Let the IEC 60320 Appliance and Interconnection Coupler Sheet Be Your Tour Guide
There are many IEC 60320 products, and all of them are designed to make exporting easier by making electrical designs more compatible. Also, why burden your warehouse (and overhead) with bins of country-specific plugs and sockets when you can use just one country-specific plug while letting IEC 60320 connectors, plug connectors, inlets and outlets do the rest? One of the most popular combinations in the world: a country specific plug, an IEC 60320 C13, an accessory power strip or power distribution unit containing one IEC C14 inlet and numerous IEC Sheet F outlets, and multiple jumper cords whose opposite terminations are Sheet E plug connectors and C13 connectors to connect to multiple machines and devices.
A Real World Example: Using the APS and PDU with Jumper Cords
Pretend you’re a customer from Australia. Obviously, the plug tapping into your mains power is an Australian plug, say a 10A/250VAC plug, and at the opposite end of the 1.0 mm² international cord is an IEC 60320 C13 connector. At this particular location in your electrical design, six outlets in a socket strip are needed for medical/measurement testing equipment. Thus, by using an Interpower Accessory Power Strip (APS) bearing 1 IEC 60320 snap-in C14 inlet (or a screw-mounted version), and 6 Sheet F outlets, you’re all set to supply current to 6 devices using only one country-specific plug. The C13 connector on the opposite end of the country-specific plug fits into the lone C14 inlet at one end of the APS’ row of Sheet F outlets. So, now what cords do you need to reach your AC-powered devices?
By using IEC 60320 jumper cords, of course. Continuing your example, the jumper cords will consist of molded or rewirable Sheet E plug connectors to mate with the Sheet F outlets—these 6 jumper cords will now supply 6 machines or devices with AC power using IEC 60320 C13s on the machine side. As for IEC 60320 jumper cords, current and voltage range from 2.5A–20A/125VAC–250VAC. This makes the jumper cord vital when designing electrical systems anywhere in the globe.
But What About Power Distribution Units (PDUs)?
Same application, only the latter typically contain 8–12 outlets and is rack mountable—they also contain different IEC 60320 inlets and connectors, which like the first example, either snap in or screw into the APS or PDU. Since PDUs have more sockets, each socket distributes less amperage to the equipment (more than enough), thus PDUs come with a higher current rating—Interpower PDUs contain C20 inlets that take C19 connectors providing a higher rating of 16A/125–240VAC. Most APS’ using C14s are rated at 10A/100–240VAC. But an APS using C20s instead of C14s would be rated at 15A/125–240VAC.
However, as mentioned in previous blogs and articles, all ratings from cords, plugs, and connectors—all those ratings defer to the lowest component rating for its entire rating as a cord set. If cable and plug were rated at 15A, but the connector was 10A, the rating for that cord set would be 10A.
More Sheet Es!
By early to mid-2025, Interpower plans to offer new members of the IEC 60320 club: the Sheet E rewirable connector. Molded Sheet E connectors have been a part of Interpower cord sets and components for decades. Just as Sheets F, G, H, I and J have been popular, the Interpower rewirable will soon come in straight or angled and in multiple colors. Meaning they can be disassembled and inspected and then reassembled. The rewirable line is another option for the ever-popular Sheet E plug connectors.
Interpower accessory power strips come in 10A–15A/100–240VAC, and 10A–15A/125–240VAC. The most common outlet types are Sheet F and Sheet Js with corresponding inlets being C14s and C20s. They can also arrive with quick-disconnect connector locks, and come with 4-10 outlets as well as a variety of circuit breakers. The exterior can is powder-coated metal for durability, and colors offered are white, beige, and black.
The PDU is a socket strip using IEC 60320 components in a metal enclosure that is larger than an APS, offering up to 12 outlets and is mountable in a 19-inch rack. Interpower PDUs are rated at 16A/125–240VAC offering C20 inlets and Sheet F/J outlets. Accepted worldwide, IEC 60320 components have made electrical connectivity universal by integrating country-specific cords with accessory power system products including jumper cords—entire electrical designs are built around IEC 60320 components. The APS and PDU are especially beneficial when there’s insufficient panel space to power up equipment, and where wall outlets are at a minimum.
