[idubrov]

Right, there are code compliant solutions. I was just musing over an idea of having 240V "everywhere" (including inside the house in every room, having 240V for special needs is, of course, a solved problem).

14-50R is not what I would use in that case, they are bulky, unsightly and don't offer tamper resistance.

6-20R / 6-15R have variants that are tamper resistant, and they look like regular outlets.

"20A should be enough for everything".

We used to have 2.5-3kW kettles before we moved to US, which would require 20-25A (although, I don't think the math is that simple -- circuit breakers don't trip on "exactly 20A").

Also, the issue with 20A receptacles is that, again, I have never seen 20A plugs (NEMA 5-20P) on appliances (it has neutral connector "flat" rather than vertical). Which is understandable, why make them if nobody has 20A receptacles anyway. There is a requirement to have two 20A branches in a kitchen, but commonly they are wired to 15A receptacles.

[rsync]

Your anecdote about coffee makers is a good one - it bears repeating that one of the most intensive household loads are old-school coffee percolators, etc., and many school and church kitchens have circuits just for them.

As for 20amp, it may interest you to learn that I have a commercial microwave with two magnetrons that is actually 20amp (and has the horizontal pin, etc.).

[idubrov]

Yeah, it shows that I have zero knowledge about commercial appliances. I guess, I wouldn't be surprised if they routinely use 20A plugs / receptacles. Would make sense. Maybe, hospital equipment, too?

[Symbiote]

You would routinely see IEC sockets in use in Europe in commercial kitchens, factories, anything outdoors like a music festival etc. Partly it's for higher power appliances (including 3 phase power), but also the waterproofing.

They're also the socket found in datacentres (in Europe) to connect a UPS or PDU.

Home users see them at campsites, marinas, and for charging electric cars without a special car charger.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IEC_60309

[LorenPechtel]

I actually have a set of 4 20A receptacles within about 3' of me. I had to have an electrician wire a dedicated line, the main cost was the labor, might as well use 4-wire cable wired to 240V, I got 4 120V outlets out of it and he used the 20A type that takes either the usual household plug or the 20A version.

[idubrov]

Wiring 240V is (typically) not an issue, as it is standard (in the US) to get 240V from the transformer to the house. The devil is in the details: what current would you wire it for, what receptacle are you going to use and what are you going to plug there.