OK, so my oven is dead.
I have an existing 20amp circuit with a dedicated 20amp GPO.
My question - can I safely run a 15amp oven on this circuit - or do I need to get a sparky to downgrade the circuit to 15 amps?
Thanks for any input.
Can You Run a 15amp Oven on a 20amp Circuit and Outlet?
elgrande on 24/08/2018 - 12:17
Comments
Thanks for the quick response
What's the max standard outlet amperage/voltage/wattage/etc or is it different per outlet and depend entirely on the circuit ala more outlets on a circuit mean less max amperage/voltage/wattage/etc?
I could be wrong so I wouldn't start just plugging things in based on my comment lol, but I think its based on outlet and cable. I think different devices pull different current (oven may be higher like say 17 amps, airconditioner may be 13amps and tv may pull 8 amps).
But the amount of amps a wall plug can hold depends on the plug and cable in between to the power line (and a bunch of other things), a thinner cable will likely only hold say 12 amps (so normal ones are 10amps max), ones near the fridge and aircons are more built for higher current pulling devices so they will hold around 15 amps (hot water system, air con etc, should say on the outlet).
If you used an aircon that could pull 13amps, on a plug build for 10 amps, the cable may not be able to handle the heat, may melt the plastic coating and could short or melt or burn etc which is why you shouldn't use a device for 15 amps on a 10 amp plug for example. In saying that, you may see people do it and still have their house, thats because even though a device may be rated for a 15 amp plug it might only do that during high or max use, and on average it may only use 8 or 9 amps and the typical outlet rated at 10 should be able to do a little more which is why its all usually fine. Still though don't do this because if it starts to pull too much you may be in a lot of trouble.
Again I could be wrong, so feel free anyone to correct me.
tldr: I could be wrong but 'i think' normal max is 10amps, unless its near the hot water system or where aircons typically go then it will usually be 15 amps. I think for oven areas though its 20 amps. For 10 and 15 outlets, it should say on the outlet in the middle (240volts and 10amps, note that power (watts) =volts X Amps so 2400 watts).
I trust you.
To make it all nice an safe, 10 amp, 15 amp, and 20 amp plugs are all different. They are all backwards compatible, so a 10 or 15 will plug into a 20, but a 15 won't plug into a 20, just physically won't fit.
Yep my mistake. I'll fix that.
EDIT: hmmm won't give me an edit option, must be a time limit.
Your same thread on whirlpool was very interesting.
Yes, it was.
It's fine if the outlet was installed as per standards then there would be a dedicated breaker in the fuse box identified and sized appropriately.
the difference on the plug. or socket itself is the size of the earth pin in single phase or 240v installations.
The main issue is when people try the opposite the Maximum Demand for the installation should have been calculated based on you're current installation.
The thing to remember is the breakers are there to protect installation only or the cable running from board to outlet it doesn't care about anything else.
I think for those who aren't sparks there are a few free maximum demand calculators online that tell you if the out should be there for a kick off.
I'd be more worried if you had said if I shave down the earth pin on a 20 Amp Plug can I use it in a 15 Amp socket
Shaving the pin on a 25 amp (or 32) requires a bit more work than going from 15 to 10.
Hopefully the very different pin makes it more obvious that its not designed to fit.
https://www.edaonline.com.au/product/25-amp-single-gpo-power…
Can You Run a 15amp Oven on a 20amp Circuit and Outlet?
You’ll be fine.
You can. 20 is the max rating of the outlet.