recepitable for microwave
I have already post about my microwave problem, now since i am having a hard time finding a 20 amp receptacle, i would like to know if i could use a 15 amp receptacle for my microwave or would you go ...
Forum Discussion
They probably make specialty microwaves that draw more than 12 amps, but you won’t find them in a TT as it came from the factory. Probably your microwave is about 900 watts, or 7.5 amps. Appliances that need 20-amp service should come equipped with a 20-amp plug, which will not plug into a 15-amp outlet.
If the receptacle is being used for the microwave only, or the microwave plus another light load, a 15-amp receptacle is fine. Other loads on the same circuit, but on different receptacles or fixtures, won’t be affected by the 15-amp receptacle on a 20-amp line.
If you were to try to run the microwave while an electric space heater was running on the other outlet on that 15-amp receptacle, you would have problems, although the breaker should trip before things get too bad at the receptacle.
The risk you would take is that sometime you would end up running the microwave, plus something else on the other outlet in that receptacle and the total amperage is in the 15-20 range where the breaker would probably not trip. Still, I think probably the internals on a 15-amp receptacle are probably heavy enough that it will carry 20 amps, it just doesn’t have the right kind of opening to accept either a 15- or 20-amp plug.
Consider: Many houses use 20-amp circuits for power distribution, yet you almost never see 20-amp receptacles in houses, only 15 amp.
That said, I cannot imagine what 15-amp receptacle you could buy without also having the choice of buying a 20-amp version.
Wayne
If the receptacle is being used for the microwave only, or the microwave plus another light load, a 15-amp receptacle is fine. Other loads on the same circuit, but on different receptacles or fixtures, won’t be affected by the 15-amp receptacle on a 20-amp line.
If you were to try to run the microwave while an electric space heater was running on the other outlet on that 15-amp receptacle, you would have problems, although the breaker should trip before things get too bad at the receptacle.
The risk you would take is that sometime you would end up running the microwave, plus something else on the other outlet in that receptacle and the total amperage is in the 15-20 range where the breaker would probably not trip. Still, I think probably the internals on a 15-amp receptacle are probably heavy enough that it will carry 20 amps, it just doesn’t have the right kind of opening to accept either a 15- or 20-amp plug.
Consider: Many houses use 20-amp circuits for power distribution, yet you almost never see 20-amp receptacles in houses, only 15 amp.
That said, I cannot imagine what 15-amp receptacle you could buy without also having the choice of buying a 20-amp version.
Wayne
