15A GFCI on 20A circuit

1

Hi All,

I’m just trying to verify that you can have a 15A GFCI outlet on a 20A circuit such as by the kitchen counter. There is supposedly 20A pass through if it’s protecting outlets downstream. Being that a true 20A plug wouldn’t fit into the GFCI, then there shouldn’t be any safety issue, correct? Any NEC codes about this?

Thanks,
Steve Tuch

2

Yes. The circuit is required to be 20A, not the individual receptacles.

3

In most cases, you can have as large a wire as you want on the breaker. But bathrooms and the kitchen require a 20 amp circuit. It’s not 20 amp by definition if it’s on a 15 amp breaker.