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So the 15/20 amp circuits are confusing, from my reading you can have a 20 amp breaker with 12g wire and multiple 15 amp receptacles because the total draw of all receptacles combined might exceed 15 amps.

However, you can't have a single 15 amp outlet on a 20 amp circuit, because then the outlet might overheat if it draws more than 15 amps instead of the breaker tripping. For the purposes of this, a duplex receptacle is considered two separate receptacles.

I'm thinking about putting an outlet like this in for my garage. Does the addition of two USB outlets count a "Seperate receptacle" for the purposes of the above guidlines?

For the purpose of this question, I'm asking from Kansas.

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Sidney
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  • There is a very similar question/answer here:

    http://diy.stackexchange.com/questions/12115/is-using-15-amp-components-on-a-20-amp-breaker-against-code

     – trip0d199 Nov 23 '16 at 18:51
  • The previous question is actually where I got most of my info, however it is not a duplicate. This question is specifically about weather the above outlet counts as a duplex for the purposes of code standards. – Sidney Nov 23 '16 at 18:58
  • The confusing point for most people with 15/20 amp recpt's is the face. Most are 20 amp devices and can be used with 12ga wire and a 20 amp breaker. Two parallel blades over a ground is a 15 amp recpt face. To see what a 20 amp recpt face looks like click the last link in @sean's answer. – Tyson Nov 23 '16 at 20:04

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I believe it does, based on the 2011 NEC (which I believe applies to you?)

Definitions used are available here

A strict interpretation of "receptacle" and "attachment plug" would make that a multiple receptacle.

There are 20 amp versions of that available; here for example

Sean
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