IEC 60320
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IEC connector is the common name for the set of thirteen mains electricity cable mount female connectors (called the connector in the specification) and thirteen panel mount male connector (called the inlet) defined by International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) specification IEC 60320 (formerly IEC 320). When used with no other qualifiers, IEC connector usually refers specifically to the C13 and C14 connectors. Some types also come in cable mount male and panel female versions to use as outlets but these are less common.
The family includes two and three-conductor connectors of various current capacities and temperature ratings, all designed specifically for the purpose of attaching a mains power cord to a piece of equipment. Allowing an interchangeable mains power cord makes it very easy for equipment manufacturers to sell their equipment anywhere in the world as long as their equipment can operate on both 120/240 V, 50/60 Hz mains power. However, users must still check voltage when moving equipment between regions as not all equipment with these connectors is multi-voltage and some equipment that is requires manual switching between voltage ranges.
In each case, the male connector is designated by the even number one greater than the odd number assigned to the female connector, so a C1 fits a C2, and a C15A fits a C16A. Most are polarized (though of course being a worldwide standard they will frequently be connected to wall outlets that are unpolarized), the exceptions being the C1, some C7 and all C9 connector. All voltage ratings are 250 V AC maximum. All have maximum temperature ratings of 70 °C unless noted.
The use of the terms plug and socket when referring to these connectors is ambiguous. Some use the term plug as a synonym for male and socket as a synonym for female. Others use the term plug for the cable connector and socket for the panel mount connector. For inlet connections where the male connector is on the device and the female connector is on the cable these two definitions are opposite.
Appliance classes
In addition to being grounded or not, these connectors are differentiated according to their IEC protection class.[citation needed]
- Class 0 appliances have no protective-earth connection and feature only a single level of insulation.
- Class I appliances must have their chassis connected to electrical earth.
- Class II double insulated electrical appliances have been designed in such a way that they do not require a safety connection to electrical earth.
- Class III appliances are designed to be supplied from a SELV (Separated or Safety Extra-Low Voltage) power source.
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C1 and C2 connectors
2-conductor 0.2 A, unpolarised. C1 is commonly used for shavers.
C3 and C4 connectors
2-conductor 2.5 A
C5 and C6 connectors
The C5 3-conductor 2.5 A is sometimes colloquially called "Mickey Mouse" (because the cross section looks like the silhouette of the Disney character) or cloverleaf.
This connector is seen on laptop power supplies and portable projectors, and on the Apple desktop computer iMac G4.
C7 and C8 connectors
The C7 and C8 connectors, with two pins rated at 2.5 A, exist in both polarised and unpolarised versions.
The unpolarised C7 is commonly known as a figure-8 or shotgun connector due to its shape. It is also known as a euro-connector in electronic shops. The polarised C7 is asymmetrical, with one end rounded similarly to the unpolarised version, and the other squared off.
These connectors are often used for small cassette recorders, battery/mains operated radios, some full size AV equipment, laptop computer power supplies, video game consoles, and similar double-insulated appliances. Unpolarised C7 connectors can be inserted into polarized C8 sockets; however, doing so might be a safety risk if the device is designed to expect a polarised power connection.
C9 and C10 connectors
2-conductor 6 A (unpolarized).
This kind of connector is used by Roland Corporation for a couple of synthesizer and drum computer models (for example: TR-909) and by ReVox for many older models of their HiFi equipment (for example: A76, A77, A78, B77, B225).
C11 and C12 connectors
2-conductor 10 A
C13 and C14 connectors
3-conductor 10 A. Most desktop personal computers use the ten-amp panel-mounting C14 inlet to attach the power cord to the power supply, as do many monitors, printers and other peripherals. Many AT form factor computers also provided a panel-mounting C13 outlet controlled by the physical power switch for powering the monitor. With the arrival of ATX the readily accessible permanent power switch was removed and the outlet was either permanently powered or completely removed.
