What is a 5-20P plug?

A NEMA 5-20P power cord plug features a blade formation with a circular ground, one horizontal prong, and one vertical prong. The female connector side is referred to as a “T-Slot”, which accepts both the 3-Prong 5-15P male plug as well as the 5-20P male plug. These cables are rated for 125V electrical systems.

What is a 5/15 P plug?

5-15P is your standard household plug used for to connect small appliances such as TV’s, Microwaves, hairdryers, etc to a wall outlet. The NEMA 5-15P is compatible with a Nema 5-20R T-Slot outlet, which is commonly found in new home installations.

What needs a 20 amp outlet?

Large consumers, especially kitchen appliances, such as microwaves, blenders and toasters, need a dedicated 20 amp circuit, to ensure a constant energy flow, which means they cannot share the circuit with other devices.

What can I plug into a 20 amp outlet?

A 20-amp receptacle is for heavy-duty appliances and power tools, such as air compressors. Residential garages occasionally have 20-amp receptacles to accommodate larger power tools.

What is the difference between NEMA 5 15 and NEMA 5 20?

Compared to the 5-15P plug, the 5-20P plug has the neutral blade rotated 90° and shifted so its inner edge is approximately 1⁄2 in (12.7 mm) from the hot blade. The 5-20R receptacle has a T-shaped neutral hole, to accept both 5-15P and 5-20P plugs.

What are 20 amp outlets used for?

The 20 amp outlets are designated for big consumption appliances and power tools, like air compressors, so it is not unusual to find them in almost every kitchen and sometimes even in garages.

Can I plug a regular plug into a 20 amp outlet?

A plug is an object located on one end of a power cord that connects an electrical device to a receptacle. Most household electrical receptacles have a 15-amp rating, but they connect to a 20-amp circuit. You can use a device that has a 15-amp plug with either a 15- or 20-amp receptacle.

What does 20 amp plug look like?

20-amp receptacles have a horizontal slot branching off one of the vertical slots. Appliances, such as microwaves, often have 20-amp plugs and must be plugged into a 20-amp outlet. Electrical plugs designated as 20-amp will not fit into 15-amp outlets.

What appliances use a 20 amp plug?

Kitchens must have at least two 20 amp outlets. These outlets are used to power high voltage appliances such as toasters, blenders, and microwave ovens. The best way to identify a 20 amp outlet is to find the horizontal slot extending from the vertical slots.