For a 12 AWG copper Type SO cord, which three-pole overcurrent protection size is permitted?

For a 12 AWG copper Type SO cord, which three-pole overcurrent protection size is permitted?

• A. 30 A
• B. 25 A
• C. 15 A
• D. 20 A

Answer: (D)

The main idea is that overcurrent protection for a cord must not exceed the cord’s ampacity. For a 12 AWG copper Type SO flexible cord, the ampacity is 20 A. That means the three-pole protection can be no larger than 20 A. Among the options, 20 A is the largest size that fits within the cord’s rating and aligns with standard three-pole breaker sizes. The other choices would be too large for this cord (30 A or 25 A) or, while smaller, are not the typical match for this cord’s protection in a three-pole setup.

The main idea is that overcurrent protection for a cord must not exceed the cord’s ampacity. For a 12 AWG copper Type SO flexible cord, the ampacity is 20 A. That means the three-pole protection can be no larger than 20 A. Among the options, 20 A is the largest size that fits within the cord’s rating and aligns with standard three-pole breaker sizes. The other choices would be too large for this cord (30 A or 25 A) or, while smaller, are not the typical match for this cord’s protection in a three-pole setup.