A three-conductor cord with a suitable power plug for the locality in which the appliance is used on one end and a C13 line socket on the other is commonly called an IEC cord. IEC cords are used to power many pieces of electronic equipment other than computers, for example instrument amplifiers and professional audio equipment.
Cables with a C14 connector at one end and a C13 connector at the other are commonly available. They have a variety of common uses including connecting power between older PCs and their monitors, extending existing power cords, connecting to C13 socket strips (commonly used with rackmount gear to save space and for international standardization) and connecting computer equipment to the output of a UPS (larger UPSs often have C19 outlets as well.)
There are also a variety of splitter blocks, splitter cables, and similar devices available. These along with the cables mentioned above (with the exception of BS1363 to IEC cables which are always fused but sometimes at more than the rating of the IEC connector) are nearly always un-fused and worse in 230 V countries the cables are often made with only 0.75 mm2 cable which is rated only to 6 A. Therefore, care must be taken to avoid overloading the cables and connectors when using such products.
C15 and C16 connectors
Some electric kettles and similar hot household appliances use a cord with a C15 connector, and a matching C16 inlet on the appliance; their temperature rating is 120 °C rather than the 70 °C of the similar C13/C14 combination. The official designation in Europe for the C15 and C16 connectors is 'hot condition' connectors.
These are almost identical in form to the C13 and C14 combination, except with a ridge opposite the earth in the C16 inlet (preventing a C13 fitting), and a corresponding valley in the C15 connector (which doesn't prevent it fitting a C14 inlet). For example, you can use an electric kettle cord to power a computer, but not a computer cord to power a kettle.
Many people are not aware of the subtle differences between the C13/C14 and C15/C16 connectors, and so all are loosely referred to as kettle plug and kettle lead (in the UK) and jug plug (in Australia) when referring to these mains cords.
In Britain and Sweden, the C15 and C16 connectors have replaced and made obsolete the appliance plug in most applications.
Two variations:
- C15 3-conductor 10 A (120 °C maximum temperature)
- C15A 3-conductor 10 A (155 °C maximum temperature)
C17 and C18 connectors
Similar to C13 and C14 connectors. However, the C17 and C18 do not have a third pin for earthing. A C18 inlet will accept a C13 connector but a C14 inlet will not accept a C17 connector.
IBM's Wheelwriter series of electronic typewriters are one common application. Three wire cords with C13 sockets, which are easier to find, are sometimes used in place of the two wire cords for replacement. In this case, the ground wire will not be connected
Other common applications are the power supplies of Xbox 360 games consoles, replacing the C15 and C16 connectors employed initially, and large CRT televisions manufactured by RCA in the early 1990s.
C19 and C20 connectors
C19 and C20 connectors, with pins rated at 16 A, are used for some IT applications where higher currents are required, for instance, on high-power workstations and servers, UPSs, PDUs and similar equipment. They are similar to C13 and C14 connectors, but rectangular (without chamfered corners) and with slightly larger pins, rotated so they are parallel to the long axis of the connector.
C21 and C22 connectors
3-conductor 16 A (155 °C maximum temperature)
C23 and C24 connectors
2-conductor 16 A
Higher current and IEC 60309 connectors
IEC 60309 commando plugs are used, typically on industrial equipment for single and three phase power.
Power entry modules
Some manufacturers have combined IEC connectors with other associated power components. See power entry module for details.
There are some physical compatibilities not noted here.
See also
References
- search for other SC 23G publications
- IEC 60320-1 Consol. Ed. 2.1
- IEC 60320-2-1 Ed. 2.0
- IEC 60320-2-2 Ed. 2.0
- IEC 60320-2-3 Consol. Ed. 1.1
- IEC 60320-2-3-am1 Ed. 1.0
- IEC 60320-2-4 Ed. 1.0
- IEC 60799 Ed. 2.0
- IEC-320 Appliance Connectors (includes diagrams of all IEC connectors)
- International Standardized Appliance Connectors (IEC-60320) Reference Chart ᾹIncludes diagrams of all connectors, their rated current, equipment class, and temperature rating.