250V Receptacle fed with 120V.

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bcorbin

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I've got an L6-20R receptacle fed with 120V, for lighting.

The lighting fixture has a L5-20P plug.

The cord isn't long enough to begin with, so it is going to have to be replaced anyway.

Is it a violation of the NEC to put a cord and L6-20P plug on the lighting fixture?

Obviously, it will still function properly, but it is conceivable that someone might at some point try to plug it in to an actual 250V receptacle because it "looks right". And of course, bad things will happen then.
 
Since I gave you a smart ass answer I looked and what I found is this. But this doesn't say you have to hook it up to the right voltage.
But I got tired of looking. But it has to be a sure bet that the NEC would specify that receptacles be wired to what they were designed for.
But I don't know where it says that specifically.






406.8 Noninterchangeability. Receptacles, cord connectors,
and attachment plugs shall be constructed such that
receptacle or cord connectors do not accept an attachment
plug with a different voltage or current rating from that for
which the device is intended. However, a 20-ampere T-slot
receptacle or cord connector shall be permitted to accept a
15-ampere attachment plug of the same voltage rating.
Non?grounding-type receptacles and connectors shall not
accept grounding-type attachment plugs.
 
bcorbin said:
I've got an L6-20R receptacle fed with 120V, for lighting.

The lighting fixture has a L5-20P plug.

The cord isn't long enough to begin with, so it is going to have to be replaced anyway.

Is it a violation of the NEC to put a cord and L6-20P plug on the lighting fixture?

Obviously, it will still function properly, but it is conceivable that someone might at some point try to plug it in to an actual 250V receptacle because it "looks right". And of course, bad things will happen then.
Click to expand...

1) The L6-20 receptacle should be replaced with an L5-20 one, since it supplies 120V.
2) If the lighting fixture has an edison bulb receptacle (std light bulb) then there no rule against screwing a 240V (or 12V) bulb into it.
3) Again, if it is a 120V light bulb, on a 250V circuit, it will just be very bright for a short period of time, then burn out, no smoke, no fire ...
4) Edison bulb receptacles are rated 660W 250V
 
bcorbin said:
I've got an L6-20R receptacle fed with 120V, for lighting.

The lighting fixture has a L5-20P plug.

The cord isn't long enough to begin with, so it is going to have to be replaced anyway.

Is it a violation of the NEC to put a cord and L6-20P plug on the lighting fixture?

Obviously, it will still function properly, but it is conceivable that someone might at some point try to plug it in to an actual 250V receptacle because it "looks right". And of course, bad things will happen then.
Click to expand...

This isnt a problem. You can use a higher rated receptacle than is needed.
250 volt receptacle is just fine on 120 volt. You cannot do it the other way around though.
 
Aleman said:
Since I gave you a smart ass answer I looked and what I found is this. But this doesn't say you have to hook it up to the right voltage.
But I got tired of looking. But it has to be a sure bet that the NEC would specify that receptacles be wired to what they were designed for.
But I don't know where it says that specifically.






406.8 Noninterchangeability. Receptacles, cord connectors,
and attachment plugs shall be constructed such that
receptacle or cord connectors do not accept an attachment
plug with a different voltage or current rating from that for
which the device is intended. However, a 20-ampere T-slot
receptacle or cord connector shall be permitted to accept a
15-ampere attachment plug of the same voltage rating.
Non?grounding-type receptacles and connectors shall not
accept grounding-type attachment plugs.
Click to expand...

I'm with Aleman here. Different, non-interchangable plugs and receptacles are made for a reason. The correct receptacle, rated for the current and voltage supplied, should be used. Imagine if the situation were reversed - 240v being supplied from a receptacle that's expected to supply 120v. At best, the lamp burns out. However, if anything with a transformer or power supply were to be plugged in, the magic smoke would escape rather quickly.

A shop I used to work at was terrible at this; any twist-lok was apparently the "correct" twist-lok, regardless of voltage or current supplied/needed. It made servicing the power tools an interesting exercise in careful use of a multimeter until I straightened out all the plugs.


