How it connects
Pushes straight into matching receptacle contacts, which grip the blades and grounding pin. It does not twist to lock. The interface itself provides no weather seal; any weather protection depends on the complete device or enclosure.
Male and female halves
This is the male plug (P), with exposed blades and grounding pin. The female mating half is a receptacle or cord connector (R), normally NEMA 5-15R; a 5-20R T-slot receptacle also accepts it.
Usually connects to
- NEMA 5-15R receptacle or cord connector
- NEMA 5-20R receptacle with a T-slot accepting 5-15P
Common sizes
- One 15 A, 125 V mating configuration. Approximate blade dimensions: 6.35 × 1.5 mm, on 12.7 mm (1/2 in) centres; polarized neutral about 7.9 mm wide, ground pin about 4.8 mm diameter.
- Housings, cable gauges, cord lengths and exit angles vary without changing the 5-15P mating format.
Where it is used
Household appliancesConsumer electronicsComputers/ITPortable/power toolsPower and extension cordsCommercial equipmentResidential/commercial AC power
Variations
- Molded or rewirable assembly/replacement plug
- Straight, right-angle or flat cord exit
- Hospital grade with green dot
- GFCI plug
How to recognise it
Look for two parallel flat blades plus a longer round or U-shaped grounding pin offset from them. Confirm a 5-15P designation or 15 A / 125 V marking where available. A generic three-prong description or appliance photograph that hides the plug cannot establish this interface.
Often confused with
| Confused with | How to tell them apart |
|---|---|
| NEMA 1-15P | Has two flat blades but no grounding pin; it is an ungrounded interface. |
| NEMA 5-20P | Its two flat blades are perpendicular to each other, rather than parallel; rated 20 A. |
| NEMA L5-15P | Uses curved locking blades and a twist-to-lock mating action, rather than this straight-blade push-in pattern. |
| NEMA 5-15R | The female receptacle has slots and a ground opening instead of projecting plug contacts. |
| NEMA 6-15P | 6-15P (250 V) has one blade horizontal and both blades same width; 5-15P has both blades vertical and parallel. |
Also called
NEMA 5-15 plugUS grounded three-prong plug; 3-prong US plug2-pole, 3-wire grounding straight-blade plugNEMA 5-15PType B plug (IEC World Plugs designation)grounded Edison plughousehold grounded plug; Type B grounded pluggrounded 120 V plug
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