IEC 60320 C14 C13 Power Cords

IEC 60320 Power Cord Sets feature a C14 male plug on one end, and a C13 female connector on the other end. These are commonly found in Data Centers, Networking Closets, and any other type of IT installation, or, in the home or office as an extension cord. 

In the data center, C14 to C13 power cord sets are used to "jump" power from a Power Distribution Unit (PDU) to a piece of IT equipment such as a Server, Router, Switch, or Firewall. Because these are used in the data center, they can be found from stock in many different colors and lengths. Different colors are used to color code an installation, and each data center typically has its own method of color coding its power path and racks. However, a common method is using Red and Blue power cords to color code each circuit. Read our article on "Color Coding IT installations" for more information this topic. Different lengths are required to ensure that the cord sets do not take up excess space in the rack, which could lead to the rack overheating. Right length power cords are used to increase airflow, and decrease the chance of a cord being snagged on something and coming disconnected from the PDU or Equipment. 

Choosing the correct C14 to C13 power cord set can seem like a daunting task at first glance, between the different amperages, jackets, colors, lengths, and locking styles, there are a multitude of options to choose from. However, continuing to read below will help you make an informed decision on which cable is right for your needs.

Step 1: Choosing an Amperage

Choosing a cord set with the correct ampere rating is critical to success. Because devices utilizing C14 inlets operate at a wide range of amperages, C14 to C13 cord sets are available in 10A, 13A, and 15A options. 

1. 10 Amp : 10 Ampere rated C14 C13 cord sets utilize 18awg (or 1.00mm2) conductors, and, are the thinnest conductors available. If your equipment operates at less than 10A, and space is a concern, the 10A cable is right for you.
2. 13 Amp : 13 Ampere rated C14 C13 cord sets utilize 16awg conductors, and are a medium duty option. If you equipment operates at around 10A and you are looking for a medium duty cord set, the 13A cable is right for you. : 
3. 15 Amp : 15 Ampere rated C14 C13 cord sets utilize 14awg conductors, and are a heavy duty option. If you are unsure of how many amperes you equipment requires, or you are simply looking for a heavy duty cable, this is the cable for you.

Step 2: Locking vs Non-Locking

Now that we know what ampere rating is required, we can decide if a locking cord set is best for your application. We will break this section up into three segments : Data Centers, OEMs, and Office/Home USe.

Data Centers 

First, you'll need to know a little bit about your existing data center infrastructure, mainly what brand and model of PDU you will be connecting these cord sets to.

1. AP8000 Series PDU by APC (Schneider Electric) : If you are using an APC 8000 series PDU,  you will want to look into the V-Lock locking cords which will lock on the mating C13 outlet on the PDU.
2. ServerTechnology, Raritan, Vertiv : If you have a ServerTechnology, Raritan, or Vertiv PDU, then the P-Lock (also known as SecureLock) locking power cords are the right choice for you. These will securely lock into place on the PDU ensuring no accidental disconnects.

OEMs (Equipment Manufacturers) 

If you are looking for locking cord sets for devices you are manufacturing, our A-Lock (also known as Auto-Lock) cord sets may be the right choice for you. These provide a secure locking mechanism on the female (C13) end of the cable. The A-Lock C13 locks into place by grabbing the grab pin on the mating inlet. The A-Lock unlocks by squeezing the tabs on the size and pulling.

Step 3: Choosing a Jacket

Jacket types can be confusing for first time cord set buyers, and as such, we have a full guide to jacket types in our reference section. However, below we will review the jacket types most applicable to C14-C13 cord sets. 

1. SVT (Service Vacuum Thermoplastic) - The SVT jacket is the thinnest jacket available, and, is only available with 18awg conductors. SVT jackets have a thickness of ~ .015in (.38mm) and when used with 3 conductor 18awg wire, has a nominal OD of ~ .245in (6.2mm). SVT jackets are commonly found in high density data centers where the every cubic inch of space is valuable. The SVT is is made of PVC (Polyvinyl chloride), which is a robust synthetic plastic polymer providing high durability. SVT jackets are not oil or water resistant.
2. SJT (Service Junior Thermoplastic) - The SJT jacket is a thicker jacket than SVT, and is the standard jacket type for C14-C13 cord sets. The SJT jacket is available with 18awg (10A), 16awg (13A), or 14awg (15A) conductors. Please refer to each specific category for more information.
3. LSZH (Low Smoke Zero Halogen) - The LSZH jacket is made for use where smoke could cause damage to humans or equipment. Normal PVC jackets (such as SVT and SJT) contain Halogens, which when burned, product heavy toxic smoke that can be fatal to humans and damaging to equipment. LSZH jackets contain "zero" halogen (in reality it is a defined maximum amount of halogens to be classified as "zero" halogen"), and produce significantly less smoke when burned. These are commonly used in government buildings and wherever these cord sets will be used in public areas. LSZH jackets have significantly less flexibility than SJT jackets.

See below for the application of using a C14-C13 Power Cord from World Cord Sets to connect a C13 outlet on a PDU to a C14 inlet on an HPE Proliant Server.