question about installation of 20 amp wall plug


I bought a replacement wall plug that is rated 20 amps. I installed it from a 15 amp circuit breaker, in the add it said it was ok to use in 15 or 20 amp. I pluged in a cheap intergraded amp to it and it and my speakers started popping and the amp started to smoke, I unplugged it right away. Was I wrong to assume that it would be ok coming from a 15 amp circuit, can anyone tell me what I did wrong, thanks
kedoades
Kedoades,

As for the 20 receptacle it did not cause your problem.

If you have a volt meter I suggest you check the voltage and polarity at the recept.

Small straight slot contact is the Hot.
"T" shaped slot is the neutral.
"U" shape hole contact the safety equipment ground.

*Hot to neutral you should read 120V nominal.
*Hot to safety equipment ground 120V nominal. (This will tell you the polarity is correct.) Reversed polarity would not have caused your problem.....
*Neutral to safety equipment ground zero.

Could be the cheap intergraded amp shot crap all on its own.....

As for NEC code though.... a 20 amp receptacle can only be installed on a 20 amp branch circuit. Two or more 15 amp rated receptacles can be installed on a 20 amp branch circuit.
Please clarify ... the PS Audio Ports are rated for both 15amp and 20amp I'm told. Can they be installed in a 15amp dedicated line?
The receptacle has nothing to do with how much current is drawn, what is plugged into the receptacle does.
The receptacle has nothing to do with how much current is drawn, what is plugged into the receptacle does.
07-09-09: Tpreaves
True but the face plate of the receptacle configuration determines what plug can be connected to it.

The max continuous load that a NEMA 5-15P can carry by NEC code is 12 amps.

For a NEMA 5-20P plug it is 16 amps.

NEC says for a 120V 15 amp branch circuit the receptacle must be a 15 amp rated receptacle. Reason being so a piece of equipment with a 20 plug cannot be plugged into it.

As I said in my ealier post, the 20 amp recept did not cause the problem.

http://www.frentzandsons.com/Hardware%20References/plugandreceptacleconfiguratio.htm

Please clarify ... the PS Audio Ports are rated for both 15amp and 20amp I'm told. Can they be installed in a 15amp dedicated line?
07-09-09: Taylor514
The receptacle will accept a NEMA 5-15P or 5-20P amp plug.

Technically by code a 5-20R receptacle cannot be installed on a 120V 15 amp branch circuit.

Will it cause any kind of a fired hazard if you use one for your audio equipment? No..... If you move just remember to pull the recept and replace it with a 15 amp recept so the next guy does not see the 20 amp recept and think he has a 20 amp branch circuit available.

http://www.cryo-parts.com/ps_audio_power_port.html
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