--- title: 125/250V pin connector to feed a 208V luminaire in North America description: Steve Terry explains what UL and the NEC have to say about stage pin connectors in 208V applications image: https://blog.etcconnect.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/IMG_3672-750x500.jpg --- - [ETCCONNECT](https://etcconnect.com/) - [ABOUT](https://blog.etcconnect.com/about) - [AUTHORS](https://blog.etcconnect.com/blog-authors) - [CONTACT](https://blog.etcconnect.com/contact) [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/ElectronicTheatreControls) [Follow us on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/ElectronicTheatreControls) [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/electronic-theatre-controls) [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.youtube.com/user/ETCVideoLibrary) [![EtCetera_319x104](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hs-fs/hubfs/EtCetera_319x104.png?width=319&height=104&name=EtCetera_319x104.png "EtCetera_319x104")](https://blog.etcconnect.com) [![ETC Blog](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hs-fs/hubfs/EtCetera_319x104.png?width=319&height=104&name=EtCetera_319x104.png "ETC Blog")](https://blog.etcconnect.com) - [SPOTLIGHT](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/spotlight) - [ETC CULTURE](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/etc-culture) - [GEAR](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/gear) - [LEARN](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/learn) - [ODDS & ENDS](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/odds-ends) - [BRIGHT IDEAS](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/bright-ideas) Search ## [![blog-header](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hs-fs/hubfs/blog-header.png?width=476&height=155&name=blog-header.png "blog-header")](https://www.etcconnect.com) [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/ElectronicTheatreControls) [Follow us on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/ElectronicTheatreControls) [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/electronic-theatre-controls) [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.youtube.com/user/ETCVideoLibrary) [✕](https://blog.etcconnect.com/2019/06/why-cant-i-use-a-125-250v-pin-connector-to-feed-a-208v-luminaire-in-north-america#gwen-offcanvas-primary) - [SPOTLIGHT](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/spotlight) - [ETC CULTURE](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/etc-culture) - [GEAR](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/gear) - [LEARN](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/learn) - [ODDS & ENDS](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/odds-ends) - [BRIGHT IDEAS](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/bright-ideas) # Can I use a 125/250V connector for a 208V luminaire in North America? ![Steve Terry](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20Images/Steve-Terry.png?width=34&height=34&name=Steve-Terry.png)By [Steve Terry](https://blog.etcconnect.com/author/steve-terry) 6 Jun 2019 ![](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/IMG_3672-750x500.jpg)   The most common connector in the entertainment industry in North America may be the ubiquitous 20A stage pin connector. That connector has been around in one form or another for more than 60 years. Early in its history, it did not have a [Listing from a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory](https://blog.etcconnect.com/2018/01/decoding-the-secrets-of-product-listing-how-to-be-electrically-informed) (NRTL) – such as UL, ETL, and others – but neither did most items in the early theatre electrical equipment list. Over the years, the regulatory climate changed and manufacturers achieved a Listing on pin connectors. A typical Listing for a 20 Amp pin connector contained a dual rating of 20A/125V and 15A/250V. This rating memorialized early use of pin connectors at multiple voltages. ### Standards and Listing Much later, the USITT sought to create a standard for dimensional configurations of stage pin connectors in order to assure safe mating of connectors from different manufacturers. This effort evolved into an ESTA/ANSI standard, *E1.24 Entertainment Technology—Dimensional Requirements for Stage Pin Connectors*. Eventually, UL adopted ANSI E1.24 by reference into the *UL498 Standard for Attachment Plugs and Receptacles*, which is the governing standard for listing of all types of multi-pole connectors. But this did not occur until a significant change was made to E1.24 at UL’s request. In order to understand the change required by UL, let’s look at a dual-voltage wiring device like the stage pin connector, and how it would be used in North America: - When used at 120V, the three connector poles are connected to Hot (the “ungrounded conductor”), Neutral (the “grounded conductor”), and Ground (the “equipment grounding conductor”). - When used at 208V (the common phase-to-phase voltage), the three connector poles would be connected to two ungrounded phase conductors, and one equipment grounding conductor. No Neutral (grounded) conductor would be present. Both ungrounded poles of the connector would be 120V above ground. Put another way, the neutral (white) terminal would be connected to neutral in the 120V application, while it would be connected to a phase in the 208V application. It is this situation to which UL objected: either a connector terminal is a neutral terminal or a phase terminal, it cannot be one or the other depending on the application. This caused a modification of the E1.24 standard, with an important note added to the configuration chart: > *Type 5 connectors are dual-voltage rated for use only on grounded-neutral systems at either 125V in North America or 250V in other areas of the world.