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| I'll be installing an over the range microwave where there is currently a simple vent hood. I know I need to run a dedicated 20A circuit, no problem there. The confusion is this. The installation instructions show the microwave being plugged into a single 15A recepticle. I thought a 20A circuit required a duplex 15A recepticle or a single 20A recepticle. I intend to use a single recepticle as I have no need for a duplex. The recepticle will be placed in the cabinet above the microwave. Is there an exception for this situation? The microwave has a 15A plug.
Thanks. -Dave |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| A 20 A single receptacle will cost more than a 15 A duplex. Just use a 15 A duplex. |
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| It's convenient to have a duplex receptacle up there in the cabinet, a lot of times people have devices that need to be plugged in to charge a battery that can be stored inside the cabinet. |
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| I don't know the current codes - but if the microwave calls for a 15amp circuit are you really not allowed to install a dedicated single 15amp outlet for it? |
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- Posted by mike_kaiser (My Page) on Mon, Nov 30, 09 at 8:47
| I don't know the current codes - but if the microwave calls for a 15amp circuit are you really not allowed to install a dedicated single 15amp outlet for it? Absolutely, what else would you install? But I think you have a typo in there. What you're asking is if you can install a 15 amp receptacle on a 20 amp circuit. The answer again is yes. The logic is that you can plug a lower demand appliance into a higher amp circuit. Certainly you could use a 20 amp receptacle but they're typically more expensive so why waste the money. |
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| "I don't know the current codes - but if the microwave calls for a 15amp circuit are you really not allowed to install a dedicated single 15amp outlet for it?" It actually comes down in many cases to the exact wording of the installation instructions for the MW. They almost always 'recommend' a dedicated 15 A circuit (or more) for home size units. A very few commercial models 'require' the dedicated circuit. |
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| What I was questioning was the OP's assumption that he _had_ to run a 20amp circuit for a microwave oven that called for a 15amp circuit. |
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