208V / 480V Three-Phase Busway Plug-In Units
(3-Pole Tap-Off Boxes)
Track Busway 3-pole plug-in units are designed to deliver 208V or 480V three-phase power directly from the overhead busway to equipment below. These units use an internal 3-pole breaker to engage all three phase conductors (A, B, and C), enabling safe, code-compliant distribution of three-phase power along the system.
Pole count refers specifically to the number of phase conductors switched by the internal breaker within the plug-in unit — not the total number of conductors present in the Track Busway.
For additional information on Track Busway plug-in units and overhead busway systems, see:
Track Busway 3-Pole plug-in units — commonly called three-phase tap-off boxes — engage all three hot conductors (A, B, and C), and the neutral when required, to deliver 208 V or 480 V three-phase power directly from the overhead busway.
These plug-in units are typically used to supply higher-load equipment such as motors, conveyors, pumps, and other industrial machinery requiring three-phase power.
Because these plug-in units deliver power directly from the overhead busway down to equipment below, contractors often refer to them as busway drop outlets or power drops. The modular design allows plug-ins to be installed or relocated anywhere along the Track Busway run without rewiring.
For additional installation scenarios, configuration examples, and system overviews, visit the
Track Busway 3-pole plug-in units deliver three-phase power by engaging all three phase conductors (A, B, and C) from the busway system. In double-deck configurations, two phases are accessed from the lower track and the third phase is supplied from the upper track, allowing consistent three-phase power delivery anywhere along the run.
This configuration enables balanced three-phase loads to be connected directly overhead without dedicated conduit runs. Because plug-in units can be repositioned without rewiring, power distribution can adapt as equipment layouts change.
Specifications
The specifications below summarize the electrical configuration and compatibility of standard USA TrackBusway 3-pole plug-in units used for three-phase power distribution.
| Phase | Three-Phase |
|---|---|
| Voltage | 600V |
| Pole Count (Breaker Configuration) | 3 (A-B-C, neutral available) |
| Amperage | 15A / 20A / 30A / 40A |
| NEMA | L15-15, L15-20, L15-30, L15-40 |
(208V) 3-Phase PowerDrop Cord
With double-deck track busway, the third phase of the 3-phase supplied power is tapped via the factory installed whip cord.
SKU: Catalogue # (SKU): MD40-4-208-CB40-DC-XX-DO-G
The specifications summarize the electrical configuration of standard USA TrackBusway 3-Pole plug-in units used to deliver 208V or 480V three-phase power from overhead Track Busway systems.
In this context, “3-pole” refers to the three breaker poles engaging phases A, B, and C. The neutral conductor may also be present in the busway (A-B-C-N), but the neutral is not switched by the breaker, so the plug-in unit is still classified as a 3-pole tap-off.
Specifications
The specifications below summarize the electrical configuration and compatibility of standard USA TrackBusway 3-pole plug-in units used for three-phase power distribution.
| Phase | Three-Phase |
|---|---|
| Voltage | 600V |
| Pole Count (Breaker Configuration) | 3 (A-B-C, neutral available) |
| Amperage | 15A / 20A / 30A / 40A |
| NEMA | L15-15, L15-20, L15-30, L15-40 |
Three-Phase Tap-Off Wiring Diagram
This diagram illustrates a Track Busway tap-off supplying three-phase power at 208V or 480V. It shows line-to-line power distribution for higher-load applications, including compatible PowerDrop and outlet box configurations. Three-phase Track Busway configurations are commonly used for industrial equipment, mixed circuit distribution, and applications requiring balanced three-phase power.
This diagram illustrates a Track Busway run supplying 208V or 480V three-phase power using phase conductors A, B, and C, with an optional neutral conductor.
A three-phase Track Busway system can support 1-pole, 2-pole, and 3-pole plug-in tap-offs along the same run. Single-pole units deliver line-to-neutral power for 120V loads, two-pole units deliver line-to-line power for 208V or 240V loads, and three-pole units engage all three phases to supply balanced three-phase equipment such as motors and industrial machinery.
Three Phase
Double-deck Track Busway includes (2) phases on the bottom and (1) on the top. Factory installed track busway fittings tap the (2) lower deck phases, and the third phase on the top deck.
Pole count refers to the internal breaker configuration of the plug-in unit, not the physical track.
- 1-Pole tap-offs connect one hot conductor and the neutral to deliver 120V (line-to-neutral) power.
- 2-Pole tap-offs connect two phase conductors to deliver 208V or 240V (line-to-line) power.
- 3-Pole tap-offs engage all three phases to supply balanced three-phase loads such as motors, conveyors, and industrial equipment.
For example, a 3-pole plug-in may be installed on a four-conductor (3-phase, L-L-L-N) Track Busway to serve three-phase loads with a neutral present.
