Reliance Controls PB30 L14-30 30 Amp Generator Power Cord Inlet Box For Up To 7,500 Watt Generators

by Reliance

Product Features

• 30 Amp power inlet box for use with Reliance transfer switches, panels
• Hardwire directly to hardware to eliminate extra wires
• Weatherproof design; zinc-plated construction prevents rust
• NEMA L14-30P inlet plug; push-in wire connection
• cUL 1008 listed; 5-year warrant

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 4 x 6 x 8 inches ; 1.9 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000BQT47S
• Item model number: PB30
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #292 in Patio, Lawn & Garden (See Top 100 in Patio, Lawn & Garden)
  • #12 in Patio, Lawn & Garden > Mowers & Outdoor Power > Outdoor Power Tools

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

The Reliance Controls 30 Amp power inlet box is designed for outdoor use and can be hardwired directly to Reliance Controls transfer switches or panels, eliminating need for cords running through windows or doors. This rain-tight, rust-proof unit includes an NEMA L14-30P inlet plug, six knockout holes, and push-in wire connections. Using one of the four combination 1/2-inch and 3/4-inch knockouts (one on each side, bottom and back), the power inlet box can be wired directly to the transfer switch or panel. The exclusive patented design provides generous wiring space and facilitates rough-in. The face of the box is removable for easy placement and wiring. It is cUL 1008 listed and covered by a 5-year warranty.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent product, August 13, 2010

By 

Victor H. Agresti "remodeling-guy" (Gaithersburg, MD United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Reliance Controls PB30 L14-30 30 Amp Generator Power Cord Inlet Box For Up To 7,500 Watt Generators (Lawn & Patio)

Reliance Controls PB30 L14-30 30 Amp Generator Power Cord Inlet Box

Product Review:

This Reliance Power Inlet Box is excellent quality. It has easily removable knockouts on the back and sides; ½" or 3/4". Since it was to be mounted on a cinder-block wall, I used PVC conduit from the back of the box through the wall, and ran 10/3 (w/ground) from the Inlet Box to a 30-amp 240 volt receptacle on the home's interior. See Customer Images.)

Three Tapcon 3/16" x 1 3/4" masonry screws securely attach the box to a cinder block wall. Once mounted, there is a 1/8" air gap between the back of the box and the wall; that air gap allows the unit to dry-out after rain. The gap also allows the cover assembly to be easily slipped over the box frame and be secured with the single stainless steel screw shown in the photo. Do NOT caulk where the box meets the wall or the cover won't be removable. DO caulk where the wire or conduit goes through the wall (if that's how it's wired), to prevent insect and water infiltration.

The unit's screw-down wiring connectors tightly hold 10-gage (or 8-gage) wires.

The integral hinged receptacle door acts as a rain guard when the receptacle is in use, and when it isn't, seals the inside from weather, bugs, and dirt.

Excellent product!

Product Use:

Consumers typically use portable generators to power their homes in one of several ways.

1. The least expensive and most common method is to simply run long extension cords through open windows or doors directly to where power is needed inside the home.

2. The best (and costliest) approach is to connect the generator's output power to a "transfer switch"; a device that switches electrical circuits between main power (i.e., from a utility company) and a backup generator. These switches can be automatic, monitoring incoming power from the utility and switching to a backup when the utility power goes out, or manual which requires you to physically make the changeover. Whole-house permanently installed (e.g., natural gas) generators utilize automatic switches, while portable gasoline-powered generators commonly employ a manual cut-over switch. This Power Cord Inlet Box is often used with a manual transfer switch.

3. You could also use a Power Mechanical Interlock; search Amazon on that term.

4. An intermediate approach avoids running cords through windows or doors and the high cost of installing a transfer switch. It requires one or more 110v and/or 240v Power Inlet Boxes mounted on the dwelling's exterior, directly wired through the wall to receptacles in the dwelling's interior, with no connection to house wiring. From those interior (generator-powered) receptacles, extension cords go where the power is needed.

I chose the intermediate approach.

During a power outage, our generator is wheeled into place and three cords are run from the generator to the house, as follows. Takes under 10 minutes to set up.

- A 30-Amp L14-30 240v Generator Power Cord connects to a Reliance Controls PB30 L14-30 30 Amp Generator Power Cord Inlet Box (product being reviewed)

- Two 20-amp (12-gage) 120v cords connect to Leviton 5278-CWP 120v Power Inlet Receptacles

- A grounding cord is connected.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent product, January 8, 2009

By 

Kopperhed (OK, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Reliance Controls PB30 L14-30 30 Amp Generator Power Cord Inlet Box For Up To 7,500 Watt Generators (Lawn & Patio)

very sturdy box, easy to mount, and the plug will accept 8 gauge wire if you are so inclined (as I was).

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The industy standard for generato inlets, April 2, 2011

By 

Andrew J. Badertscher - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Reliance Controls PB30 L14-30 30 Amp Generator Power Cord Inlet Box For Up To 7,500 Watt Generators (Lawn & Patio)

I'll preface this by saying I am a licensed electrician and have installed close to 50 of these boxes over the past couple years. These boxes are nema 3r and are of good quality I have yet to have any of them fail. This inlet fits the 30amp 220/11v twist lock cord commonly found at the Home Depot. Couple this unit with a transfer switch and you have a very safe and reliable way of feeding your home with a generator. This is the exact same unit most electrical supply houses sell.

My only complaint of this box is you can't feed it with conduit from the top as the way the cover comes off both the front and top come off as one piece. You HAVE to do your wire entries either from the side or bottom. This is not a deal killer but the installs look much better with the outlet below the panels rather than off to the side.