20A rated light switch on 15A breaker

Started by jeff, December 15, 2005, 02:33:37 PM

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jeff

Does anyone know if you can connect the
XPS3 20A wall switch to a 15A breaker. Will
this cause a problem. My light switch is
only a 15A light switch. The lights will
only draw about 75Watts total.

Brian H

Yes no problem. The switch can handle 20
amps and the breaker will trip over 15 amps.
So the switch can take a higher current than
the breaker.

gil shultz

This will not cause any problems and would be considered derating or conservative design.

Remember the breaker or fuse is designed to protect the wire, not the load.  By putting a higher rated device then the main breaker is no problem, going the other way could possibly be a problem depending on conditions at the time of the fault.

Gil Shultz

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