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06-29-2008, 12:59 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Calgary, Canada
Posts: 1
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Replacing a NEMA L5-20P connector on a PDU
Hello All...
When ordering in a Power Distribution Unit (PDU, basically a big power bar) for one of my computer racks, I made a mistake and got one in with the L5-20P connector (or what I refer to as the 'plug that you twist in').
The UPS in this rack does not have this kind of plug in, rather what I call the 'standard' three-prong plug.
Is it possible to cut off/re-wire a standard 3-prong plug onto the same wiring in the PDU? If so, are there any specifics I need to follow (colour for ground wire, etc.)?
I will get an electrician to do it, with a high-quality plug, but I need to know if it is possible to do.
For reference, this is the PDU I have:
http://www.apc.com/resource/include/...ase_sku=AP9551
Thanks,
TN
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06-29-2008, 01:05 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Eighty Four,Pa.15330
Posts: 1,653
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Yes.
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06-29-2008, 02:39 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Baltimore, MD, USA
Posts: 3,486
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Certainly possible, but I am sure you will void the warranty.
__________________
John from Baltimore
"One day at a Time"
All responses based on the '08 NEC
It's not my fault, it's not my problem, I'm not your solution. 
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06-29-2008, 03:44 PM
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#4
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"A" inside wireman
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Ocean, NJ
Posts: 3,951
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Buy an adapter cord from Grainger.
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A Veteran - whether active duty, retired, guard or reserve - is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America," for an amount of "up to and including my life."
"One Nation Under God"
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06-30-2008, 02:10 AM
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#5
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Burger Flipper
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 1,744
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Quote:
Originally Posted by randomkiller
Buy an adapter cord from Grainger.
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Grainger will rip you off. Home depot, lowes, or any other store of the like will have the adapter you need.
~Matt
__________________
I would rather beg for forgiveness then beg for permission.
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06-30-2008, 05:56 AM
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#6
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"A" inside wireman
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Ocean, NJ
Posts: 3,951
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TOOL_5150
Grainger will rip you off. Home depot, lowes, or any other store of the like will have the adapter you need.
~Matt
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I would just rather have an adapter made in the USA over one of those china made ones from the big box stores. Lowes may have a decent one but that "commercial electric" or other bogus stuff from the depot is crap, it just looks like it's made well, til you use it.
__________________
A Veteran - whether active duty, retired, guard or reserve - is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America," for an amount of "up to and including my life."
"One Nation Under God"
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06-30-2008, 08:12 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Cocoa, FL USA
Posts: 625
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Certaintly an electrician can safely swap those pesky L5 connectors for the ones you desire.
As to your APC warrenty, how much of a warrenty do you need for an item that you describe as "basically a big power bar". I know, in case of catastrophy, etc. Go ahead and have your favorite EC change the connectors.
As to using an adapter, you most likely do not need to introduce one more 'failure point' into your equipment chain. You cannot beat a twistlok, though.
As to "Grainger will rip you off", their venders are 'mostly' American, their products are better than most, their service is terriffic, and yes, they may be a little more spendy.
BTW, I have no connecion with Grainger, just have been a customer over the years.
Work'in For That Free Tee . . .
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Be Safe Out there
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06-30-2008, 09:00 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Leesburg VA
Posts: 6,501
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And Grainger's is next to my office I'll pick a few up on my way to your facility. travel and expense's extra OF COURSE>
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06-30-2008, 03:50 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Cocoa, FL USA
Posts: 625
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HighWirey
Certaintly an electrician can safely swap those pesky L5 connectors for the ones you desire
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TNorman, I apologize for not looking at the APC AP9551 'PDU' that you purchased before I posted.
Men, it is only a 12 lf plugmold strip with an L5 connector on a whip. PDU?, I was thinking a real PDU, there I go thinkin' again 
Work'in For That Free Tee . . .
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Be Safe Out there
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07-01-2008, 12:59 AM
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#10
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 90
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Noticed in the link that APC had a 2 year warrenty on it, changing the plug would prob. void it.
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07-01-2008, 01:03 AM
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#11
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Burger Flipper
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 1,744
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AFter I posted last time, I started thinking more about this. You should have your electrician change the receptacle to an L5-20R
If youre spending the money on this power bar, you probably want to keep your syatems up and running - so why not use a twist-lock plug and recep?
Just a thought....
~Matt
__________________
I would rather beg for forgiveness then beg for permission.
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07-01-2008, 11:01 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Cocoa, FL USA
Posts: 625
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Quote:
Originally Posted by brian john
And Grainger's is next to my office I'll pick a few up on my way to your facility. travel and expense's extra OF COURSE>
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Of course no one expects us to do 'sumpthin for nuttin'. Psst . . . they do not need to know our OH secrets!
Work'in For That Free Tee . . .
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Be Safe Out there
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01-27-2010, 04:02 PM
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#13
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Raleigh
Posts: 1
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TOOL_5150
AFter I posted last time, I started thinking more about this. You should have your electrician change the receptacle to an L5-20R
If youre spending the money on this power bar, you probably want to keep your syatems up and running - so why not use a twist-lock plug and recep?
Just a thought....
~Matt
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I was looking for info on something else when I found this thread.
I'm pretty sure this is what he's looking for: NEMA locking plug adapters
Those will let you adapt from any combination of straight blade to locking or vice versa, as long as the voltage rating is the same. ie: L5-15 to 5-15, 5-30, L5-15 etc..but not L6-15, L6-30
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