I want to update/expand my current AC capability and I would like to carry an assortment of 220 volt plugs. It seems I still run into the old three prong range plug more often than anything in the bars and clubs I work in that even have 220 volt receptacles. What are some of the most common plugs/connectors that you guys run into and suggest carrying?
Power Connectors
- Thread starter Chuck Simon
- Start date
Silas Pradetto
Graduate Student
This is a tough question, because not only can there be many different connectors in use, it also seems that electricians like to use the wrong connector for the job, either wired wrong or otherwise.
Also note, it is illegal to draw 120V off of a receptacle wired for 240V without a neutral; the only way to get 120V is to use the ground as a neutral, which is NOT a current-carrying conductor, and can be undersized, etc. Don't do it.
Common plugs I see are L5-20, L6-20, L14-20, L14-30, L21-20, L21-30, NEMA 5-15R (Edison), 5-20R, 14-50R (range plug with neutral), 14-30R (dryer plug with neutral), 6-30R and 6-50R (dryer and range without neutral), 14-60R (like a range plug with neutral but 60 amps, rare), camlocks, and some of the pin connectors hotels have, but they have their own plugs for them.
Of course, you can NOT use any of the plugs with a '6' in them, since there is no neutral there.
I bring adapters for the dryer plug, range plug, and some of the twist locks if I need. I have a big inventory at the shop, so I try to get the information on what connectors are available when I advance a show.
Modifying venue electrical systems is generally frowned on unless you're a licensed electrician, so if you need "big power" then it's best to have an electrician tie you in. You might complain that it's expensive, etc, but if the show is big enough to warrant the big power, it should be big enough to pay an electrician, or be in a venue with a house electrician.
Edit: And, ALWAYS meter every plug you connect to, hot to hot, hots to neutral, hots to ground, and neutral to ground. You wouldn't believe how many plugs I've seen where the neutral is the third phase of a 3-phase supply, or the neutral and hot are swapped, ground is hot, etc etc. One wrong move and your entire rig is blown up, so be careful.
Also note, it is illegal to draw 120V off of a receptacle wired for 240V without a neutral; the only way to get 120V is to use the ground as a neutral, which is NOT a current-carrying conductor, and can be undersized, etc. Don't do it.
Common plugs I see are L5-20, L6-20, L14-20, L14-30, L21-20, L21-30, NEMA 5-15R (Edison), 5-20R, 14-50R (range plug with neutral), 14-30R (dryer plug with neutral), 6-30R and 6-50R (dryer and range without neutral), 14-60R (like a range plug with neutral but 60 amps, rare), camlocks, and some of the pin connectors hotels have, but they have their own plugs for them.
Of course, you can NOT use any of the plugs with a '6' in them, since there is no neutral there.
I bring adapters for the dryer plug, range plug, and some of the twist locks if I need. I have a big inventory at the shop, so I try to get the information on what connectors are available when I advance a show.
Modifying venue electrical systems is generally frowned on unless you're a licensed electrician, so if you need "big power" then it's best to have an electrician tie you in. You might complain that it's expensive, etc, but if the show is big enough to warrant the big power, it should be big enough to pay an electrician, or be in a venue with a house electrician.
Edit: And, ALWAYS meter every plug you connect to, hot to hot, hots to neutral, hots to ground, and neutral to ground. You wouldn't believe how many plugs I've seen where the neutral is the third phase of a 3-phase supply, or the neutral and hot are swapped, ground is hot, etc etc. One wrong move and your entire rig is blown up, so be careful.
Last edited:
Re: Power Connectors
Thanks for the feedback, Silas. For anyone interested, I found a pretty good site that shows the most common ones:http://www.frentzandsons.com/Hardware References/plugandreceptacleconfiguratio.htm
The 10-50P is the one I run into the most.
Thanks for the feedback, Silas. For anyone interested, I found a pretty good site that shows the most common ones:http://www.frentzandsons.com/Hardware References/plugandreceptacleconfiguratio.htm
The 10-50P is the one I run into the most.
Re: Power Connectors
And that one cannot be used in portable power distribution. You need a 14-50 if you want to break it out into individual circuits.
Re: Power Connectors
Please excuse my ignorance for asking, but, as you probably know, out here in the real world the 10-50P is used quite often in portable power distribution, broken out into individual circuits with the common serving as the ground. Often that is all that is available and is often located on stage for that purpose. Of course they are usually older buildings. What are the dangers of doing so?
Please excuse my ignorance for asking, but, as you probably know, out here in the real world the 10-50P is used quite often in portable power distribution, broken out into individual circuits with the common serving as the ground. Often that is all that is available and is often located on stage for that purpose. Of course they are usually older buildings. What are the dangers of doing so?
Re: Power Connectors
The danger is that it has no safety ground, and therefore an electrical fault will not trip an upstream breaker, potentially energizing the entire chassis of a piece of equipment or the stage.
The danger is that it has no safety ground, and therefore an electrical fault will not trip an upstream breaker, potentially energizing the entire chassis of a piece of equipment or the stage.
Re: Power Connectors
Well that certainly makes sense! Not that I want to be the first to experience such a disaster, but has that actually happened? Is there any way to safely use a 10-50P when it is all that is available?
Well that certainly makes sense! Not that I want to be the first to experience such a disaster, but has that actually happened? Is there any way to safely use a 10-50P when it is all that is available?
Re: Power Connectors
As far as I know there is no safe way to use that connector for our purposes.
As far as I know there is no safe way to use that connector for our purposes.
Re: Power Connectors
There is a way of doing it, but it's probably not a good piece of public knowledge.
There is a way of doing it, but it's probably not a good piece of public knowledge.
