How to Wire a 20 Amp Male Plug
| Use only 600 volt wire. Lamp cord, extension cords are not rated 600 volt. Use copper wire only. Aluminum wire is fire risk and should be avoided or installed by professional. 30 amp breaker use 10 gauge / 120-240 volt 30 amp outlet can be installed on 30 amp breaker only/ use 10 gauge wire ... cannot be connected to 15-20-40 amp breaker.  Orange/ #10 gauge wire, with ground ... 30 amp capacity. Safe maximum: 30 x 80% = 24 amps. Buy: 10-2 gauge/ 30 amp 10-3/ 30 amp Southwire electric tools | Yellow 12 gauge 20 amp 120 volt 20 amp outlet can be installed on 20 amp breaker, but not 15 amp breaker/ use 12 ga wire. ... cannot be connected to 30-40 amp breaker. 1  Yellow/ #12 gauge wire, with ground ... 20 amp capacity. Safe maximum 16 amps. Buy: 12-2 gauge/ 20 amp 12-3/ 20 amp NMB is house wiring | White 14 gauge 15 amp 120 volt 15 amp outlet, AFCI, GFCI, timer, switch etc can be installed on 15 or 20 amp breaker. Never connect 15 gauge wire to 20-30-40 amp breaker.  White/ #14 gauge wire, with ground ... 15 amp capacity. Safe maximum 12 amps. Buy: 14-2 gauge/ 15 amp 14-3/ 15 amp NMB is house wiring |
| 50-60 amp breaker use 6 gauge / 240 volt 50 outlet can be installed on 50 amp breaker only  Buy: 6-2 wire Southwire electric tools NMB is house wiring UF is underground | 40-50 amp breaker use 8 gauge / 240 volt 40 amp outlet can be installed on 40 or 50 amp breaker only  Buy: 8-2 wire Southwire electric tools NMB is house wiring UF is underground |   Copper ground wire. Every device, load, metal enclosure etc must be grounded. Ground wire must be continuous throughout installation, never switched on-off, never used as a Neutral wire. Generally ... use same size as other wire in circuit Buy: 12 gauge copper ground wire Ground wire Green ground wire Ground pigtails Ground rods/ ground clamps at Amazon |
 Non metallic flexible cables must carry ground wire, but do not have hazard of short circuit causing injury from shock. Armored steel cable can be used as a grounded connection, and will protect wires from damage. Metal can be energized from an insulation failure. All conduit ...metal, plastic ... flexible and rigid ... must be attached to structure, and attached to enclosures, boxes. |  Electrical tools must be insulated. Always best to disconnect power, but insulation failure, lack of proper grounding, grounded neutral, lack of GFCI, out-of-code wiring, generator operating without transfer switch, and other problems still pose a risk to anyone working on electric power ... even when breaker is off. Buy: Telephone cable knife |  Push-on wire connectors in place of twist-on connectorsBuy:Push on wire connectors Amazon Red 3P connector for 10-14 gauge wire Lever connectors for stranded wire at Amazon HOOK UP Wires |
 Protect wiring from damage Use nipper instead of pliers or screwdriver for removing staples (and nails). Do not damage cable or wires inside cable. -Code says: Cable SHALL BE secured without damage to the outer covering. NEC sec. 336-15 |   Electrically insulated tools When removing insulation from wire, do NOT score or put cuts on surface of copper wire. Doing so increases resistance and heat on wire and creates possible weak point. Buy tools: KLEIN TOOLS Wire strippers at Amazon Electric Wire Stripping Machine Linesman pliers Utility knife at Amazon |  Multimeters Voltage is tested across two separate wires. Ohms or resistance is tested across both ends of same wire. Amperage is tested along one or two points on same wire. Buy: Analog multimeter Multimeters at Amazon Klein multimeter Electric testers at Amazon Clampmeter for testing amp flow on line |
| Basics | |
 The hot wires connect to brass-colored screws located on side | Look for screw color on outlet Brass (or black) for Hot, Silver for Neutral, Green for ground Some outlets do not have color-coded screws. Hot wires can be Black-Red or Black-White Green screw => bare copper or green ground wire. ALL OUTLETS MUST BE GROUNDED. Silver screw => Neutral. More detail: BY code, if outlet has 4-prongs, then it must be connected to 4 wires that come from breaker box, consisting of 2 Hots, a ground and a Neutral ... |
