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wml52's avatar
wml52
Explorer
Aug 29, 2014

NEMA L14-30R vs NEMA 14-50R ?

I recently purchased a 7500 running watt portable gen-set that has 1 NEMA L14-30R 120/240 30amp receptacle and 1 NEMA 14-50R 120/240 50 amp receptacle and have a question. If you do the math 7500 watts / 240 volts = 31.25 amps. How can the NEMA 14-50R be rated at 120/240 50 amps?
  • Matt_Colie's avatar
    Matt_Colie
    Explorer II
    Aug 30, 2014
    Wml,

    What the receptacle is rated for has nothing to do with the power that the generator can supply. The 14-50 receptacle many be able to supply 50 amps if only one side of the phase is used.

    Many industrial units are supplied as you describe so the end user doesn't have to mess around with strange connections.

    Matt
  • wml52's avatar
    wml52
    Explorer
    Aug 29, 2014
    Not much to worry about regarding the 30 amp receptacle pulling 31.25 amps as it's breaker is only rated for 30 amps.
  • ScottG's avatar
    ScottG
    Nomad
    Aug 29, 2014
    It's rated at 50 amps because you wire it with 6 awg wire.
  • time2roll's avatar
    time2roll
    Nomad
    Aug 29, 2014
    I would worry more about the 14-30 running 31.25 amps than 14-50 running 31.25 amps.
  • wnjj's avatar
    wnjj
    Explorer II
    Aug 29, 2014
    The ratings are a max rating for the receptacle, not a guarantee of available power.

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