NEMA Plug & Receptacle Configurations

3 pole 4 wire
2 pole 2 wire 2 pole 3 wire grounding 3 pole 3 wire 4 wire
15 grounding
AMP 125V 250V 125V 250V 277V 125/250V
30
125/250V
30 30 120/
250V 250V 208V

Receptical
1-15R 5-15R 6-15R 7-15R 11-15R 14-15R 15-15R 18-15R

Plug
1-15P 2-15P 5-15P 6-15P 7-15P 11-15P 14-15P 15-15P 18-15P

3 pole 4 wire
2 pole 2 wire 2 pole 3 wire grounding 3 pole 3 wire 4 wire
20 grounding
AMP 125V 250V 125V 250V 277V 125/250V
30
125/250V
30 30 120/
250V 250V 208V

Receptical
2-20R 5-20R 6-20R 7-20R 10-20R 11-20R 14-20R 15-20R 18-20R

Plug
2-20P 5-20P 6-20P 7-20P 10-20P 11-20P 14-20P 15-20P 18-20P

3 pole 4 wire
2 pole 2 wire 2 pole 3 wire grounding 3 pole 3 wire 4 wire
30 grounding
AMP 125V 250V 125V 250V 277V 125/250V
30
125/250V
30 30 120/
250V 250V 208V

Receptical
2-30R 5-30R 6-30R 7-30R 10-30R 11-30R 14-30R 15-30R 18-30R

Plug
2-30P 5-30P 6-30P 7-30P 10-30P 11-30P 14-30P 15-30P 18-30P

2 pole 3 wire grounding 3 pole 3 wire 3 pole 4 wire grounding 4 wire

50 AMP 30 120/
125V 250V 277V 125/250V 30 250V 125/250V 30 250V
208V
Receptical
5-50R 6-50R 7-50R 10-50R 11-50R 14-50R 15-50R 18-50R

Plug
5-50P 6-50P 7-50P 10-50P 11-50P 14-50P 15-50P 18-50P

3 pole 4 wire grounding 4 wire

Receptical
14-60R 15-60R 18-60R

Plug
14-60P 15-60P 18-60P
Decoding NEMA Table 1 - NEMA Nomenclature
plugs and NEMA x 5 - 15 P
P indicates plug or receptacle

receptacles P
R
is plug
is receptacle or socket
15 indicates the current rating and
If you’ve ever had trouble figuring out standard values are
the NEMA (National Electrical 15 amps
Manufacturers Association) pattern and 20 amps
numbering system on a particular 30 amps
device, you aren’t alone. Comprised of 5 indicates the voltage*
four major identifiers, the combination 2 indicates 115 VAC, ungrounded
of numbers and letters can appear for Class II connections
more like alphabet soup than a struc- 5 indicates 125 VAC, grounded
tured electrical specification. for Class I connections
6 indicates 250 VAC, grounded
Rest assured, there is a simple way to
for Class II connections
decode plug patterns and connections, 7 indicates 277 VAC, grounded
making proper specification a breeze. for Class II connections
The first identifier, which is either a blank 8 indicates 480 VAC, grounded
space or an “L,” indicates whether the for Class I connections
plug is a straight or locking blade device 9 indicates 600 VAC, grounded
(with “L” being locking). for Class I connections
The second identifier, which is a 14 indicates 125/250 VAC, single
number, assigns the voltage rating; for phase, four wire, three pole
example, a “5” represents a voltage 15 indicates 250 VAC, three phase,
rating of 125 Vac and a “6” denotes a four wire, three pole
16 indicates 480 VAC, three phase,
rating of 250 Vac. The rating given is the
four wire, three pole
highest voltage allowed for the device. 17 indicates 600 VAC, three phase,
Please refer to the accompanying chart four wire, three pole
to see other voltage ratings. 21 indicates 120/208 VAC, three
The third identifier, also a number, phase, four wire, four pole
identifies the highest amperage rating 22 indicates 277/480 VAC, three
allowed for use with the device. phase, five wire, four pole
Finally, the fourth identifier is a letter 23 indicates 347/600 VAC, three
that determines whether the device is a phase, five wire, four pole
plug (“P”) or a receptacle/outlet (“R”). x is the position occupied by L for
For a printable pdf of this chart, locking devices. If no tester is present
device is nonlocking, straight blade.
please refer to the Sales Tools section *excludes Class II connections
of our web site.