Richard D
Well-known member
Does such a thing exist?
20 Amp Plug With Parallel Blades
- Thread starter Richard D
- Start date
Alchymist
Well-known member
No, if it had parallel blades, it would fit a 15 amp receptacle. The 5-20 plug has the one blade turned 90° to prevent this.
zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
No a 20a attachment plug has a horizontal blade to prevent plugging a 20a load into a 15a receptacle.
If you have 20a rated equipment then you will need a 20a circuit.
Not really sure what your question is? If the 20A plug had parallel blades it would be a 15A plug not a 20A.
A 20A receptacle guarantee's that is is connected to a 20A circuit.
The construction of both plugs is typically the same other than the orientation of the blades.
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Cruzan80
Well-known member
This chart shows you everything you need to know. L5 is 120V, L6 is 240V.
wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
L designation is for locking
pancho400cid
Well-known member
You can make it fool-proof....
But ya can't make it DAMN FOOL-proof....
But ya can't make it DAMN FOOL-proof....
sberry
Banned
And it prevents it from being used on circuits not intended for it, often dedicated for such use. Janitorial is often this way.
I see the woman at the school has a twisted plug, it was installed on a rather modest vac with a 16 cord. Keeps them from using general circuits which are 20A but one never knows whats on them already. They want to make sure she doesn't come along and trip up sensitive equipment, labs, computers etc.
rlitman
Well-known member
LOL, yeah, and there's nothing locking on that chart.
The locking plugs have blades that run arcs around a circle.
alfredeneuman
Well-known member
The AC guy that takes care of my apartment complex did just that with a 6-20 plug into a 6-15 receptacle. Within a week the plug and receptacle both burned up
Cruzan80
Well-known member
Yeah, I was tired when posting. Sorry. At least the chart shows what I meant.
Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk
I did this to my PVC conduit heater...
That way I can use any common extension cord rather than making one with 20A ends.
I usually use a #12 extension cord or #14 but have run it with as small as a #16, that gets a bit warm, I think the heater is 2400W
I don't recommend anyone else do this, but it works for me
prostreetamx
Well-known member
Home Depot carries an adaptor to convert your 20a cap to a 15a end. We use them for Trade shows but they have other uses. The idiot in catering that ordered 750w heat lamp assemblies with 20a plugs didn't have a clue. If we run a standard extension cord to them they would not plug in. Rather than swapping the already added cord caps (not factory molded) they used up 50 of our adaptors which we never got back. We also use them a lot for a fitness show. Most of that equipment has factory installed 20a caps but when used for display at a show do not require the max amps. We do run dedicated circuits to each unit but they will not plug into our #12 cords without an adaptor. All of our distribution equipment has 20a plugs and even our new cord have a combo 15a, 20a factory molded cap.
APEowner
Well-known member
Is that a euphemism or does she actually plug in? I could see where it would be handy to be able to unplug her when you didn't need her.
Blue XJ
Well-known member
matt_i
Well-known member
Yes! A 14-30 is quite different from an L14-30.
I ordered some of the former expecting the latter, and then.....I learned something new
wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
Yes! A 14-30 is quite different from an L14-30.
I ordered some of the former expecting the latter, and then.....I learned something new
Ive seen a lot of people make that mistake... charts are helpful... and google is a wonderful tool....