Re: Power Connectors
It is also not something I would want to be doing in someone elses business, if you are thinking of the same thing I am.
It is also not something I would want to be doing in someone elses business, if you are thinking of the same thing I am.
Re: Power Connectors
Getting 120V from a 240V receptacle is perfectly safe and legal provided you are using a step-down transformer to do so. What you aren't allowed to do is use the equipment safety ground as a return path.
That's a good list of the connectors in common use, although it is missing the "California" connectors, commonly found on generators (like an L14-50, but with a different twist style).
Getting 120V from a 240V receptacle is perfectly safe and legal provided you are using a step-down transformer to do so. What you aren't allowed to do is use the equipment safety ground as a return path.
That's a good list of the connectors in common use, although it is missing the "California" connectors, commonly found on generators (like an L14-50, but with a different twist style).
Re: Power Connectors
So, what are some of the more common connectors you guys are seeing at gigs?
So, what are some of the more common connectors you guys are seeing at gigs?
Silas Pradetto
Graduate Student
Re: Power Connectors
Looking at the diagram, I'm actually a bit wrong in the OP. The 10-30 and 10-50 are the dryer and range plugs, but I also commonly see 6-30 and 6-50s. Neither the 6- or 10- receptacles are legal, although the 6- receptacles would be with a transformer. The 10- series have no ground, which a transformer wouldn't help.
I'm sure Phil was going to suggest that the ungrounded plugs are legal if a distro is connected to an external ground source, but you won't catch me venturing there or offering such advice....
And while I do see a lot of the 50-amp twists on peoples' power distros, I have never seen one mounted permanently in a building.
Disclaimer: I'm not an electrician, and you should assume I know nothing. Nothing I say will make you an electrican, nor should anything I say about electricity be put into practice by anyone other than a licensed, code-knowing electrician.
Looking at the diagram, I'm actually a bit wrong in the OP. The 10-30 and 10-50 are the dryer and range plugs, but I also commonly see 6-30 and 6-50s. Neither the 6- or 10- receptacles are legal, although the 6- receptacles would be with a transformer. The 10- series have no ground, which a transformer wouldn't help.
I'm sure Phil was going to suggest that the ungrounded plugs are legal if a distro is connected to an external ground source, but you won't catch me venturing there or offering such advice....
And while I do see a lot of the 50-amp twists on peoples' power distros, I have never seen one mounted permanently in a building.
Disclaimer: I'm not an electrician, and you should assume I know nothing. Nothing I say will make you an electrican, nor should anything I say about electricity be put into practice by anyone other than a licensed, code-knowing electrician.
Last edited:
Silas Pradetto
Graduate Student
Re: Power Connectors
I know. But sometimes, it's better to let people know why it's wrong and show them what would be right, just so they know, and can spot trouble in the future.
There was a thread about discussing topics like electricity and rigging, where people can die, and whether these topics should be avoided. If the people reading this never read anything saying "no, that's wrong, this is right" then they'll probably keep doing it wrong...
I know. But sometimes, it's better to let people know why it's wrong and show them what would be right, just so they know, and can spot trouble in the future.
There was a thread about discussing topics like electricity and rigging, where people can die, and whether these topics should be avoided. If the people reading this never read anything saying "no, that's wrong, this is right" then they'll probably keep doing it wrong...
RYAN LOUDMUSIC JENKINS
Sophomore
Re: Power Connectors
We see lots of 50 amp CS connectors in buildings/outdoor venues here. We also see a couple 14-50Rs here and there but unfortunately we don't see enough CamLocks. Lots of Lugs in hotels and an occasional Hubbel 26520 3-phase 60 amp/600 volt connector.
We see lots of 50 amp CS connectors in buildings/outdoor venues here. We also see a couple 14-50Rs here and there but unfortunately we don't see enough CamLocks. Lots of Lugs in hotels and an occasional Hubbel 26520 3-phase 60 amp/600 volt connector.
Re: Power Connectors
Most of the power we see is 63A three phase 415V or single phase 230V ceeform, with smaller gigs having 13A sockets. There appear to be considerably fewer kinds of plugs on this side of the pond.
Most of the power we see is 63A three phase 415V or single phase 230V ceeform, with smaller gigs having 13A sockets. There appear to be considerably fewer kinds of plugs on this side of the pond.
Re: Power Connectors
So the local outdoor event has a 10-50R. I explained to the organizer that this plug is not to code and does not have a safety ground. He was nice about it and said he would check with the city electrician. They came back and said the plug should be fine as is. I got the standard answer, "It has worked for every other band the past 15 years, and everyone who plays here knows to bring the right plug." I told him that they could change to 14-50R and it would be perfect. Still no go....
Shall I simply make an adapter to 14-50P and tie ground with neutral, or do I push this farther with them?
What do you guys think I should do?
So the local outdoor event has a 10-50R. I explained to the organizer that this plug is not to code and does not have a safety ground. He was nice about it and said he would check with the city electrician. They came back and said the plug should be fine as is. I got the standard answer, "It has worked for every other band the past 15 years, and everyone who plays here knows to bring the right plug." I told him that they could change to 14-50R and it would be perfect. Still no go....
Shall I simply make an adapter to 14-50P and tie ground with neutral, or do I push this farther with them?
What do you guys think I should do?
Attachments
Re: Power Connectors
Don't fool with it. It's right or you don't use it. A lot of licensed electricians do stuff that does not meet code and don't give a shit unless an inspector reams them a new one. And if this guy works for the city, he and the inspector may be in each others' pockets.
Don't fool with it. It's right or you don't use it. A lot of licensed electricians do stuff that does not meet code and don't give a shit unless an inspector reams them a new one. And if this guy works for the city, he and the inspector may be in each others' pockets.