SceneryDriver
 
This subject has come up many times before on the forums and with all the sharp people chiming in none have been able to point to any definitive, specific code section prohibiting using a 250 volt receptacle for a 120 volt supply.


However, I think an AHJ would be well within their authority to cite 110.3(B) over it.
 
Thanks, guys. I feel a little better about not knowing, as it seems unclear even with all the great minds here.
 
If you weren't able to use a 250v receptacle on a 120v circuit, then you shouldn't be able to use a 600v safety switch on 208v or 480v circuits.

Sounds silly now doesn't it?


Best practices don't equal a code requirement.
 
Nom Deplume said:
If you weren't able to use a 250v receptacle on a 120v circuit, then you shouldn't be able to use a 600v safety switch on 208v or 480v circuits.

Sounds silly now doesn't it?
Click to expand...

I don't think that is the same at all.

The general public doesn't connect things to disconnect switches, but the general public (the untrained) do plug things in.

Plugging 208 volt equipment into a 120 volt supply is a not a good thing and in many instances may cause equipment damage.
 
The 250V rated receptacle on a 120V circuit is not a big problem.
The 250V plug on utilization equipment that requires 120, on the other hand is a problem.
Too bad you can't have one without the other. :(
 
iwire said:
I don't think that is the same at all.

The general public doesn't connect things to disconnect switches, but the general public (the untrained) do plug things in.

Plugging 208 volt equipment into a 120 volt supply is a not a good thing and in many instances may cause equipment damage.
Click to expand...

Good point, but it is still not a code violation to install a 250 volt rated receptacle for a 120 volt circuit.
 
Nom Deplume said:
Good point, but it is still not a code violation to install a 250 volt rated receptacle for a 120 volt circuit.
Click to expand...
I still think it is very likely it wouldn't be listed or labeled for use on a 120 volt circuit - so I'll still throw out 110.3(B).

They typically have 250 volts as well as an amperage value printed right on them for a start - isn't that labeling?

That said I've seen a lot of potential misuse particularly in 125/250 volt rated receptacles sometimes 277/480 rated receptacles or even ones marked 600 volts used for 480.
 
kwired said:
I still think it is very likely it wouldn't be listed or labeled for use on a 120 volt circuit - so I'll still throw out 110.3(B).

They typically have 250 volts as well as an amperage value printed right on them for a start - isn't that labeling?

That said I've seen a lot of potential misuse particularly in 125/250 volt rated receptacles sometimes 277/480 rated receptacles or even ones marked 600 volts used for 480.
Click to expand...

If you are going to say that 110.3(B) restricts us from installing any equipment that is rated higher than the voltage or current used, then you would have to restrict the use of 600 volt safety switches on 480 volts or similar instances as well.

There is no NEC requirement that restricts the use of a higher rated device on a circuit that is under the rating of said device.

The ratings on these devices are max ratings and you can use them on any voltage up to the rating.
I admit it may be confusing to some people, but with appropriate labeling it shouldn't be a problem.
 
Nom Deplume said:
If you are going to say that 110.3(B) restricts us from installing any equipment that is rated higher than the voltage or current used, then you would have to restrict the use of 600 volt safety switches on 480 volts or similar instances as well.

There is no NEC requirement that restricts the use of a higher rated device on a circuit that is under the rating of said device.

The ratings on these devices are max ratings and you can use them on any voltage up to the rating.
I admit it may be confusing to some people, but with appropriate labeling it shouldn't be a problem.
Click to expand...

You could be right. What does listing say for specific items? That is what matters.
 
Nom Deplume said:
If you are going to say that 110.3(B) restricts us from installing any equipment that is rated higher than the voltage or current used, then you would have to restrict the use of 600 volt safety switches on 480 volts or similar instances as well.
Click to expand...

I am saying that an AHJ would be well withing their authority to cite 110.3(B) to say you are not using the receptacle per its listing.

You keep trying to compare a receptacle to a disconnect switch while I don't' see them the same at all.

It will be an AHJ call.

Nom Deplume said:
The ratings on these devices are max ratings and you can use them on any voltage up to the rating.
Click to expand...

Can you provide any source that will confirm those ratings are max ratings?

The NEMA chart seems to indicate otherwise.
 
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