by ericsf (Posted Fri, 28 Jun 2013 21:09:08 GMT)
No. What I was trying to say was that its not the panel breaker that protects such appliance but an internal fuse which rating must protect the weakest wire in the appliance. If you can build an appliance with all its wire 20amp rated in this case you don't need to protect it with its own fuse. Going either way is usually a design (wire vs fuse cost) decision.
I admit I haven't dissected molded plugs so I am just assuming there are not hidden fuses in #16 and #18 lampcord type cords, are you saying there are? My point is just that there is nothing protecting for example this extension cord from being overloaded and melting: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Nonbrand-6-f ... c25kvnCZsI
Yea. You could plug this in a 20 amp receptacle and power 3 appliances each drawing 4-5 amp. 15 amp continuous is what the 20amp breaker will allow. The cord is rated for 13amp. It will get warm but probably won't set a fire. But at this point I don't know really how this can be fool proof safe. I guess that's why we still have electrical fires.
QueenBee wrote:
ericsf wrote:
QueenBee wrote:
ericsf, are you really trying to say that the #16 and #18 wire used in lamps, small appliances, etc. is rated for 20 amps?
No. What I was trying to say was that its not the panel breaker that protects such appliance but an internal fuse which rating must protect the weakest wire in the appliance. If you can build an appliance with all its wire 20amp rated in this case you don't need to protect it with its own fuse. Going either way is usually a design (wire vs fuse cost) decision.
I admit I haven't dissected molded plugs so I am just assuming there are not hidden fuses in #16 and #18 lampcord type cords, are you saying there are? My point is just that there is nothing protecting for example this extension cord from being overloaded and melting: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Nonbrand-6-f ... c25kvnCZsI
Yea. You could plug this in a 20 amp receptacle and power 3 appliances each drawing 4-5 amp. 15 amp continuous is what the 20amp breaker will allow. The cord is rated for 13amp. It will get warm but probably won't set a fire. But at this point I don't know really how this can be fool proof safe. I guess that's why we still have electrical fires.