 | Image shows 2 hot wires with ground. 2 Hot wires and 1 ground wire. Hot wires can be red and black -or- white and black Either hot wire can connect to either brass terminal Look for color of screws when wiring outlets Green for ground, Hot1 and Hot2 connect to either brass-or-black screw. Outlet might not have neutral wire. Neutral not required for 240 volt Ground connection: Look For green screw. More detail: If you have 3-prong outlet, but have 4 wires coming from breaker box, consisting of 2 Hots, a ground and a Neutral, then cap off the Neutral wire. Capping off Neutral wire creates no fire or shock hazard, as long as twist on connector is very tight and covers all bare copper. |
 Twist Lock | Image shows 2 hot wires with ground Hot wires can be red and black -or- white and black Either hot wire can connect to either brass terminal Look for Markings on device: X and Y are for Hot wires, and G is for ground, W for Neutral. If there is no W, then no Neutral is used. Notice shape of blade slots: the odd shape is ground. |
  Hot wires can be Black-Red or Black-White Neutral not required for 240V | How to test for 120 volt or 240 volt How to know if wire carries 120V or 240V? Tape tester leads to wood sticks, and stand on dry wood boards. Never stand on outdoor ground soil, or touch or lean into metal. Put down dry boards. Separate wires for testing. |
| 240 volt circuits | |
 Larger image | Single-phase 240 volt outlet is marked X-Y-W-G or X-Y-G X and Y are Hot, W Neutral, G ground 120V and 240V need two wires to complete circuit, plus ground wire for safety. 120V requires 1 hot and 1 neutral. 240V requires 2 hots. Neutral is not needed for 240volt electric circuit, but is sometimes included on electrical device. NOTE: you cannot put all 9 of these devices on same breaker since some are 30 amp and some are 50 amp. Illustration only shows how to connect wires to XYWG terminals. Resources: See inside main box Figure volts amps watts Select correct wire and breaker Electrical formulas Commercial 3-phase outlet is marked X-Y-Z-G or X-Y-Z-W-G |
| NEC (National electric code) 120 volt outlets / receptacles 120 volt 30 amp outlet can be installed on 30 amp breaker only 240 volt outlets/ receptacles 240 volt 50 amp outlet can be installed on 50 amp breaker only/ use 6 or 8 ga wire |  Buy: NEC books Dewalt plumbing/ electrical codes Basic electric book National electric code guide/ illustrated |
 Household NM-B Wires are color-coded so inspectors/ electricians can easily identify which wire is used during construction | Match wire size and breaker amp rating If your home was wired by professional electrician who pulled permits, then circuit breaker and wire size will match. If manufactured home or travel trailer has not been altered by homeowner then breaker and wire size will match. If breaker is oversized for wire... fire danger Breaker can let too much amperage travel through the wire. Wire can overheat and cause fire. Call electrician if you suspect wiring is not correct, Absolute electrocution danger when removing cover off main panel. More information below. Main breaker terminals are still Hot when main breaker is turned off. Use 600 volt solid copper wire only Do not use stranded wire inside main breaker box or any permanent box. Stranded wire can be used for extension cord connectors and plugs. Do not use extension cord for permanent household wiring Extension cords are used for connectors and plugs only. Read more about uses for extension cords Buy: |
 Code says: Use connected/ double-pole breaker for 240 volt Against code: Use 2 single breakers to supply 240 volt, unless the switches are connected and rated for same amps If double breaker is rated for 30 amp, then BOTH sides of the breaker are each 30 amp (not 15 each) Wire size and breaker size must match. Resources: | |
Double-pole 240 volt breaker QP type 2" wide Plug-in breakers Buy double-pole: Choose from 15 to 125 amp | Double-pole 240 volt breaker QO type 2" wide Snap-down breakers Buy double-pole: 20 amp double-pole QO circuit breakers at Amazon |
 Larger image | Tandem breakers This panel has several tandem breakers Each tandem fits over one busbar, and pulls double duty, supplying two separate circuits and increasing number of breaker circuits. You cannot draw 240 volt from one tandem breaker.. |
