NEMA & IEC receptacles for Track Busway
Your equipment determines the receptacle. The selected receptacle then defines the tap-off wiring and matching breaker. On a three-phase busway, that may mean a 1-, 2- or 3-pole tap-off, with neutral when required.
560R6 pin & sleeve
Three phase + neutral + ground
NEMA L21-20 shown
Three phase + neutral + ground
T225 outlet-box examples shown. Compare enclosure-mounted and cord-end connections below. Final components and dimensions depend on the selected build.
Choose where the equipment plugs in
Both are tap-off unit options. The difference is where the receptacle sits: directly on the enclosure, or at the end of a cord from the enclosure. Your equipment determines the interface; your layout determines where you need it.
The equipment plugs into the receptacle on the tap-off enclosure at the busway. Choose this when the equipment’s cord can reach that location.
T40 outlet-box example shown. Select a box built for your busway system.
A cord runs from the tap-off enclosure to a female connector or specified outlet enclosure. Bring the connection down to the equipment and select the cord length for the layout.
T225 PowerDrop example shown. Match the cord-end interface to the equipment plug.
More examples: T40 120V breakered outlet box. For a compact 120V connection directly at the busway, see the T40 receptacle-in-fitter.
T40 and T225 tap-off units are not interchangeable. Select the matching busway family, then confirm the chosen assembly’s voltage, current, pole count, neutral, grounding and protection.
Choose T40-compatible outlet boxes or PowerDrop cords. The system designation is not the rating of every individual tap-off.
Browse T40 tap-offs →Choose T225 breakered outlet boxes or drop-cord assemblies. Selected NEMA and IEC receptacle options are available up to 60A.
Browse T225 tap-offs →Equipment → receptacle → wiring + breaker
Start with the equipment’s plug designation, voltage, current and phase. The mating receptacle establishes the required line, neutral and ground connections inside the enclosure. A three-phase supply does not make every load three-phase: the tap-off draws only the line conductors its circuit needs.
Typical 120V or 277V line-to-neutral loads use one line conductor, neutral and equipment ground.
NEMA examples: 5-15 / 5-20 / L5 for 120V; L7 for 277V.
Neutral: required for these connections.
Breaker: 1 pole for the line conductor.
Compare 1-pole connections →Without neutral: two lines + ground. Examples include 6 / L6 for 208V or 240V and L8 for 480V.
With neutral: two lines + neutral + ground. L14 is a familiar example for equipment needing both line-to-line and line-to-neutral power, where its voltage rating fits.
Breaker: 2 poles for the two line conductors. Neutral is included only when the receptacle requires it.
Compare 2-pole connections →Without neutral: three lines + ground. NEMA L15 and L16 are examples.
With neutral: three lines + neutral + ground. NEMA L21 and L22 are examples.
Use the arrangement required by the equipment input, including rack PDUs.
Breaker: 3 poles for all three line conductors. Include neutral when the receptacle requires it.
Compare 3-pole connections →Breaker poles and receptacle poles are different counts. NEMA device poles include neutral when present; equipment ground is counted as a wire, not a pole. For example, L14 is a 3-pole/4-wire device on a 2-pole tap-off, while L21 is a 4-pole/5-wire device on a 3-pole tap-off. Neutral carries load current; equipment ground is a separate protective path and cannot replace it.
For a breakered tap-off, specify the breaker’s pole count, current rating and voltage rating to suit the receptacle, internal conductors and equipment requirements. Confirm the required interrupting rating for the installation. A 60A receptacle does not make every connected load a 60A circuit; the complete assembly must be selected for the application.
Example: a NEMA L21-20 connection uses three lines + neutral + ground. A matching 20A branch-circuit build uses a 3-pole 20A breaker—not a 4-pole breaker simply because the NEMA device is called 4-pole/5-wire.
Specify the complete factory-assembled configuration. Unbreakered T40 options require suitable upstream overcurrent protection.
Confirm the complete designation and supply voltage against the equipment requirements. NEMA configuration reference (Hubbell PDF)
5-20R20A · 125V device120V · straight bladeView options ↗
L5-20R20A · 125V device120V · lockingView options ↗
L6-20R20A · 250V device208 / 240V · lockingView options ↗
L8-20R20A · 480V device480V · lockingView options ↗
L21-30R30A · 120/208V device3-phase wye · neutralView options ↗
L15-30R30A · 250V device208V 3-phase · no neutralView options ↗Six female-interface examples from the Hubbell NEMA configuration chart, pages IV–V. Images identify the interface, not the component supplier or complete assembly rating. Confirm the full plug designation; appearance alone does not establish compatibility.
