Eaton5754N Receptacles, One Size, Gray

Used this for adding a 240V level2 charging outlet for my first EV vehicle in the garage. With the increasing EV ownerships taking over, I'm glad that this nema 14-50 outlet was not as expensive as the hubbell brand and it still performs like a champ with no issues of heating. Solid build with clamping screws that won't let thick 6 Gauge wires pop out under pressure and I even use a 30ft extension cord rated 50A to reach this outlet from where the EV is plugged. Highly recommended, specially if you're on a tight budget and still want a safe & high quality nema 14-50 outlet.

What the listing does not say is the contacts in this, although full size, are steel, not brass. That should be a big factor in your decision. Exposure to moisture and wearing out the brass plug blades on your cable could be problematic with this. Inside a decent garage with a load which is not unplugged often would probably be better for this. Outside? Not so much. Unplugging your cable to take with you every day? Not so much either. A new cable will cost much more than the difference between this and a better one. This is very good, it's far better than most. Your application just needs to be considered before you buy.

This review is on the Eaton flush mount 14-50R receptical part number 5754n. It's comparable to the Bryant 9450FR receptical but it does feel very slightly lighter. If you are using copper wire either will work well but if you are using aluminum wire only the Eaton 5754n will be compatible. You will need the cover plate with the larger hole as they both are 2.430 inches in diameter at the face of the receptical. They both have lug clamps instead of set screws to hold the wire in place. Before buying I looked at the Tesla forums as that is my point of use and both were recommended. You can feel the difference between the Eaton and a cheaper receptical. The Eaton is more robust than a 10 dollar unit and aluminum friendly.

I did a lot of research to prepare my house for electric vehicle charging. This specific 14-50 outlet is a proper industrial grade receptacle. Sure it’s more expensive than your box store standard 14-50 receptacle, but it’s worth the added piece of mind if you are using a mobile connector or another charge cable that will get frequently removed. Make sure you get an industrial faceplate since this outlet is beefier than a standard one.

This is a very heavy-duty receptacle, but there is one thing I disliked--the cable retention screws are the flat-blade type. This makes them easy to "cam" off if the screwdriver slips (see the photo).Another related thing--the torque spec for the screws is 25 inch-pounds. The Hubbell and (identical) Bryant industrial receptacles use hex head screws that are spec'ed at 75 inch-pounds, obviously a much tighter connection.The Eaton is OK to use if you're careful with the screws, but I ended up going with the Hubbell.

The regular Leviton cover will not work with it. What cover has the same size.

This device design is badly flawed. The three thick 6/3 wires (white, red & black) are not connected to the same side of the receptacle. Two are at the top (with the bare copper ground wire), one (white) is at the bottom. What this means is it's almost impossible to cram the thing into its box without seriously sharply bending the wiring. The Hubbell 14-50R is the gold standard. Not only is this receptacle supremely built to handle continuous current flow (as much as 40 amps for 8-10 hours) but has the three thick wires all connected to the same side (the bottom) with only the much thinner ground wire on the top end. Just ensure you arrange the cable entry into the box at the bottom of it. This greatly eases the insertion of the wired unit into its box. That and the compression Allenkey connections, material designed to absorb more heat along with the tight grip of each plug blade makes it a winner, albeit an expensive one. Don't risk a car and house fire for a measly $100 receptacle.

Readily available vs more expensive brands.