in a resistive circuit, power increases as the square of current. Subsequently (20 amperes)^2 is much greater than (15-amperes)^2. As a result, the power cord will overheat and possibly burn up. It's really quite easy to conduct this experiment with an extension cord ... but have a fire extinguisher present ... because loading up a "Listed" extension cord beyond it's listing or labeling requirements will most probably result in a fire/electrical hazard ... and since it's listing efforts (Testing for Public Safety) did not include exposing the extension cord to possible overloading (up to 20-amperes).

Wrong. What is the rating of 18ga wire? ...or are you saying that there are no appliances with 18ga wire? I suppose it's illegal to plug a lamp into a NEMA 5-15 outlet on a 20A circuit? You'd probably s*it if you caught me plugging a lamp into a NEMA 5-20 outlet!

Completely irrelevant. The circuit breaker is *NOT* there to protect your cord, or appliance. Good grief! LEARN SOMETHING!

Your missing the point. If branch circuit protection in a home is 20-amperes or greater, and use NEMA 5-15 and/or NEMA 5-20 receptacles, the "Listed" appliances are not protected, and because they cannot be applied in accordance with their listing and labeling requirements.

On the other hand, if branch circuit protection in a home is 15-amperes, and use NEMA 5-15 and/or NEMA 5-20 receptacles, "Listed" appliances will be considered "Protected" according to NEC because they can be applied in accordance with their listing and labeling requirements.

This argument is a lot like which came first .... the chicken (branch circuit protection) ... and the egg ("Listed" appliances). The argument boils down to "Do you protect Listed appliances" or not? If not, get use to having latent fire/shock hazards ... and overloaded extension cord fires every X-mas!

Now there's a response that clarifies absolutely NOTHING! KRW ... Review Articles 100, 200, 300, and 400 of the latest NEC for clarification of the purpose of circuit protection. I also encourage you to contact U.L. for clarification of requirements of Listed and Labelled equipment.

Now there's a response I completely expected; zero intelligence.

You're an idiot, plain and simple (with an emphasis on "simple").

... and you totally ignored NEC 110.3(1) (8): "Other factors that contribute tothe practical safeguarding of persons using or likely to come in contact with the equipment".

The issue if not about the ampacity of power cords, wall receptacles, etc.. The issue is a "Listed" appliance can and is being interfaced with a branch circuit that is beyond the Listing and/or labeling requirements of the "Listed" appliance. It not "all bets are off" at the consumer level. Such thinking totally ignores the "Testing for Public Safety" of the Listing effort. The Engineers and Architect's of Record and well as the local regulatory inspection agencies are NOT doing their job. The installations cannot be NEC compliant because latent fire and shock hazards do exists ... and the consumer doesn't even get a vote!

The smallest standard size circuit breaker is 15-amperes. Do you really think a "Listing" agency, such as U.L., AGA, CSA, ETL, etc. would put their listing mark on a product that couldn't operate safely from a 15-ampere circuit?

Does it make any sense to protect a fractional horsepower bathroom exhaust fan with a 20-ampere circuit breaker? A 15-ampere circuit breaker would provide more protected ... and is most likely what the "Listed" equipment is rated for anyhow ... because of it's fractional horsepower load.

Horsepower available from a 20-ampere receptacle: 746 watts per horsepower/hr. However, a motor is not a purely resisttive device. It has inductive and capacitive characteristics. Subsequently to answer your question, I'll need to know how many vars (a measure of imaginary power) or volt-amperes (a measure of total power), or the power factor of the motor to answer your question. In addition, is the line to line voltage 120, 240, etc? Makes a difference ... but obviously you already know that!

If you can't have multiple 15 amp receptacles on a 20 amp circuit, because someone could plug one of the everyday common devices like lamps, TV, coffee pot, etc into one, why is it that they are being installed and passed by electrical inspectors all around the country every day? Sound like the electrical inspectors who understand the code disagree with your opinion.