The connection reference
Compare 24 common straight-blade and locking configurations below. NEMA and IEC receptacle options are available up to 60A on selected T225 tap-offs; this chart is a reference to common interfaces, not the full range of available builds. Send the equipment’s exact plug designation for a matching configuration.
Read the device rating and circuit voltage separately. A 125V device commonly serves a 120V circuit; an appropriate 250V device may serve a 208V or 240V assembly. The receptacle does not change supply voltage.
For 277V, use the 1-pole L7 rows. For 480V, see 2-pole L8 or the three-phase L16 / L22 rows. Confirm T225 240V builds where the selector does not list them.
One breaker pole supplies one line conductor; a neutral and equipment ground complete the connection. The 120V options below include 40A and T225 assemblies; the 277V options are T225. Single, duplex and quad describe the outlet arrangement, not a higher circuit rating.
| NEMA configuration | Device rating | Poles / wires | Connection | System application | Track Busway assembly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5-15 | 15A 125V | 2 poles / 3 wires Line + neutral + equipment ground | Straight blade | 120V single phase | 40A in-fitter |
| 5-20 | 20A 125V | 2 poles / 3 wires Line + neutral + equipment ground | Straight blade | 120V single phase | 40A outlet box40A PowerDrop225A PowerDrop225A outlet box |
| L5-15 | 15A 125V | 2 poles / 3 wires Line + neutral + equipment ground | Locking | 120V single phase | 40A outlet box40A PowerDrop225A PowerDrop225A outlet box |
| L5-20 | 20A 125V | 2 poles / 3 wires Line + neutral + equipment ground | Locking | 120V single phase | 40A outlet box40A PowerDrop225A PowerDrop225A outlet box |
| L5-30 | 30A 125V | 2 poles / 3 wires Line + neutral + equipment ground | Locking | 120V single phase | 225A PowerDrop225A outlet box |
| L7-15 | 15A 277V AC | 2 poles / 3 wires Line + neutral + equipment ground | Locking | 277V single phase | 225A PowerDrop225A outlet box |
| L7-20 | 20A 277V AC | 2 poles / 3 wires Line + neutral + equipment ground | Locking | 277V single phase | 225A PowerDrop225A outlet box |
| L7-30 | 30A 277V AC | 2 poles / 3 wires Line + neutral + equipment ground | Locking | 277V single phase | 225A PowerDrop225A outlet box |
Two breaker poles supply line-to-line loads. L6 and L8 have no neutral; L14 includes neutral. 40A options cover the named 208V / 240V assemblies. T225 options include 208V and 480V; confirm a 240V T225 build where it is not in the selector.
| NEMA configuration | Device rating | Poles / wires | Connection | System application | Track Busway assembly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6-20 | 20A 250V | 2 poles / 3 wires Two lines + equipment ground; no neutral | Straight blade | 40A: 208V / 240V | 40A 208V PowerDrop40A 240V PowerDrop |
| L6-15 | 15A 250V | 2 poles / 3 wires Two lines + equipment ground; no neutral | Locking | 40A: 208V / 240V | 40A 208V outlet box40A 240V outlet box40A 208V PowerDrop40A 240V PowerDrop |
| L6-20 | 20A 250V | 2 poles / 3 wires Two lines + equipment ground; no neutral | Locking | 40A: 208V / 240V 225A: 208V; confirm 240V | 40A 208V outlet box40A 240V outlet box40A 208V PowerDrop40A 240V PowerDrop225A PowerDrop225A outlet box |
| L6-30 | 30A 250V | 2 poles / 3 wires Two lines + equipment ground; no neutral | Locking | 225A: 208V; confirm 240V | 225A PowerDrop225A outlet box |
| L14-20 | 20A 125/250V AC | 3 poles / 4 wires Two lines + neutral + equipment ground | Locking | 225A: 208V with neutral; confirm 240V | 225A PowerDrop225A outlet box |
| L14-30 | 30A 125/250V AC | 3 poles / 4 wires Two lines + neutral + equipment ground | Locking | 225A: 208V with neutral; confirm 240V | 225A PowerDrop225A outlet box |
| L8-20 | 20A 480V AC | 2 poles / 3 wires Two lines + equipment ground; no neutral | Locking | 480V single phase | 225A PowerDrop225A outlet box |
| L8-30 | 30A 480V AC | 2 poles / 3 wires Two lines + equipment ground; no neutral | Locking | 480V single phase | 225A PowerDrop225A outlet box |
Three breaker poles supply phases A, B and C. L15 and L16 have no neutral; L21 and L22 include neutral for their specified wye systems. All eight configurations below are available on the 40A 3-phase PowerDrop with one cord-end connector and a matched 20A or 30A breaker.
