VAX 780 on eBay

[Jonathan Chapman]

> I'd really like 3ɸ 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