#20AMP GFCI OUTLET INSTALL#

If you installed the original outlets, the GFCIs won’t present a challenge because you can just apply the same logic you used when you installed those original outlets.

#20AMP GFCI OUTLET INSTALL#

These same considerations apply to GFCI receptacles, which is why I expect consumers to install 15 or 20A GFCIs on a 20A circuit and 15A GFCIs on a 15A circuit.ĭo not attach 20A GFCIs to 15A circuits. In the worst-case scenario, the breaker will fail to respond and a fire will start. In the best-case scenario, a 20A outlet will cause the 15A circuit breaker to trip. The practice is dangerous because it allows the outlet to transmit more electricity than the circuit can handle. You cannot add a 20A outlet to a 15A circuit. Therefore, 15 or 20A outlets are compatible with a 20A circuit. But the rating of an outlet cannot exceed the rating of the circuit to which it is attached. The rating of an outlet can be equal to or less than the rating of a circuit. If you have a 20A circuit, you should install 20A outlets.Ĭan you install a 15A outlet on a 20A circuit? In other words, if you have a 15A circuit, you should install 15A outlets. The amp rating of an outlet has to match the amp rating of a circuit. Habitable homes do not require that much power.Īny calculations you have to do with regards to selecting a GFCI of the right amp rating will revolve around a 15 or 20A circuit. The chances of finding a 30 or 40A circuit in a residential setting are very low. Most homes in the United States use 15 and 20A circuits.

The rules governing the selection and installation of ordinary outlets are surprisingly straightforward: The Selection And Installation Of Ordinary Outlets 1). This means that the capacity of a GFCI receptacle has to match the capacity of the ordinary outlet it will replace. At the end of the day, GFCI receptacles are expected to act as a replacement for your ordinary outlets.

This method prevents you from installing a GFCI of the wrong amperage.īut what if you don’t want to do these calculations? What if you cannot figure out the total wattage of all your home’s appliances and devices? If the total wattage of the appliances is greater than 1,440W, you need a new GFCI breaker with a superior amperage. The total wattage of all the appliances that the GFCI will support cannot exceed 1,440. In this case, 80 percent of 1800W is 1,440W. The NEC expects consumers to use only 80 percent of the maximum allowable wattage. But it isn’t the total number of watts you can use. This will give you 1800W.ġ800W is the total number of watts the breaker can tolerate. If you have a 15A GFCI, multiply 15 by 120V. Take the amperage rating of the GFCI and multiply it by the voltage of your power supply.įor instance, American households use 120V power supplies. Now that you know the total wattage of your appliances, you can turn your attention to the GFCI. Record the total on a piece of paper so you don’t forget it. Start by adding up the wattage of all your appliances. Fortunately, this problem has a solution. You cannot compare the wattage rating of your appliances to the amp rating of a GFCI. You have to start by calculating the amount of electricity your appliances will use if you connect them all to the same GFCI. They are convinced that the amperage of the GFCI has to match the total amperage of the devices that GFCI will operate.įor people with this mindset, a method that can determine whether the total draw of all your appliances matches the amp rating of the GFCI: 1).

Do you need a GFCI receptacle for your home? If you do, what is the appropriate amperage to get? Does it make sense to add a 20-amp GFCI to a 15-amp circuit? What about a 15-amp GFCI on a 20-amp circuit? What would happen if you got that decision wrong? How Do I Know If I Need A 15 Amp or 20 Amp GFCI?įor many people, their selection of a GFCI is determined by the types of devices and appliances they want to operate.

20amp gfci outlet