* > > *Type 5 connectors shall be used only in line to grounded neutral applications in both their 125 and 250 volt ratings.* It is that wording that *prohibits* the 20A stage pin connector from being used at 208V in North America, since it is not a grounded neutral application. ### Up to Code In addition to the ANSI E1.24 prohibition, the NEC also has something to say on this matter. Given that a theatre with stage pin connectors will be using them at 120V, this section of the NEC applies: > **406.4 (F) Noninterchangeable Types.** *Receptacles connected to* > > *circuits that have different voltages, frequencies, or types of* > > *current (ac or dc) on the same premises shall be of such design* > > *that the attachment plugs used on these circuits are not interchangeable.* This explicitly prohibits the use of the same connector at two different voltages in the same facility and makes clear that a stage pin connector used at 120V cannot also be used at 208V. **So, when picking a general-purpose connector for use at 208V, it needs to be both:** - Rated for at least 208V and for use in a phase-to-phase application - Not interchangeable with connectors used at other voltages in the facility --- *Looking for more information on electrical safety, Codes and Listings? Read more [blog posts](https://blog.etcconnect.com/author/steve-terry) by Steve Terry.* - - - 1 [#FEATURED](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/featured) [#GEAR](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/gear) [#LEARN](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/learn) ### A renovation 100 years in the making for The Muny [Previous article](https://blog.etcconnect.com/2019/06/a-renovation-100-years-in-the-making-for-the-muny) ### Full service and shared knowledge at Lightek [Next article](https://blog.etcconnect.com/2019/06/full-service-and-shared-knowledge-at-lightek) [Steve Terry](https://blog.etcconnect.com/author/steve-terry) ![Steve Terry](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20Images/Steve-Terry.png?width=180&height=180&name=Steve-Terry.png) Steve is currently the Director of Standards & Industry Relations at ETC. From 2004-2017 he was ETC’s VP of Research & Development where is led the group that is responsible for global new product development. Steve has had a long history of work in codes and standards. His 15 minutes of fame occurred when he chaired the USITT committee that created the internationally-accepted DMX512 standard in 1986. #### You may also like [![](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/SanJoseConventionCenter_SanJoseCA_11072017_116-750x500.jpg)](https://blog.etcconnect.com/2019/02/emergency-luminaires) [Emergency Lighting](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/emergency-lighting) ### [Can Emergency luminaires be cord-and-plug connected?](https://blog.etcconnect.com/2019/02/emergency-luminaires) By [Steve Terry](https://blog.etcconnect.com/author/steve-terry) 7-Feb-2019 With the many recent changes to the US National Electrical Code (NEC) regarding emergency lighting, I am often asked whether an emergency luminaire is allowed to be cord-and-plug connected. The... [Read More](https://blog.etcconnect.com/2019/02/emergency-luminaires) [![](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/ColorSource-PAR_silver-750x500.jpg)](https://blog.etcconnect.com/2017/11/what-is-a-directly-controlled-luminaire-and-why-should-i-care) [Lighting fixtures](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/lighting-fixtures) ### [What is a Directly Controlled Emergency Luminaire, and why should I care?](https://blog.etcconnect.com/2017/11/what-is-a-directly-controlled-luminaire-and-why-should-i-care) By [Steve Terry](https://blog.etcconnect.com/author/steve-terry) 17-Apr-2023 Recent changes in the 2023 US National Electrical Code and UL standards have significantly changed the rules for emergency lighting in the US. We explore those changes in this blog. [Read More](https://blog.etcconnect.com/2017/11/what-is-a-directly-controlled-luminaire-and-why-should-i-care) [![](https://blog.etcconnect.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/SC1008_Photo-750x500.jpg)](https://blog.etcconnect.com/2019/10/why-are-fuses-required-with-a-branch-circuit-emergency-lighting-transfer-switch-bcelts) [Switching](https://blog.etcconnect.com/tag/switching) ### [Why are fuses required with a BCELTS?](https://blog.etcconnect.com/2019/10/why-are-fuses-required-with-a-branch-circuit-emergency-lighting-transfer-switch-bcelts) By [Steve Terry](https://blog.etcconnect.com/author/steve-terry) 25-Oct-2019  In North America, emergency transfer switches, including the new Branch Circuit Emergency Lighting Transfer Switch (BCELTS), have tough testing and short circuit current requirements for a reason. ... 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