Things to Consider While Choosing a Power Cord
With today's increasing demand for electronic equipment, manufacturers are realizing that to prosper, they need to export to global markets. And while designing for global markets, they need to involve several factors. The primary actors involve:
Providing easily adaptive equipment without any reconfiguration on their part
Providing end-user with the correct means of connecting cables through their local mains supply
Following standards and country-specific regulations
Thus, choosing the right components in the product design is a crucial part. There are times when electrical terminology can be confusing. Because different people use different terms for the same product. Thus, we have a guide to go through for knowing types of power cords and choosing the one that can help you to expand your business globally:
Power Cords
A power cord includes a cable with a country-specific plug on one end. And on the other end, there are exposed conductor wires, terminated conductors, or blunt/flush-cut conductors. A power cord is useful to connect the equipment directly into the power mains.
Jumper Power Cord
It is made from cable and an IEC 60320 Sheet E or Sheet I plug connector on one end. A jumper power cord connects a secondary piece of equipment to a primary piece of equipment that supplies the power to the peripherals.
Connector Power Cord
It has an IEC 60320 or country-specific connector on one cable end. The opposite end has exposed conductor wires, terminated conductors, or blunt/flush conductors.
Cord Sets
It consists of a cable with a country-specific molded or hand-wired plug on one end. And on the other side there is an IEC 60320 connector or country-specific connector on the other end. It connects equipment directly to the mains supply.
Jumper Cord Set
It works like a jumper power cord. The primary difference is that there is a connection device on both ends of the cable instead of just the plug end. It includes an IEC 60320 connector and IEC 60320 plug connector. It transfers power from a primary piece of equipment to an accessory or peripheral piece of equipment. C14 to C13 power cords, C14 to Unterminated, C13 to Unterminated, C-14 (2) to C13, etc., are examples of jumper power cords. Some of these like C14 to C13 power cords are universally approved jumper cords.
Choosing a Power Cord or Cord Set
Selecting the proper power cord or cord set for each export market is important for equipment designers. Because this will ensure that their country's customers can easily use the product. Choosing a cord usually involves four steps:
1. Identifying the Correct Plug for the Country of Export
The first choice of cord set concerns the plug pattern for the country of export. There are several plug patterns used throughout the world, thus, determining the correct one for your country is essential. "While deciding on the correct plug pattern, you should keep in mind that while some cords look similar, that doesn't mean it is the right cord for the equipment.
For instance, the North American and Japanese Class I plugs look similar. But, North American cords do not carry the Japanese approval symbol. Thus, one should not export them to use in Japan and vice versa. Another example is the similarities in appearance of the Australian, Chinese, and Argentinean plug patterns. But again there are important differences in size and usage among the three.
2. Determine the Rating of the Power Cord
To choose the correct power cord, it is important to know the rating of amperage and voltage required for the exported equipment. Even in the same country, higher or lower amperage may mean a different plug pattern. And amperage requirements also affect the cable size.
3. Choose the Correct Connector
Choices for a connector include a country-specific socket or an IEC 60320 connector. A primary benefit of using IEC 60320 components is - they can assist in making a product globally accessible. For instance, one can attach an IEC 60320 connector to a detachable cord set with a country-specific plug.
This way, the connector will provide power to the equipment by connecting with an IEC 60320 inlet in the equipment. Utilizing IEC 60320 components into a product allows one to use the same equipment for various purposes.
Wrapping Up
I hope this guide helped you to answer some of the most common to tricky questions. The "weakest link rates a power cord/cord set." This means that the cable, plug, and connector considers individual components. Also that the one with the lowest rating determines the rating for the entire assembly. For instance, a cord set with a 15A plug on 13A cable with a 10A connector will possess an overall rating of 10A. Depending upon the application, the cable length is a choice for the manufacturer. It is noteworthy that there are application limits that one needs to consider.
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