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TIL that a standard 20-amp circuit breaker can actually handle a continuous load of only 16 amps. I was reading the fine print on the side of a Square D Homeline breaker in my truck this morning.
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wood.jana5mo ago
Hold on, that's not quite right. The 80% rule is for continuous loads, like an oven or heater running for three hours or more. A standard breaker can handle 20 amps for normal, non continuous use. The fine print is about a specific safety margin for those long running appliances.
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miles_chen5mo ago
Oh great, so my breaker is basically a teenager promising to clean its room. It can do 20 amps for a little while, but ask it to actually work for three hours and it taps out at 16. Makes total sense, why would we want things to be simple?
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oscar_gonzalez455mo ago
Exactly, it's like building in a buffer so your wiring doesn't get stressed and heat up over time.
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