| NEMA configuration | Device rating | Poles / wires | Connection | System application | Track Busway assembly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L15-20 | 20A 250V AC, 3-phase | 3 poles / 4 wires Three lines + equipment ground; no neutral | Locking | 208V three phase | 40A PowerDrop connector40A outlet box225A PowerDrop225A outlet box |
| L15-30 | 30A 250V AC, 3-phase | 3 poles / 4 wires Three lines + equipment ground; no neutral | Locking | 208V three phase | 40A PowerDrop connector225A PowerDrop225A outlet box |
| L16-20 | 20A 480V AC, 3-phase | 3 poles / 4 wires Three lines + equipment ground; no neutral | Locking | 480V three phase | 40A PowerDrop connector40A outlet box225A PowerDrop225A outlet box |
| L16-30 | 30A 480V AC, 3-phase | 3 poles / 4 wires Three lines + equipment ground; no neutral | Locking | 480V three phase | 40A PowerDrop connector225A PowerDrop225A outlet box |
| L21-20 | 20A 120/208V AC, 3-phase wye | 4 poles / 5 wires Three lines + neutral + equipment ground | Locking | 120/208V three-phase wye | 40A PowerDrop connector225A PowerDrop225A outlet box |
| L21-30 | 30A 120/208V AC, 3-phase wye | 4 poles / 5 wires Three lines + neutral + equipment ground | Locking | 120/208V three-phase wye | 40A PowerDrop connector225A PowerDrop225A outlet box |
| L22-20 | 20A 277/480V AC, 3-phase wye | 4 poles / 5 wires Three lines + neutral + equipment ground | Locking | 277/480V three-phase wye | 40A PowerDrop connector225A PowerDrop225A outlet box |
| L22-30 | 30A 277/480V AC, 3-phase wye | 4 poles / 5 wires Three lines + neutral + equipment ground | Locking | 277/480V three-phase wye | 40A PowerDrop connector225A PowerDrop225A outlet box |
Product links identify assembly families. Confirm the final receptacle, breaker, grounding and enclosure combination in the selected factory build.
IEC 60309 · T225
Selected T225 outlet-box and PowerDrop builds support IEC pin-and-sleeve receptacles and cord connectors. Match the manufacturer part number, current, voltage, conductor arrangement and earth-contact clock position.
Find a matching IEC tap-off →| Load arrangement | Tap-off breaker | Device contacts | Selection check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Line to neutral | 1 pole | 2P + E (3 contacts) | Match line-to-neutral voltage, current and earth-contact position. |
| Line to line | 2 poles | 2P + E (3 contacts); additional neutral where specified | Confirm whether the equipment requires neutral and the exact connector arrangement. |
| Three phase, no neutral | 3 poles | 3P + E (4 contacts) | Match three-phase voltage and current. |
| Three phase with neutral | 3 poles | 3P + N + E (5 contacts) | Match the PDU plug: 415Y/240V and 480Y/277V applications require their appropriate voltage and clock-position interface. Confirm the complete selected assembly. |
A 240V equipment load may be supplied from one phase and neutral on a nominal 415/416Y/240V wye system. A rack PDU may instead take all three phases and neutral, then distribute 240V internally. These are different tap-off arrangements.
For existing NEMA equipment, identify the complete mating plug and the equipment wiring requirements. L6 devices are rated 250V; L7 devices are rated 277V and have a different interface. Supply voltage or breaker-pole count alone does not determine the correct receptacle. Project-specific line-to-neutral builds are coordinated separately from the standard selector options above.
For IEC equipment, provide the full manufacturer part number, such as the specified 60A 3P+N+E rack-PDU plug, plus its voltage and clock position. We will confirm the mating integral receptacle or cord connector, breaker arrangement and finished tap-off ratings. Explore data-center busway and A/B rack-power layouts →
The T225 Intertek report covers selected pin-and-sleeve components rated 20–60A and 100–480V. Component coverage does not establish every finished tap-off combination. Review T225 listing details.
For the specification
Choose the receptacle to match the equipment plug, then choose the phase connection for the available supply. The receptacle designation and the phase selector describe different parts of the assembly.
The one- and two-pole C-phase whip configurations use the -WP part-number suffix. The 3-phase PowerDrop includes its upper-deck C whip as part of the assembly. Review the selected product’s wiring diagrams and available configurations before ordering.
The 40A system uses housing ground, with no isolated-ground or 200% neutral option. Taps are rated up to 40A; the selected breaker, device and assembly may have lower ratings.
