outer dimensions of standard NEMA receptacles

[[email protected]]

I was looking at the document that detailed the dimensions of NEMA standard
receptacles (and plugs). One thing that was missing was what specific
dimensions were involved for the plate opening for larger receptacles.
There was an indication that a number of opening sizes exist at as fine
as 1/8 inch increments. That seems excessive.

Is there a standard for what plate opening size must be used with each
class of receptacle? Or is this simply up to the manufacturer to choose
a size that is adequate.

There were sizes for the common duplex and triplex plate openings, as well
as for switch hole and decorator openings, as well as the inter-device
spacing for multi-gang purposes.

 

[[email protected]]

On 2 Oct 2006 10:25:13 -0700 [email protected] wrote:
|
| [email protected] wrote:
|> I was looking at the document that detailed the dimensions of NEMA standard
|> receptacles (and plugs). One thing that was missing was what specific
|> dimensions were involved for the plate opening for larger receptacles.
|> There was an indication that a number of opening sizes exist at as fine
|> as 1/8 inch increments. That seems excessive.
|>
|> Is there a standard for what plate opening size must be used with each
|> class of receptacle? Or is this simply up to the manufacturer to choose
|> a size that is adequate.
|
| The Leviton catalogue, you can download it from their site, but you
| need a fast connection, it's big, shows the dimensions on page 500.
| Only two 'larger' sizes are listed:
|
| 2.15 inch (54.5mm)
|
| 2.57 inch (62.6mm)
|
| There seem to be two different standards for the screw holes on the
| 2.15 inch plates:
|
| Two holes, above and below the main opening, at 2.5 inch (63.5mm)
| centres.
|
| Four holes arranged in a rectangle, at 1.81 inch (46mm) centres
| horizontally, and 2.38 inch (60.3mm) vertically.
|
| On the 2.57 inch plates there only seems to be a four screw version,
| with the screw holes at the same spacing as on the four screw 2.15 inch
| plates.
|
| The diameter of the screw holes is not specified.

Thanks.

FYI, I'm coding this up in a technical graphing program to draw pictures
of various layouts. I'm just wanting to make sure they are all correct
by being derived from accurate numbers, instead of hand drawn to what
appears to be similar.

Here is some of what I was drawing:
http://phil.ipal.org/usenet/aee/2006-10-04/fourfaces.html
http://phil.ipal.org/usenet/aee/2006-10-04/twelvefaces.html
http://phil.ipal.org/usenet/aee/2006-10-04/updown.html
http://phil.ipal.org/usenet/aee/2006-10-04/want.html