How do I check the polarity of a Nema L5 outlet?

[fleabag]

I need to know if my outlet is properly hooked up because the adjacent 20amp outlet has its polarity reversed which I discovered using an outlet tester. I have a multimeter but aside from that, how does one check to see if the polarity is correct on these outlets.. because I don't know which blade goes to what!

 

[Rubycon]

If ground prong is on bottom the right blade to ground should read 120VAC. If ground prong is on top the left blade should read 120VAC to ground.

 

[fleabag]

Originally posted by: Rubycon
If ground prong is on bottom the right blade to ground should read 120VAC. If ground prong is on top the left blade should read 120VAC to ground.

I don't know what is the ground blade because it's a twist lock and I'm not too familiar with these outlets. My guess is the ground blade is the little squarish blade that is between the top and bottom blade.

 

[Rubycon]

Is this the one?

 

[fleabag]

Originally posted by: Rubycon
Is this the one?

It's L5-30, but I think it's the same, right?

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: fleabag

Originally posted by: Rubycon
Is this the one?

It's L5-30, but I think it's the same, right?

Except for diameter it should be.

You said adjacent is this a duplex on the same box? If so it certainly would be wired wrong. In any case to be sure pull the socket and look at the wires. Hot is brass, neutral is silver and earth (ground) is green.

 

[OCGuy]

First you must reverse the polarity.

 

[Paperdoc]

Wiki is your fiend

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_...wire_a_nema_l5-30_plug

The blade with the extra turned piece on one edge is Ground - you can't push that into a socket hole that does not have a place the extra bend on the edge. The smaller blade that is just curved is Neutral.

 

[fleabag]

Originally posted by: Rubycon

Originally posted by: fleabag

Originally posted by: Rubycon
Is this the one?

It's L5-30, but I think it's the same, right?

Except for diameter it should be.

You said adjacent is this a duplex on the same box? If so it certainly would be wired wrong. In any case to be sure pull the socket and look at the wires. Hot is brass, neutral is silver and earth (ground) is green.

Well actually it turns out the 30amp outlet was on its own circuit, separate from the 20 amp standard electrical outlet. When I looked at the 20 amp outlet, the wires were clearly swapped as the black was on the left and white on the right when it's supposed to be reversed, so I put them back to where they were suppose to be, tested the outlet with my tester and it came out as ok, very simple fix I guess.

The only reason why I asked about this is because I thought they were on the same circuit and if this 20amp outlet was messed up, so could the 30amp outlet. Since I was next to the 30 amp outlet, I checked it out and the wires SEEMED to be fine as the black was on the right and the white was on the left, with the ground on the bottom, just like on the standard 20 amp outlet, except the 20 amp outlet had its wires reversed.

Thanks guys!