50A Twist-Lock Plug Info [Detailed] (was Re: Monday April 13, 2026 Bellevue College EV Show for Earth Day/Month! Sign-Up Now!)

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SevaS...@hpev.com

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Mar 4, 2026, 2:08:58 AM (11 days ago) Mar 4
to SEVA...@googlegroups.com, Larry Ryan
Hi Larry, I'll be sure to prioritize your Green S-10 for charging at the 240V outlet at the Bellevue College Earth Day show next month. Luckily there should be 2 outlets for us this year as the staff has informed me there will not be any food trucks using the 240V outlets!

HERE'S A LONG NOTE ON THE 50 AMP TWIST-LOCK STYLE PLUGS...

IIRC, the receptacle in question is most likely a 50Amp CS series (California Style) twist lock outlet. This is a worthwhile adapter to have for any conversion owner (or other intrepid EV adventurer!) It is most commonly found at marinas for boats, as well as being one of the most common 240V outlets on Spiderboxes (so you can find them at construction sites, big generators, and temporary power spots as well as in some industrial loading areas and parking garages)

The big name brands make high quality versions, like Leviton, Hubbell, Cooper and my personal favorite is Marinco.  Often the name-brand versions can cost upwards of $100 so I recommend eBay (or years ago I got them cheap locally at Coastal Electric in West Seattle for closer to ~$35)

The specific part number for the male side you will need should be: CS6365N
(Note: the female and male versions of the CS connectors can be easy to mix up since the female version often has a metal pointy locating pin in sticking out of the center AND the male version has a shroud around it! BUT the CS6365N is in fact the male version despite the shroud and you can be sure it is correct by the 3 brass prongs sticking out of the face.)

Here appear to be examples of the genuine white & black Marinco brand which is my favorite if you're making your own and this seems a reasonable price for a brand new one:

That said, there are now many cheaper Chinese knock-offs (which may or may not be as well built) including some very handy pre-made adapters to go from the CS6365N-to-NEMA14-50.

I have purchased some of these for much cheaper than building my own and I have had some good luck but YMMV depending upon brand and I always try and look for an actual copper or brass ground piece (in the shroud) as well as get beefy 6AWG cable as opposed to some of the cheaper ones which may only use 8awg (or even 10awg).  The bigger #6awg wire is a small price to pay vs having something melt or even worse a fire!

If you go the cheaper no-name brand route, I'd recommend Amazon so that you can check other's reviews carefully!!

Here might be a really good deal on a pre-made adapter which claims 6awg wire and has mostly good reviews... probably worth a try for that price and its Amazon so if it doesn't work you can return it?

ONE FINAL COMPATIBILITY NOTE ~ SS2-50 vs CS63 series:
Sometimes the CS6365n may also be called a NEMA SS2-50P or something similar... they can usually both be used interchangeably BUT it is important to look closely especially at the center of the plastic end-face of the connector because often the difference is the SS2 style won't have the center hole for the female sides locating pin to fit into. Also sometimes the length of the shroud may be slightly different so that some versions aren't as compatible with other brands or versions... Hence my favorite has been the actual Marinco CS6365N.  (But if you get a cheaper one you can always drill the center hole if needed (and if making extension cords I've had to pull the pointed locating pin out to make it fit the other version and its possible with a strong pair of pliers)

Probably more than everyone needed to know about those connectors but as someone who has been building my own EV adapters using them since early 2005 and later for Tesla Roadsters after meeting original Tesla CEO Martin Eberhard at his home. We bonded over it as it was one of Martin's and my favorite 240V connectors and before we had the modern J1772 stations around I used to charge my EVs from CS6369s and such at construction sites, parking garages and even at a big outdoor music  festival. Using high quality (105C temp rated ~ "the good stuff" for wire insulation ratings) cables I've run over 80amps through them for hours which is beyond the stated limits but if you make sure to use 6awg wire and get name-brand ones they are some of the best 240V outlets (and Phil Sadow has called them "bomb-proof" 😆)

FINAL NOTE ON CABLE AND WIRE TYPES
One last thing, if you do build your own, (as well as for any EV adapter or extension cords) I'd recommend SOOW or even better SEOW type cable and in at least a 6/4 (6awg/4wire) type with 105 degree C rated insulation. This info will be stamped on the cable jacket and any good electrical supplier should understand what you mean.  When building the Roadster Foundry adapter sets for Tesla Roadsters we used SEOW 6/3-8/1 type cable. The 6/3-8/1 just means THREE 6awg wires and ONE 8awg for the ground. The smaller one for the GND allows the wire to be a little smaller in diameter and slightly more flexible and shouldn't matter since the ground would only be used if there were a fault! Carol or Coleman Cable are good brands.

BEST LOCAL PLACE FOR CABLE
As I've said many times over the years, the best place to get nearly any type of cable locally and at the best price is Hardware Specialty Co. NOTE THEY HAVE MOVED OUT OF SEATTLE AND ARE NOW in Lynnwood/Everett area:
3313 132nd St SW, Lynnwood, WA 98134

(However, they may no longer carry orange colored "EV" welding cable as not enough people bought it.)

Cheers,
Stephen Johnsen
President, SEVA
Seattle Electric Vehicle Association
EDUCATE :: DEMONSTRATE :: ADVOCATE

On Thursday, February 26th, 2026 at 2:55 PM, Larry Ryan <llr...@msn.com> wrote:
I just signed up. Last year, the 240v outlet had a socket that I didn't have in my rather larger inventory. I got help with this fortunately. I would like to come prepared. Does anyone remember that outlet type? I want to make an adapter cable. If not, I could make a trip and check it out myself. 
I see my truck in the photo on the Bellevue College event site registration page. The outlet in question is on the pole between me and the motorcycle.
Thanks, Larry
Green green S-10
From: seva...@googlegroups.com <seva...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of SevaS...@hpev.com <SevaS...@hpev.com>
Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2026 8:00 AM
To: seva_list <SEVA...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [SEVA] ->Monday April 13, 2026 - Bellevue College EV Show for Earth Day/Month! Sign-Up Now!
 
Hello EV friends! It’s almost time once again for the ever popular big EV show at Bellevue College Monday April 13, 2026 from 9:45am to 2pm! 

This is always a great show with lots of cars and lots of students and faculty to talk to about EVs! This year we will once again be in the main courtyard below the big solar array and there will not be any food trucks blocking the 240V outlets so we can use them to charge!

The show is free to attend, please register on the official DEEM (Drive Electric Earth Month) Website below:

Hope to see as many of you there with your EVs as possible!
Stephen Johnsen
President, SEVA
Seattle Electric Vehicle Association
EDUCATE :: DEMONSTRATE :: ADVOCATE

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