I work with pro audio equipment, and a lot of larger amp racks use L14-30 connections. I know that this connector supplies two legs of 120 or 240 if connected hot to hot. However everything we do is 120. My question is, if using both legs, isn't this 60 total amps? Why don't the connectors say 30 amp @240, or 60 amp at 120?

Thanks!

 

Two pins rated at 30 amps each will carry 30 amps each.
As for the labels, you'd have to ask the manufacturer.

 

Its not just the manufacturers. When looking at NEMA charts that are all over the internet, they list the different connectors based on voltage and amps. And for all of the double pole connectors, not just L14-30, they just give the amps as if you're using it for one 240 connection. So I'm just wondering if that is just the convention, or if you only can get 30 amps even if using it to power two separate 120 circuits. Since there is only 1 neutral line, wouldn't that mean that it would have to serve as the neutral for both hot lines? Wouldn't that mean the neutral leg would have to be rated for 60amps?

 

You make a good point. If you don't provide (2) 30 amp neutral pins, you are still limited to 30 amps. This might even be the reason the connectors are rated as they are.

 

http://www.stayonline.com/reference-home.aspx

The first three links near the top of the page for NEMA connectors will give you lots of info(with dwgs of the connectors too)

The (dash-)30 in the designation does mean that the recommended current carrying limit is 30 Amps.