How it connects
The plug's curved blades go into the arc slots and the plug is turned about 30° clockwise, so the hooked ground blade and curved blades lock behind the contacts. To release it you turn it back. The connection makes electrical contact.
Male and female halves
L5-30P is the male plug with blades. L5-30R is the female receptacle or cord connector with slots, and that is the half described here.
Usually connects to
- NEMA L5-30P locking plug
Common sizes
- There is only one size: 30 A, 125 V. Its relatives L5-15 and L5-20 are the same 125 V grounding family but have different slot geometry and don't interchange.
Where it is used
generator outlets and inletsRV and marine shore powerindustrial and stage powerserver/UPS equipmentshop equipment
Variations
- flush wall receptacle (single, on a yoke)
- inline cord connector (female cord end)
- flanged/panel inlet
- weatherproof cover versions
How to recognise it
Look for a round face about 50 mm across with three arc-shaped slots on a circle, one of which has an L-shaped hook (ground). The face is usually marked 'NEMA L5-30' and '30A 125V'. The housing is often black, sometimes yellow or white industrial colours.
Often confused with
| Confused with | How to tell them apart |
|---|---|
| NEMA L14-30R | L14-30 has 4 slots (2 hots, neutral, ground) and is rated 125/250 V. L5-30 has 3 slots. |
| NEMA L5-20R / L6-30R | These have the same 3-slot look, but the slot width, angle and ground hook differ. Read the marking moulded on the face. |
| NEMA TT-30R | TT-30 is a straight-blade RV receptacle that doesn't twist. It has angled straight slots and a round ground hole. |
Also called
L5-30 twist-lock receptacleL5-30 locking outletL5-30R connector (cord-end female)Twist-Lock (Hubbell trademark)
Good to know
NEMA WD 6 is cited from general knowledge and was not checked against a fetched source.
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