Loose 30a Twist-lock?

[HamAndEggs]

Is this right? I've never in my life used an L14-30R. Just spent $100 on a Reliance 40ft cord so I can plug into my house with a generator inlet

It seems like it doesn't positively twist and "lock", any vibration would just make it un the "unlocked" position

Am I doing it wrong? is this a bad cord?

Originally I was going to buy some ends and get some SO cord and make my own, but I thought maybe a pre-made cord with molded ends would be better. Maybe I was wrong

 

[alfredeneuman]

It seems like it doesn't positively twist and "lock", any vibration would just make it un the "unlocked" position

When will you come across such violent shaking in regular use like your youtube video shows? An earthquake?

 

[HamAndEggs]

When will you come across such violent shaking in regular use like your youtube video shows? An earthquake?

It was just to show that it doesn't lock, even the torque of the cable being twisted is enough to "unlock" it

Pair this with a generator vibrating away, and have fun!

If I can shake it loose in 10 seconds, a few hours vibrating and its done

 

[Chuckster in NJ]

Try to GENTLY bend the prongs outward so they hold "tighter" into the female twist lock.

BTW! The video posted is NOT a "real life test" because you are violently shaking the entire cord assembly in your video with twisting and pulling...... A generator will NEVER have this reaction unless it is in a earthquake or malfunctioning.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

doesnt look like its locking to me. youre not even turning it. maybe the prongs are hitting the slots on the receptacle end. try bending them a little.

 

[mike93lx]

It was just to show that it doesn't lock, even the torque of the cable being twisted is enough to "unlock" it

Pair this with a generator vibrating away, and have fun!

If I can shake it loose in 10 seconds, a few hours vibrating and its done

A generator 40ft away won't be vibrating the cord end at all

 

[yatg]

I use L5-15s on my yard tools and extension cords. I pull and tug and drag and shake them all the time and they don't come loose, which is the whole reason for using locking plugs and connectors.

When you twist, you should be able to feel it lock. Maybe you're not twisting enough.

If you test the male end in the gen, and the female end in the inlet, you can determine if one end has a problem.

 

[dogdog]

doesnt look like its locking to me. youre not even turning it. maybe the prongs are hitting the slots on the receptacle end. try bending them a little.

^^^^

+1 on this...

Not sure what kind of plug that is... usually if it is generator one It's L14-30P/R
once it's twisted, it won't come off... I have them as my 30AMP 240V stuff for the garage.

you sure you didn't "mod" any of the legs ? or force it in the wrong pins... The one with the notch is supposedly to be the ground I think, just go look up the pinout if it is L14-30

 

[HamAndEggs]

Thanks guys, I tried again this morning and there is just no way it will go further. It looks like its hitting a molded plastic piece on the inside, there is no way it can go further

I'm getting this instead
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07H47DW9N/?tag=atomicindus08-20


Its only $10 more, but is real SO cord too. So it works out better anyway

The other cord is on its way back

 

[Denwood]

I've made a few of these plug/cord combinations of late. It should twist about 2-3 degrees after insertion and would be very difficult to remove by accident.

 

[rlitman]

Look at how long the "L" sticks out on the ground leg. That's pretty much as far as these things twist. It's not a whole lot.

 

[HamAndEggs]

Well here is the update, new Iron Box cord. 1000000% better

Going into the inlet, super positive also

 

[HamAndEggs]

Responce from Reliance, and Amazon wouldn't post my review... Now I know why the cord has such good reviews

 

[wyliesdiesels]

yeah there was something wrong with the first one. prong probably hitting the tangs

ive posted reviews on amazon before critical of something and they wont accept it. so dumb

 

[HamAndEggs]

yeah there was something wrong with the first one. prong probably hitting the tangs

ive posted reviews on amazon before critical of something and they wont accept it. so dumb

I've complained, they are reviewing why it was not posted. I'm sure I'll get some generic boilerplate response

I replied to Reliance saying that my new cord works fine, and their cord was the issue. This is their reponse

I guess NEMA 14-30R or NEMA 14-30P aren't standard electrical connectors

I pointed out I was plugging their cord into their own cord, so...

 

[slow]

sad that the review will not be posted. I have 4 reliance cords, all came with items I purchased, they seem "ok" one is starting to crack on the receptacle end, but it was shipped to be in a box connected. I prefer SO cord and serviceable ends. I will likely sell the cords I have next hurricane and replace them with a single 40 foot cord, as right now I need to use 2 of the 25' ones to get the generator into the correct location.

 

[dogdog]

I've complained, they are reviewing why it was not posted. I'm sure I'll get some generic boilerplate response

I replied to Reliance saying that my new cord works fine, and their cord was the issue. This is their reponse

I guess NEMA 14-30R or NEMA 14-30P aren't standard electrical connectors

I pointed out I was plugging their cord into their own cord, so...

That company is full of ****... I have different brands of L14-30P and Rs they are locking fine. even the ones that came with my Generator locks fine with others.

as far as reviews, I think it might be amazon Dumb AI filtering certain keywords in your review like Packaging .... just a guess.. I had one that wants to offer me a full refunds after I tried to get the issue resolve with them but gone no where but the warranty hoops, because it was after 30 days... had no choice but a negative review, then after about 3 months later I got some shady offer to offer me a $100 refund if I remove the review, when that doesn't work, I got the offer for full refund from that 3rd party ... I just took those to Amazon and say WTF. Yes they are still in business even though that seems to violate Amazon rules. Amazon is bias and does not protect it's customer. Convenience yes. So yes the review does hurt those shady sellers.

 

[HamAndEggs]

That company is full of ****... I have different brands of L14-30P and Rs they are locking fine. even the ones that came with my Generator locks fine with others.

as far as reviews, I think it might be amazon Dumb AI filtering certain keywords in your review like Packaging .... just a guess.. I had one that wants to offer me a full refunds after I tried to get the issue resolve with them but gone no where but the warranty hoops, because it was after 30 days... had no choice but a negative review, then after about 3 months later I got some shady offer to offer me a $100 refund if I remove the review, when that doesn't work, I got the offer for full refund from that 3rd party ... I just took those to Amazon and say WTF. Yes they are still in business even though that seems to violate Amazon rules. Amazon is bias and does not protect it's customer. Convenience yes. So yes the review does hurt those shady sellers.

Should have taken the $100 and left the review up

 

[dogdog]

Should have taken the $100 and left the review up

Nope that is not how I wutang, when I am pissed. I am not kidding you, still kept that email they send me. The last offer was full refund btw ...

 

[dcg9381]

Should have taken the $100 and left the review up

Nah, revise the review and indicate you were paid to change it..