40A grounding details →Compatible IG builds add an insulated grounding path; the metal housing remains grounded. Match IG through the feed, busway, joiners and tap-off. The separate 200% neutral option does not increase phase or tap-off ratings.
T225 grounding & neutral options →Compact (C) and Standard (S) enclosures accommodate different receptacle counts, breaker types and monitoring equipment. Depending on the factory build, Compact units support up to two outputs and Standard units up to three. Multiple outputs share the tap-off capacity; they do not multiply it.
T225 tap-offs support up to 60A per phase across the unit, subject to the selected assembly and branch protection. Available protection includes MCB, MCCB or CubeFuse by configuration. Use the selected product specifications and data sheet for the exact enclosure, protection, output count and cord details.
Selected T225 configurations offer Schneider Electric PM5000- or HDPM6000-based critical power monitoring. Monitoring is not offered with the 40A system. Compare monitoring options →
A female cord connector may use the same NEMA R interface designation as a mounted receptacle. The C suffix in the new 40A PowerDrop catalogue identifies the cord-connector style. Match the manufacturer part number and physical device; do not substitute suffixes.
The 40A 3-phase PowerDrop uses one locking cord connector and a matched 20A or 30A, 3-pole breaker.
For qualified personnel verifying a T225 outlet-box or PowerDrop connection to a rack PDU before initial energization. Use this checklist with the current T225 manual, selected assembly documentation, rack-PDU instructions and approved project drawings.
De-energize the busway, follow the applicable lockout/tagout procedure and verify absence of voltage before inspection. Keep the tap-off breaker OFF. Switching that breaker OFF does not establish that the busway is de-energized. Follow the T225 installation guidance.
Record the busway family, tap-off catalog number, marked voltage/current, short-circuit current rating and protective-device configuration. Confirm these match the approved selection and supporting documents. T40 and T225 tap-offs are not interchangeable; the T225 system designation is not the tap-off’s current rating. See the system compatibility guidance.
Match the documented supply voltage, phase arrangement and neutral requirement to the rack-PDU input. Verify the selected breaker’s poles, voltage, current and interrupting rating against the approved design. Confirm the load schedule accounts for the applicable continuous-load limits and all outputs sharing the assembly. Use the selected-build ratings guidance.
For NEMA connections, record the full mating plug/receptacle designation. For IEC 60309 connections, record the manufacturer part numbers, current, voltage, contact arrangement and earth-contact clock position. Check the exact rack-PDU input; appearance or amperage alone does not establish compatibility. Use the NEMA and IEC references.
Confirm whether the approved connection uses an enclosure-mounted receptacle or a PowerDrop cord connector. Match the cord assembly and mating interface to the PDU manufacturer’s requirements. Check cord condition and secure factory-installed grips and strain relief. Do not modify these components to make a connection fit. See the connection and installation guides.
Verify that the selected conductor arrangement matches the approved drawings through the feed, busway, joints, tap-off and equipment connection. Where isolated ground is specified, confirm the compatible insulated path while retaining housing grounding. Refer to the grounding and neutral guide.
Confirm the tap-off is away from joints and housing couplers, fully inserted and securely locked. Check its position and mounting-anchor torque against manual Step 5. Confirm there are no damaged, altered or loose components and that required labels are legible. Complete the separate busway pre-energization checklist, including supports, joints, feed connections, grounding, covers and end caps. See the T225 installation checklist.
Record completion of the electrical and functional tests required by the applicable manufacturer instructions and approved commissioning plan. Resolve mismatched markings, missing documents, defects and failed checks before energization. Test methods, acceptance limits and the switching sequence must come from those controlled instructions.
Retain the completed record with the installation documents. Consult the T225 installation, operation and maintenance manual.
A few common questions
No. Receptacles and connectors are supplied as part of configured Track Busway tap-offs, outlet boxes, PowerDrop cords or in-fitter products.
Yes. Applicable 120V products offer 5-20R single, duplex and quad arrangements. Outlet count does not increase circuit capacity. Use the 5-20 connection row to reach the available product families.
Yes, named T225 builds include both. L5-30R is a 30A, 125V device used for 120V one-pole connections; L6-30R is a 30A, 250V device used for selected 208V or project-specific 240V two-pole connections. Confirm a 40A-system 30A factory build where it is not in the selector.
Compatible tap-offs can be repositioned according to the system installation instructions. Use qualified personnel and the applicable installation guide; do not modify internal components to change the configuration.
Bring it together
Send its full designation, a nameplate photo and your project layout. We’ll help confirm the connection and complete tap-off assembly.
