Journeyman Electrician Exam (NEC)Equipment and DevicesEasy
A technician is installing a new 120-volt, 15-ampere general-purpose duplex receptacle in a dry location within a dwelling unit. Which NEMA configuration is appropriate for this receptacle?
- ANEMA 6-15R
- BNEMA 1-15R
- CNEMA 5-20R
- DNEMA 5-15R
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. NEMA 5-15R
The NEMA (National Electrical Manufacturers Association) configuration for a 120-volt, 15-ampere, grounding-type receptacle is 5-15R. The '5' indicates 125-volt nominal, '15' indicates 15 amperes, and 'R' indicates receptacle.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. NEMA 6-15R is for a 250-volt, 15-ampere, grounding-type receptacle.
- B. NEMA 1-15R is for a 120-volt, 15-ampere, non-grounding-type receptacle.
- C. NEMA 5-20R is for a 120-volt, 20-ampere, grounding-type receptacle.
NEMA Receptacle Configurations
Standardized designs for electrical plugs and receptacles established by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), ensuring compatibility and safety for different voltage and amperage ratings.
- The first number indicates voltage and configuration (e.g., 1 for 125V non-grounding, 5 for 125V grounding, 6 for 250V grounding).
- The second number indicates the ampere rating (e.g., 15, 20, 30).
- Suffix 'R' denotes a receptacle, 'P' denotes a plug.
Memory trick: NEMA numbers tell the tale: voltage, amperage, success or fail!