NEMA AC connectors
 

Is there a physical difference between the L5-30 and L6-30 connectors? I
realize the L5 is rated for 125vac and the L6 for 250vac. I'm curious as to
whether the actual sockets are different. As in, can I use an L6 socket
with an L5 plug?

NEMA AC connectors
 

Bill,

- Yes - There is a difference.

I no longer have all of the specification books that used to hold my
bookcase down, but I would bet you can not fit the two together without
doing something severe.

It looks from the chart I still keep (just to not feel too lost) that
they are not very different, but it looks like there is a subtle
difference in the blade size and location.

The entire series was pretty well designed to prevent doing just exactly
what you are hoping to do (and with a file -might) but, I have seen such
things done. But then.... I have seen some people do some pretty
amazing things that were not considered possible in the original design.

Matt Colie

Bill Kearney wrote:
Is there a physical difference between the L5-30 and L6-30 connectors? I
realize the L5 is rated for 125vac and the L6 for 250vac. I'm curious as to
whether the actual sockets are different. As in, can I use an L6 socket
with an L5 plug?


--
target of diversity
victim of affirmative action
refugee from the war on poverty
minimized by political correctness

NEMA AC connectors
 

Bill,

- Yes - There is a difference.

I no longer have all of the specification books that used to hold my
bookcase down, but I would bet you can not fit the two together without
doing something severe.

It looks from the chart I still keep (just to not feel too lost) that
they are not very different, but it looks like there is a subtle
difference in the blade size and location.

The entire series was pretty well designed to prevent doing just exactly
what you are hoping to do (and with a file -might) but, I have seen such
things done. But then.... I have seen some people do some pretty
amazing things that were not considered possible in the original design.

Matt Colie

Bill Kearney wrote:
Is there a physical difference between the L5-30 and L6-30 connectors? I
realize the L5 is rated for 125vac and the L6 for 250vac. I'm curious as to
whether the actual sockets are different. As in, can I use an L6 socket
with an L5 plug?


--
target of diversity
victim of affirmative action
refugee from the war on poverty
minimized by political correctness

NEMA AC connectors
 

The entire series was pretty well designed to prevent doing just exactly
what you are hoping to do

You've no idea why I'm asking, so please don't go assuming anything.

When dealing with docking and using shore power there are a number of
different combinations of adapters and splitters that might be necessary.
My question about the connectors was based on curiosity, not on
implementation. I'm certainly not interested in circumventing a properly
setup shore power connection. So I really don't need anything other than
what I asked.

NEMA AC connectors
 

Check out the different types / patterns at: http://www.marinco.com
They used to have a one page chart showing all the connector patterns,
but I couldn't find it this time.

NEMA AC connectors
 

OK Bill,

Sorry, I was reacting the the number of times I was approached with the
question "Why can't I plug this in here?" or "This almost fits. What is
wrong?" Lots of years as the facility guy will do that to you.

Some of the series are close enough so a few minutes with a file can
make something go where it otherwise might not, but I actually made a
point of not tracking that to force the purchase of the correct part.

Again, without my books I unfortunately can not tell you what can be
modified to do sort of fit what.

Trust me, I understand the shore power connection issue. My boat has no
installed shore power and no need, but my aged little motorhome has a
locker full of adapters and connector and silly little cables (some
fabricated late at night over the last 30+ years) and that doesn't even
have to be locking or retained or sealed.

Matt Colie

Bill Kearney wrote:
The entire series was pretty well designed to prevent doing just exactly
what you are hoping to do

You've no idea why I'm asking, so please don't go assuming anything.

When dealing with docking and using shore power there are a number of
different combinations of adapters and splitters that might be necessary.
My question about the connectors was based on curiosity, not on
implementation. I'm certainly not interested in circumventing a properly
setup shore power connection. So I really don't need anything other than
what I asked.


--
target of diversity
victim of affirmative action
refugee from the war on poverty
minimized by political correctness

NEMA AC connectors
 

Sorry, I was reacting the the number of times I was approached with the
question "Why can't I plug this in here?" or "This almost fits. What is
wrong?" Lots of years as the facility guy will do that to you.

Heh, no worries.

Trust me, I understand the shore power connection issue. My boat has no
installed shore power and no need, but my aged little motorhome has a
locker full of adapters and connector and silly little cables (some
fabricated late at night over the last 30+ years) and that doesn't even
have to be locking or retained or sealed.

Thus my question. It's not so much a matter of that I "need" to create the
adapters as I'm looking to get a bit more familiar with what can, can't,
should, shouldn't be done with them. I keep my volt meter on board and use
it when making connections to sketchy setups. It's not that often and most
here on the Bay seem to do a reasonably good job of using normal setups.
But knowing ahead of time stands to save me (some of) the hassles of those
late night fabrication efforts.