NEMA L5-30 outlet to any NEMA Y plug servicing two 12A loads?
NEMA L5-30 outlet to any NEMA Y plug servicing two 12A loads?
(OP)
Hi all, long time reader and first time poster here, have found so much valuable information on these forums and would like to thank you all for contributing! :)
Now to the question:
Service is 3 phase, 4 Wire, 208V
Two 10awg conductors (seperate phases), 10awg neutral, and 10awg ground (shared neutral) running from service panel to dual gang box.
The user would like to service 4 intermittant loads of refrigeration eqipment which has a 12A peak initial startup draw from these two circuits, which at 80% is right at the maximum service for the 10awg.
Would using dual NEMA L5-30 outlets in this box, and a NEMA L5 "Y" or equivalent power conditioner be a permissable way for the user to connect the equipment loads?
I have only seen 20A rated splitters, does anyone know of a rated 30A "Y cable" or splitter that could be effectively used in this situation?
Another thought was to have the L5-30 plug feed a small box with dual 15A overcurrent protection devices each connected to an individual outlet to service the equipment.
Any information or other suggestions, solutions, or approaches are very welcome.
Thank you all again.
Now to the question:
Service is 3 phase, 4 Wire, 208V
Two 10awg conductors (seperate phases), 10awg neutral, and 10awg ground (shared neutral) running from service panel to dual gang box.
The user would like to service 4 intermittant loads of refrigeration eqipment which has a 12A peak initial startup draw from these two circuits, which at 80% is right at the maximum service for the 10awg.
Would using dual NEMA L5-30 outlets in this box, and a NEMA L5 "Y" or equivalent power conditioner be a permissable way for the user to connect the equipment loads?
I have only seen 20A rated splitters, does anyone know of a rated 30A "Y cable" or splitter that could be effectively used in this situation?
Another thought was to have the L5-30 plug feed a small box with dual 15A overcurrent protection devices each connected to an individual outlet to service the equipment.
Any information or other suggestions, solutions, or approaches are very welcome.
Thank you all again.






RE: NEMA L5-30 outlet to any NEMA Y plug servicing two 12A loads?
The 80% rule applies to continuous load.
RE: NEMA L5-30 outlet to any NEMA Y plug servicing two 12A loads?
Keith Cress
Flamin Systems, Inc.- http://www.flaminsystems.com
RE: NEMA L5-30 outlet to any NEMA Y plug servicing two 12A loads?
"The user would like to service 4 intermittant loads of refrigeration eqipment which has a 12A peak initial startup draw from these two circuits, which at 80% is right at the maximum service for the 10awg."
That's when this gets a little confusing. Are you saying that the total of all four loads is 12A peak? Or that each load is 12A peak? Or that if you feed two loads from each circuit, then each circuit will have a 12A peak load? And were you saying that your intent is to use the two twist-lock receptacles to feed a "wye" cord, and then plug two 6 amp loads into the two receptacles on each "wye"? If that is the case, then as long as all your devices and conductors match the circuit rating, then you should be ok, it's just somewhat messy. Would not it be simpler to just install two more receptacles and plug the loads in individually?
RE: NEMA L5-30 outlet to any NEMA Y plug servicing two 12A loads?
The appliances are intended for use on 120v.
To clarify, the loads are each 120v, 60hz, 12A peak. 4 loads total, 2 per circuit, each circuit being a 10awg conductor, with a 10awg shared neutral.
That said, the equipment would have to be powered from a "wye" or splitter cable as you describe as there are only the two conductors to service the outlets and a dual gang box in the present situation.
The equipment uses standard NEMA 5-15 plugs, so ideally I would like to find a rated 30A or (25A?) splitter that would go from the L5-30 to two 5-15.
Another option indicated, was to feed to a small wall mounted boxes, each with additional receptacles and dual 15A overcurrent protection devices. Also considered some sort of power conditioner that would feed from the 30A and provide the equivalent of two 15A circuits.
I'm not sure how to wire up more receptacles to the 10awg feeds and have it meet code when we need a 30A OCPD at the panel. Wouldn't additional receptacles require an in-line OCPD? Please advise if there is a way that this is possible, I'm often confused about 210.19 and where taps are permitted.
Thank you all again!
RE: NEMA L5-30 outlet to any NEMA Y plug servicing two 12A loads?
Again, it seems it would be a fairly simple fix. My recommendation would be to remove the locking devices, mount a two gang box over each of the existing boxes. Pig-tail #10's to all the conductors and mount four Nema 5-30R single receptacles, rated 30A, 125V, (Hubbell #9308 or equal). Cut off the 15A plug caps from the four loads and install matching Nema 5-30P plug caps on the loads and plug them in. That would be it.
RE: NEMA L5-30 outlet to any NEMA Y plug servicing two 12A loads?
Don Phillips
http://worthingtonengineering.com