| RV connection | |||
 50 amp RV power outlet/ 120-240 Volt Buy : 50 amp RV power outlet at Amazon RV power outlets at Amazon RV electric panel |  50 amp Power grip plug Buy : Camco Power grip at Amazon 30 amp power plugs |  50 amp Power grip RV extension cord Buy : Camco 50 amp 30' Camco 50 amp 15' All RV extension cords 50 amp pigtail to 30 amp 30 amp pigtail to 50 amp |   For RV, the 50 amp is 240 volt and 30 amp outlet is 120 volt, not 240 volt, and wires are typically Black-white Hot-Neutral... with silver screw for Neutral ... see illustration below |
 | Nearly ALL RV Sites have a pedestal providing all 3 RV power sources - 50 amp 240V, 30 amp 120V, and 20 amp 120V A. 14-50R 240 vac / 50 amp | ||
| 20-30 amp Twist Lock | |
  You can use 30 amp twist lock for 15 or 20 amp circuit. But you cannot use 20 amp for 30 amp circuit . You can use a 4-wire twist-lock device with 3-wire installation. But you can not use 3-wire twist lock with 4-wire installation. You should never use 120 volt device for 240 volt circuit.... buy the correct rating for load. | Locking plugs/ twist lock Nema L5 (look at bottom of graphic for Nema category) is same configuration for 20P or 30P/ use for 15, 20 or 30 amp Nema L6 is same configuration for 20P or 30 P/ use for 15, 20, 30 amp Nema L14, 4-pole is same configuration for 20P or 30P/ use for 20 or 30 amp 125 volt 3-wire has silver, brass and green screws 250 volt 3-wire has brass, brass, and green screws 125-250 volt 4-wire has silver, brass, brass, green screws Buy : Leviton Leviton 2311 125V 20 amp 2611/ 125 volt/ 30 amp 2321/ 250 volt/ 20 amp 2411/ 4-wire 125-250 volt/ 20 amp |
  | Locking connectors/ twist lock Nema L5 (look at graphic for Nema category) is same configuration for 20R or 30R/ use for 15, 20 or 30 amp Nema L6 is same configuration for 20R or 30 R/ use for 15, 20, 30 amp Nema L14, 4-pole is same configuration for 20R or 30R/ use for 20 or 30 amp Buy : Leviton 2313/ 125 volt/ 20 amp 2613/ 125 volt/ 30 amp/ 2323/ 250 volt/ 20 amp 2413/ 4-wire/ 125-250 volt/ 20 amp |
 You can use 30 amp twist lock for 15 or 20 amp circuit. But you cannot use 20 amp for 30 amp circuit . | Locking receptacles Nema L5 (look at graphic for Nema category) is same configuration for 20R or 30R/ use for 15, 20 or 30 amp Nema L6 is same configuration for 20R or 30 R/ use for 15, 20, 30 amp Nema L14, 4-pole is same configuration for 20R or 30R/ use for 20 or 30 amp Buy : Leviton 2310/ 125 volt/ 20 amp 2610/ 125 volt/ 30 amp 2320/ 250 volt/ 20 amp 2410/ 4-wire/ 125-250 volt/ 20 amp Buy double outlet Resources: |
| 15-20 amp 240 volt straight blade | |
  | 15 and 20 amp Plugs Look at appliance rating. Install correct outlet and breaker. Use 15 amp breaker for 15 amp 240 volt. Use 20 amp breaker for 20 amp 240 volt. Buy 15 amp plug : Buy 20 amp plug : |
 | 15 and 20 amp Connectors Look at rating plate of device for amperage Buy : Buy 20 amp connector : |
 | 240 volt 15 amp Receptacles Look at rating plate of device for amperage Buy 15 amp receptacle Buy: You cannot plug two 15 amp 240 volt air conditioners into the same plug without running two separate 15 amp lines, on different breakers, to the receptacle. |
 | 240 volt 20 amp Receptacles Look at rating plate of device for amperage Buy 20 amp receptacle Buy: You cannot plug two 20 amp 240 volt air conditioners into the same plug without running two separate 20 amp lines, on different breakers, to the receptacle. |
| 240-120 volt combination receptacle This combination receptacle lets you plug in both 120 volt lamp and 240 volt window air conditioner. How to wire: Install 12-3 wire. Hots are connected to one double breaker inside breaker box, and Neutral is connected to Neutral busbar. Single breaker is not used. See image of 12-3 wiring inside breaker box  Option: You can draw a Neutral wire from any nearby 120 volt outlet or ceiling box, and this Neutral connects to silver screw on receptacle, however the 240 volt Hot wires must come from a dedicated breaker that serves only that 240 volt receptacle. Caution for double receptacles: using 20 amp outlet (15 amp is pictured on left) Buy: | |
