STEVETERRY
Well-Known Member
Hijacking this post a little... but with the world famous @STEVETERRY present I'm curious now.
Ran across a rennovation recently that had l5-15 recepticles connected to a patchbay with GPC connectors designed to patch into 20-amp circuits. Leaving aside, for a second, the unfortunate choice of L5-15 as a connector--Is this legally allowed? Are the recepticles rated for 15 amps allowed given that they, theoritecally, limit anything being connected to them draw a maximum of 15 amps of current? Or given that the OCPD protecting this patch is rated for 20 amps, should the recepticle in question also be required to be an L5-20?
This is not simple.
A typical patch panel with the male plugs connecting to building wiring will need supplementary overcurrent protection on each of the male tails. That is to prevent the male plugs being fed from a branch circuit with a larger OCPD than the rating of the circuits they feed. So, in the case you describe, the female receptacles would have 20A OCPD, but the male plugs would have additional 15A OCPD.
Are the male tails indeed feeding permanent in-wall circuits?
ST
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