What Are NEMA, IEC and CEE Power Connectors?

Electronic gadgets can be connected to accessible power outlets using power connectors. Alternating Current (AC) or Direct Current (DC) can be carried via power wires (DC). The electricity delivered by a standard wall plug in a house or business is an example of AC power. The power provided by a battery is an example of DC power. So connectors and interfaces come in various shapes and sizes and are utilized worldwide. The power connections seen below are some of the most prevalent in North America.

It carries the load of quickly attaching any movable electrical item to the primary power source and may pass via either an extension cable or a wall socket with ease. This page discusses the IEC, NEMA, and CEE power cord variants and some purchasing advice.

NEMA

The NEMA, known in full National Electrical Manufacturing Association, was founded to certify several power cable varieties in North America and other nations, with amperages between 15 to 60 amps and voltages ranging from 125 to 600 volts. Based on specified voltages or amperages, several plug types are established that are unique and non-interchangeable.

Several other NEMA plugs are sold in North American nations like Canada and the United States, but the most popular are NEMA 5-15-P and NEMA 1-15-P. The Type 1 NEMA connector has a circular prong or pin under the two flat pins, but the Type 5 NEMA connector has a third grounding pin prong.

NEMA 1-15-P

The NEMA 1-15-P comprises two-wire makeup with non-grounding that you can plug into a typical 110 VAC wall source. The NEMA 1-15-P plug features two parallel blades, similar to the NEMA 5-15 plug, but with a ground prong. It is rated for 125 V maximum. A 1-15-R (R meaning "receptacle") is the female mating exit for the 1-15-P. The prongs on most modern variants of this plug are somewhat broader.

Because of their low cost and compact size, unground NEMA 1 connectors continue to be widely employed by household devices and gadget makers. In addition, they are compatible with newer grounded receptacles of NEMA 5.

NEMA 5-15-P

NEMA's 5-15-P is a grounded 3-prong connector that connects to a conventional 110 VAC wall outlet. A circular ground pin is situated among both and above the two straight blades of the connector. A 5-15-R (R for "receptacle") is the female mating exit for the 5-15-P.

IEC

IEC power cables, be it IEC 60309 or IEC 60320, come in various earthing combinations to suit different temperatures and requirements. Therefore, dealers must meet these criteria to ensure international interoperability when employing such couplings.

IEC 60320 Power Plug

IEC 60320 is an international standard that defines non-locking components and connectivity devices for connecting power cables to electrical equipment as high as 250V and is used by most nations worldwide. The number "320" is the standard for power connections. For varying configurations of current, voltage, and temperature, multiple IEC 60320 electrical cable variants spanning C1 to C24 are provided.

C13 And C15 Power Cords

The IEC C15 power cable is like the C13 electrical cord, except for the C15 connector's notch facing the earth. Therefore, IEC-C15 connections will also work in C14 inlets. Yet, the IEC-C13 cable will not fit in inlets designated C16. The C13 connection and the C14 inlet are two of the most popular IEC 60320 components found in various products. The C13 connection has a cable-mount attaching type. The C14 inlet comes in two styles: screw-mount and snap-in.

The IEC C15 connections are meant for equipment operating at higher temperatures (as high as 120°C), such as server rooms, electric kettles, computing networking closets, and PoE switches that use power sources with higher wattage. The typical IEC C13 electrical cord helps power anything from printers, computers, amplifiers, and monitors to switches with a fixed configuration. They usually have a rating of 250V/15A for household use and 250V/10A for foreign use, with a temperature rating of 70°C.

CEE

The CEE 7/7 plug is a circular connector with two rounded pins and a socket that receives the earth pin from a "Type F" European electrical outlet. The International Commission on Rules for Approval of Electrical Equipment, or CEE, is a European standards authority.

In other words, in many European nations and those countries that follow the CENELEC standard, CEE 7/7 is currently the de facto plug standard. Denmark (AFSNIT 107-2-D1), Ireland, Italy (CEI 23-50), Malta (BS 1363), Cyprus (BS 1363), Gibraltar (BS 1363), and Switzerland (SEV 1011) are among the European nations that do not adopt CEE 7/7. CEE 7/7 to C13, CEE 7/7 to C15, and CEE 7/7 to C19 are the most common power cables that use the CEE 7/7 connector.

Conclusion

When using a power cable, it is critical to have a suitable ground system to safeguard both lives and properties. AC power cables from FS.COM, such as NEMA power cords, locking power cables, and IEC power cables, come in various lengths and colors. A power cable with a NEMA connection on one end and an IEC320 plug on the other is also intended to work in diverse applications.