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Introduction To the Type of NEMA Cords
"NEMA" is short for National Electrical Manufacturers Association. It is a union of electrical and medical imaging companies that have joined forces to develop and push for high safety standards in both fields regarding the products they manufacture.
Consequently, if a cord has the letters "NEMA" on it, the cable meets the safety standards the National Electrical Manufacturers Association sets. Since it's not always clear which NEMA power cord to use for a certain job, they have various products for home, business, and industrial use.
The main goal of these power plugs is to keep fires and other accidents from happening by making it easy to connect different pieces of machinery safely. This article aims to inform you about the basics of NEMA and its various cords to guide your purchase decision better when looking for a line to buy.
What are NEMA Cords?
In discussing the classification of power plugs and receptacles, it is necessary to distinguish between the two primary types:
- Straight-blade (non-locking)
- Curved-blade (twist-locking)
To make things more convenient, straight blade cords have a non-locking connector feature that may be yanked in and out of receptacles without causing damage.
The curved blade cord differs from the straight blade cord once a plug is inserted into a twist-locking connector. The user can rotate the connector to lock it in place, preventing it from being accidentally unplugged. Cords of this kind often have the letter "L" on them, indicating a twist-locking mechanism. Areas where accidental separation is possible and the implications are severe, such as data centers or industrial settings, typically use twist-locking connections.
Additionally, your NEMA cord can be either grounded or ungrounded, in addition to the locking mechanism. When a cable is grounded, any excess electricity is directed to the earth rather than your electronics. A power surge could cause a fire, an electric shock, or an overload, but these types of wiring help prevent either.
Two-pronged plugs are not grounded, while three-pronged ones are. If you don't want metal objects touching the hotline, put the ground pin above the other two.
Types of NEMA Cords
NEMA-standardized wiring devices can handle currents of 15 to 60 amps and 125 to 600 volts. Here are a few different kinds of NEMA cords:
NEMA 1: It has two flat prongs. 125 V two-pole, two-wire, non-grounded. This classic arrangement for grounded plugs is phasing out.
NEMA 2: is a discontinued series. Two-wire 250 V.
NEMA 3: it delivers 277 V and is ungrounded.
NEMA 4: is a projected 600 V, two-wire, ungrounded series.
NEMA 5-15: is a 125 Volt NEMA Plug Socket, and a 120V electrical setup requires a
NEMA 5-15 enclosure. It is the primary type of cord used in the United States, Canada, and some states in Mexico.
NEMA 16: A four-wire, three-pole, grounded, three-phase cord with a 480 V rating.
NEMA 17: They are equivalent to NEMA 16 but have a 600 V rating.
NEMA 18: NEMA 18s is a variant of the NEMA 14 and 15 standards. Additionally, it is an ungrounded three-phase 120/208Y.
NEMA 19: Ungrounded three-pole, four-wire 277/480Y.
NEMA 20: Similar to NEMA 19, but with 247/600Y ungrounded.
NEMA 21: This is a 120/208Y, five-wire, three-pole with a neutral, three-phase, and grounded standard.
NEMA 22: They are equivalent to NEMA 21, but for 277/480Y applications.
NEMA 23: For 347/600Y applications, NEMA 23s are equivalent to NEMA 21 and 22.
NEMA 24: are two-pole, grounding, 347V connectors primarily used in Canada.
NEMA L5-15: The NEMA L5-15 twist-lock plug is the 120V variant of the standard US plug. These plugs are widely employed in industrial settings with a high vibration probability, preventing accidental disconnection.
NEMA L7-15: It is for use in most homes with 277V lighting systems and has a twist-lock feature.
NEMA L7-20: These cords are frequently used in 277V lighting installations. You can tell a 20A outlet from a 15A outlet by the location of its locking ground tab.
Takeaways
Power cords connect electric devices to a power source. Given how many new appliances are made daily, it would be a mess if there wasn't an organization like NEMA to set standards for cords and ensure they are safe to use. Since electrical power connectors can carry direct current (DC), alternating current (AC), or both, the different types of NEMA cords help do this safely, preventing fires and other accidents.
So, no matter what kind of cord or device you need to power, you can find a cable that works for you. Remember that the blade angles on power plugs and receptacles differ between NEMA types to prevent accidental plugging. A 1-15P power cord, for instance, is incompatible with a 2-15R receptacle.