What is the difference between 15 amp and 20 amp service?

Answer 1

It is the rating of how much current you can deliver to loads on a circuit. For example, if you had 10 outlets on 20 A service that is what you could run from the outlets on a circuit. This is a total capacity and not the capacity of each outlet on the circuit. If you plugged something into an outlet that drew 20 A you wouldn't be able to run anything on other outlets.

In a lighting circuit two 60 W incandescent bulbs draw one amp. Therefore, on a 15 A lighting circuit you could have a maximum of thirty 60 Watt bulbs. Usually you try and stay at about 80% of rating so practically you could have 24 bulbs.

ponypomp;

5 amps.

A 15amp breaker is used with 14ga romex wire, designated

in homes for lighting. Common practice.

A 20amp breaker is used with 12ga romex wire ,designed for the outlets in a home.

Common practice.

Just wanted to add this to the great post above.