2 Jan
2022
2 Jan
'22
11:16 a.m.
I'd really like 3? at home for a number of
different things.
In North America? Good luck! Part of what got me to buy a smallish industrial building was
needing three phase. It's usually cheaper/easier to either use a VFD if it's for
motor equipment, or a rotary converter, than trying to get the power company to give you
three phase. Even if it's literally on the pole behind your house, they want $LOL to
make the connection.
It depends on the quality of the socket. My
understanding is that a
NEMA 5-15 is rated to sustain 15A at 120V indefinitely. Then there are
NEMA 5-20s which are rated for 20A.
Yes, these "melted the socket, never tripped the breaker" failures are a result
of crap receptacles. On basically all good brands of receptacles, the 15A and 20A have the
same internal parts, anyway. It's my opinion that anything in a shop area, or really
even the kitchen, ought to be spec-grade receptacles. They're not that expensive when
you consider they'll last a lifetime. We always require Hubble spec-grade, and
that's what I've installed at the house, too.
So ... over 10A continuous seems
quite possible if not expected with some installations.
Indeed, you can have a continuous load up to 12A with no special NEC rules on a regular
old branch circuit.
Thanks,
Jonathan