NEMA plug & receptacle chart
Identify any common US plug or outlet — voltage, amperage, wiring, and the breaker it runs on, plus what each one is for and which ones charge an EV.
Common plugs & receptacles
Straight-blade (non-locking) devices, ordered from 120V to 240V. The EV tag marks receptacles used for electric-vehicle charging.
| NEMA | Volts | Amps | Wiring | Breaker | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-15 | 125V | 15 A | 2-wire (hot, neutral) — no ground | 15 A | Legacy two-prong outlets (pre-1960s). Not for new work. |
| 5-15EV | 125V | 15 A | 3-wire (hot, neutral, ground) | 15 A | Standard US wall outlet; Level 1 EV charging (~1.4 kW). |
| 5-20 | 125V | 20 A | 3-wire (hot, neutral, ground) | 20 A | 20A kitchen, bath, and garage outlets (T-shaped neutral slot). |
| TT-30 | 125V | 30 A | 3-wire (hot, neutral, ground) | 30 A | "30-amp" RV / travel-trailer service (120V, not 240V). |
| 6-15 | 250V | 15 A | 3-wire (2 hot, ground) — no neutral | 15 A | 240V window air conditioners and small tools. |
| 6-20EV | 250V | 20 A | 3-wire (2 hot, ground) — no neutral | 20 A | 240V power tools; some plug-in EVSE (16A continuous). |
| 6-30EV | 250V | 30 A | 3-wire (2 hot, ground) — no neutral | 30 A | 240V tools, A/C, and some EV chargers (24A continuous). |
| 6-50EV | 250V | 50 A | 3-wire (2 hot, ground) — no neutral | 50 A | Welders and EV chargers (40A continuous). |
| 10-30 | 125/250V | 30 A | 3-wire (2 hot, neutral) — no ground | 30 A | Pre-1996 electric dryers. Non-grounding — legacy only. |
| 10-50 | 125/250V | 50 A | 3-wire (2 hot, neutral) — no ground | 50 A | Pre-1996 electric ranges. Non-grounding — legacy only. |
| 14-30 | 125/250V | 30 A | 4-wire (2 hot, neutral, ground) | 30 A | Modern electric clothes dryer. |
| 14-50EV | 125/250V | 50 A | 4-wire (2 hot, neutral, ground) | 50 A | Electric range, RV service, and the most common Level 2 EV charger plug. |
| 14-60 | 125/250V | 60 A | 4-wire (2 hot, neutral, ground) | 60 A | Large electric ranges and cooktops. |
Locking plugs (generators)
Twist-lock devices stay connected under vibration — common on portable generators feeding a transfer switch.
| NEMA | Volts | Amps | Wiring | Breaker | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L5-30 | 125V | 30 A | 3-wire (hot, neutral, ground), locking | 30 A | 120V generator outlet and RV/equipment power. |
| L14-30 | 125/250V | 30 A | 4-wire (2 hot, neutral, ground), locking | 30 A | The common 30A portable-generator outlet; feeds a transfer switch. |
| L14-20 | 125/250V | 20 A | 4-wire (2 hot, neutral, ground), locking | 20 A | Smaller 240V generator and equipment connections. |
How to read a NEMA number
- The first number is the configuration (voltage and pole pattern); the number after the dash is the amp rating. So 14-50 = configuration 14 (120/240V, 4-wire) at 50 amps. An L prefix (L14-30) means locking.
- A neutral carries 120V loads; 240V-only devices (the 6-series) skip it. A ground is required on all new installations — the 10-series is non-grounding and no longer permitted for new work (NEC 250.140).
- The breaker shown is for a single receptacle at the device rating. Continuous loads such as EV charging are limited to 80% of the circuit — a 50A NEMA 14-50 supports a 40A continuous charger (NEC 210.20(A)).
- Configurations per NEMA WD 6. Always confirm wiring and breaker sizing with a licensed electrician and your local AHJ.