Your contention is that the circuit breaker has to be capable of protecting the load and it's wiring? Why then is this safety issue unique to 20 amp circuits? As has been pointed out, most lights have 18 gauge wire cords and they are connected to 15 amp receptacles, 15 amp breakers. The current carrying capability of that wire is less than the breaker rating. How is that different? When it was brought up, you just ignored it.

Perhaps you can show us examples of UL listing tags that say: "This appliance may only be used on a circuit with a 15 amp breaker". "Using it on a circuit with a 20 amp breaker is not allowed and dangerous". I've bought and used a lot of appliances, lights, etc and don't ever recall seeing any such thing. If this issue was 1% of the problem you make it out to be, you would think there would be required warning labels like that all over the place. I've never seen one.

Does it make any sense to protect floor lamps that have 18 gauge cords with 15 amp breakers on the circuits they get plugged into? Yet apparently the UL and NEC are OK with that. As for protecting the small fan with a 20 amp breaker, it depends on what else is on that circuit. If it serves other loads, that warrant a 20 amp breaker, then AFAIK, it's allowed. The motor has it's own overload protection. And if it's not allowed, perhaps you can show us the install instructions for some typical bath fans that say you can't put them on a 20 amp breaker.

It appears you have a denial problem ... and either refuse to debate the issue ... or just can't. When you grow up, I'll explain it again to you ... but with crayons!

Power: there is real, total, and imaginary power. Goggle it for yourself and perhaps you'll be enlightened.

May the force be with you.

Speaking of explaining things, why haven't you explained why the same alleged safety problem related to breaker sizing with 20 amp circuits doesn't exist when we all plug floor lamps, radios, clocks, etc that draw an amp into 15 amp receptacles.

It appears that you're just stupid.

... and either refuse to debate the

You can't even read, so it's difficult to debate.

When mommy changes your diapers, little boy, perhaps she can teach you to read.

I am an EE. I know a little more about this stuff than you pretend to, little boy. The fact that you even bring this up shows that you're flailing, trying to get *SOMETHING* to hang onto. What a doof.

You are the farce.

just like a fundie...blame everyone else for their failures. your inability to debate is demonstrated on almost all of your posts, unless in your feeble mind calling someone a PLCCF or Liberal or Lefty qualifies as debate

Another lefty who believes that his lies trump facts. OTOH, if you couldn't lie, you would be mute.

Hey, every 8 feet there shall be every outlet known to man, with all devices properly "plugged" for "protection". Mr. "I can't get it right" obviously cannot figure out that by design devices are protected barring misuse or catastrophic failure. No that never happens. Far be it for a breaker to fail to trip, or a fuse. No, such things never happen.

It is not like a 4 amp short could start a fire, like something like that would ever happen.

Everything must be comfy and safe, just like life. Like something like that would ever happen.

MAY THE FARCE BE WITH YOU!!! ^_^

TDD

Your ignorance amazes me! Finish HS?

The difference between my debate and yours is that presented the facts. Tells me you're in denial! Grow UP!

It not a matter of what a NEMA 5-15 receptacle can handle during normal operation. It's what can it handle during a non-fail-safe incident. For example, say you have to Listed devices interfaced with a NEMA 5-15 receptacle, and each listed device is rated at 6 amperes full load. Not a problem! However, what happens when one or both fail in a non-safe manner?

Circuit breakers at the plug is a good way of getting around the problem we have in the U.S. ... and the U.S. will eventually follow their lead if branch circuit protection is not done in a manner that is compatible with "Listed" equipment.

That label "15-ampere" is there for a purpose. Surely you're not advocating ignoring it ... are you? (Ref: NEC Article 240.5(b)(1))

Also look at NEC Article 240.5 (B) (2) regarding ampacity of fixture wire.

Your ignorance is showing. Either get with the NEC program ...or get the hell out of it. You may be a source for fire/shock hazards that exist today!.

A 15-ampere circuit breaker provides more protection than a 20-ampere circuit breaker, and is a standard ampere rating for circuit breakers (REF: NEC Article

Either provide backup for your argument ... or get the hell out of the way.