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 back with the 20 amp?
Forum Discussion
25 Replies
Danford50 wrote:
OK I KNOW THAT THERE IS POWER TO THE RECEPTACLE I CHECK IT WITH THE VOLT METER there is power on that Line, I have replace my breaker for the microwave 20 amp. my microwave has a dedicated receptacle for it .
You are looking for a Speedwiring Receptacle. Adventurerv.net has them.- the microwave work i plug it into another receptacle in the camper and it came on.
westend wrote:
I think it's time to go back to the beginning of the problem.
If your microwave isn't working, determine that it isn't the microwave, itself, by connecting it to an extension cord and into a known, good receptacle.
Try connecting a work light into the microwave receptacle. Report back.
Yes. Do what westend said.
WayneDanford50 wrote:
I think it's time to go back to the beginning of the problem.
OK I KNOW THAT THERE IS POWER TO THE RECEPTACLE I CHECK IT WITH THE VOLT METER there is power on that Line, I have replace my breaker for the microwave 20 amp. my microwave has a dedicated receptacle for it .
If your microwave isn't working, determine that it isn't the microwave, itself, by connecting it to an extension cord and into a known, good receptacle.
Try connecting a work light into the microwave receptacle. Report back.- OK I KNOW THAT THERE IS POWER TO THE RECEPTACLE I CHECK IT WITH THE VOLT METER there is power on that Line, I have replace my breaker for the microwave 20 amp. my microwave has a dedicated receptacle for it .
- I thought the OP was simply looking at a replacement recept. If there's no power to it, I removed a recept. in our old TT and found that the wires on the back were barely hanging on to the "stabs" at the rear of it. The wires need to be pushed down into the slots all the way, and it *could* be possible that a wire that has come off. Not sure if microwaves are always on a dedicated circuit, but if it is, either there's a problem at the panel or at the receptacle and should be easy to find the cause. If there's no power at the receptacle, a recept. does not go "bad" so maybe there's nothing wrong at all with the 20 amp one that's in there now. The Romex wire could possibly be severed or damaged somewhere, but that's rare. You could get a non-contact voltage tester (NCVT) as a diagnostic tool to try and trace back where power is and isn't.
- Danford50, I read your posts leading up to your posts here. As I understand it, you are not getting power at the microwave. You replaced the breaker but that did not fix the problem. You are now trying to replace the receptacle.
Have you taken the receptacle out and checked that the connections are good? You should also check connections of the other wires, white and bare, in the Romex in the power distribution box.
Can you see if there is power at the wires connecting to the receptacle? Either a test light or a voltmeter could be used.
Lacking these, I would connect the wires to a household receptacle and see if you get power. If not, you would have to run a new wire. Probably should have an electrician or someone knowledgeable help you. - Stay with a 20A outlet for a high current device like a microwave if that is what is installed already.
The higher rating will ensure a longer life.
As far as wiring goes: NEC says,
14awg wires are protected by a 15A breaker.
12awg wires are protected by a 20A breaker.
An outlet shall be sized for the current carrying capacity.
Nicely put Wayne. - Maybe I’m missing something.
I thought he had at 20-amp receptacle that was bad, and he wants to replace it. If it is for only a microwave, a 15-amp receptacle will be fine, even if it is on a 20-amp circuit.
Or he wanted to go to a 20-amp receptacle for reasons that I cannot image, unless his appliance has a 20-amp plug which I see as extremely unlikely.
Now, if his microwave has a 20-amp plug and he wants to upgrade to match the plug, he will need to upgrade the wire as well as the breaker.
The breaker is sized to fit the wire. 14-ga wire = 15-amp breaker. 12-ga wire = 20 amp breaker.
A 20-amp receptacle will be fine with 14-ga wire and a 15-amp breaker. In this instance the receptacle would be more than is needed, but it would not be unsafe, unless someone tried to pull more than 15 amps through the circuit. In that case, the breaker should trip before the wire is overloaded.
Now, if you increase the size of the breaker to 20 amps, but keep the original 14-ga wire, you are asking for an electrical fire from overloading the wire.
Wayne - I may be missing something...
But with all the talk of 15 to 20, Yes the breaker needs to be upgraded with the outlet..... WIRES don't forget the wires.
14 ga wires will get heated if one throws 20Aat them a lot.
repo
