Fuses and breakers etc, are provided to protect the wiring
downstream from these devices. A 15 amp breaker is allowed to have 14 AWG
wire attached and run all though my house, and terminates in a 15 amp rated
receptacle - parallel blade with ground pin.
Why then can I plug in a computer that has only a 6 or 10 amp rated
power cord? Surely, its not because the computer has supplemental fusing at
2 amps or whatever. That 2 amp fuse can't protect the wiring between it and
the 15 amp breaker in my garage from prolonged operation at 15 amps. The
breaker is completely happy running at that value so the wire just sits
there and cooks!
One would think that any cord rated less than 15 amps, would have
to be terminated in a plug that doesn't mate with the wall outlet, much like
a 15 amp connector plugged into a 20 amp outlet.
Gary
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