 Larger imageChange 240 volt outlet into 120 volt outlet 1) Replace 240 volt outlet with 120 volt 2) In the breaker box, the 240 volt circuit has 2 wires that connect to double breaker. 3) Leave Black wire connected to breaker. 4) Remove other wire from breaker, and connect that wire to Neutral busbar. 5) Ordinary 120 volt outlets have brass screws on one side for Black Hot wire, and silver screws on opposite side for Neutral wire. 6) caution: To change 120 volt into 240 volt is not as easy unless the 120 volt is on a dedicated breaker that serves only that outlet. Normally 120 volt outlets are connected several lights and other outlets. The 240 volt circuit needs to be dedicated, so that only that 240 volt receptacle is served by that breaker. Buy : 240Volt outlet at Amazon 240Volt outlet at Amazon 240Volt outlet at Amazon 240Volt outlet at Amazon 240Volt plug | |
 | 20 amp air conditioner Window air conditioner box in store shows voltage and type of plug. Volts x amps = watts. You cannot use all three 240 volt receptacles at the same time. Must install each receptacle on separate 20 amp breaker. Notice that all electric receptacles and lights are wired in parallel and never in series. Buy : Leviton 5842 20 amp 120-240V outlet Resource: |
| 240 volt straight blade timers | |
  | 20 amp 240 volt timer Plug in timers Use for window air conditioner or appliance Buy : HB114 analog 20 amp timer BDT programmable 20 amp 240 volt Extra trippers for HB114 Air conditioner cords 6' extension cord for HB114 air conditioner |
 | 15 amp 240 volt timer Buy : Resource: |
| Wiring illustrations | |||
 Buy 3-wire locking/ 120-250 volt L6-30 locking outlets at Amazon L6-30 locking plugs at Amazon | |||
 Example shows unusual case where 240Volt circuit has neutral and no ground wire. 240Volt circuit does not require ground wire, or neutral. Both Neutral and ground wires join inside the breaker panel, and are essentially serving same function. However, it is not code to complete 120Volt circuit using ground wire. So this example lets each outlet have 120volt capability. Notice that X and Y are Hot, W is Neutral, and there is no G for ground. | |||
 Look for markings on device: X and Y are Hot, G is ground, W is Neutral L14-30 at Amazon | |||
 | Voltage converter: Step-up step down transformer 120 to 240Volt 240V to 120V Check wattage output Buy : 3000 watt transformer 1000 watt transformer 500 watt transformer at Amazon 100 watt transformer at Amazon Step up step down | ||
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| 3-phase outlets and plugs Cooper phase wiring diagrams |
  Larger image Outlet shown can be used for 3-wire 3-phase or 2-wire single-phase. 3-phase is commercial electricity used to achieve higher average voltage and more efficiency. Voltages vary from 120-600 V depending on electric service and wiring is different than residential single-phase. Single phase requires 2 wires to complete circuit: either Hot-Hot for 240 volt or Hot-neutral for 120 volt, while 3-phase requires 3 Hot wires to complete each circuit: Hot-Hot-Hot. Single-phase is actually a derivative of 3-phase. Since 3-phase can have a Neutral wire along with the 3 Hot wires, one Hot wire and one Neutral or two Hot wires make single-phase... so commercial applications can use 3-wire 3-phase to run motors and process equipment while using ordinary 2-wire single-phase for lights etc. Buy : Locking receptacles at Amazon Twist lock plug / 30 amp/ at Amazon Twist lock outlet / 30 amp/ at Amazon 30 amp generator outlet Resources: How to wire 3-phase 3-phase electricity: from power plant to end user |
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 Typical single-phase household circuit Larger image |
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 Typical household circuit Larger image |
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 Typical 120Volt household circuit Larger image |
 Typical 240V household circuit Larger image |
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How to Wire a 20 Amp Male Plug
Source: http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-wire-240-volt-outlets.html