Tornado took out power around here for a good while. Parents aren't here and I'm stuck with the task of hooking up a generator. I'm not savvy with this stuff very much at all.
Here's the issue. The connection coming out of the house is L14-30P. The generator has L14-30R. In my head we just need a 30a cable between the two.
The only stuff we have right now is an adapter L14-30P to L14-20R. My dad says this adapter is needed because it puts the voltage down to 120v. It's literally just an adapter. He says at 240v it would fry our equipment and appliances in the house. Doesn't make sense to me to have this adapter, then have a L14-20P to L14-30R cord connected between the adapter and the house. Seems like an extra useless step right?
I'm not worried about breaker positioning and all that. I just need to make sure I have the cords done properly between the generator and the house. I've got the rest done.
Feel free to correct everything that is incorrect about what I just stated, logic and all.
Here is the front of the generator :
Best Answer
To answer your specific question, the difference between L14-20 and L14-30 is maximum amperage, not voltage. Both carry both 120 volts and 240 volts (actually two legs of 120 which can be combined for 240).
As you suspected, the combination of the adapter and cord are useless (as opposed to a direct L14-30 to L14-30 cable). Actually, it’s worse that that. The L14-20 connectors are only rated for 20 amps. Since the generator can produce 30 amps, those connectors could melt or catch fire!
I’m assuming your father went shopping for a 30 amp cable and the sales critter sold his those, what it had, making up the story about voltages.
For safety, you really need an L14-30P to L14-30R cable. Since you don’t have one, I suggest you follow @JACK’s advice and plug the appliances you need directly into the generator instead.