PowerCon
The powerCON is an electrical connector manufactured by Neutrik for connecting mains power to equipment in a small space. It looks and works similarly to the Speakon with the line connector inserted in the chassis connector and twisted to make contact and lock. Both line and chassis connectors are fully insulated even when disconnected.
The original and most common version of the powerCON is rated at 20 A. It comes in two deliberately incompatible variants to prevent people connecting two mains supplies together. The type A is blue and used for power sources (power flows out of a blue-ended cable, into a chassis socket). The type B is white and used for power drains (power flows from a chassis socket into a white-ended cable). Couplers are available with one chassis socket of each type mounted on the ends of a plastic tube to extend cables.
Later[when?], Neutrik introduced a larger 32 A version of the powerCON. Unlike the 20 A version the 32 A version comes in only one variant which appears to be intended for use as a source. [1][2]
The main advantages of the powerCON are high current capacity in a small space (smaller than an IEC connector and double the current-carrying capacity) and locking action. The main disadvantages are cost and reliance on a single vendor. Older models are not designed to be connected/disconnected under load (which makes them unsuitable for equipment used by untrained personnel).
In January 2011 Neutrik announced a new variant of the connector called the powerCON TRUE1.[3] Unlike the traditional PowerCon connectors the new connector is specified for disconnection under load[4] but the current rating is reduced to 16 A and it is not compatible with traditional PowerCon connectors. The connectors are IP65 rated, meaning that they can be used in environments with heavy dust and water presence. [5]
References
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- ^ neutrik.com - Neutrik circular connectors product guide, 2012-07-02
- ^ [1], 2018-03-26 "NAC3MP-HC: power-in"
- ^ "powerCON".
- ^ [2]
- ^ "IP65 Test Report".