C14 to C15 P-Lock Power Cables

General Information

IEC 60320 C14 P-Lock  to C15 power cords are used primarily to conduct electrical power from a C13 P-Lock power outlet to a C16 power inlet. The C14 P-Lock male plug on the cable mates to a P-Lock C13 power outlet on a power strip or power distribution unit (PDU) typically found on Server Technology, Raritan, or Geist PDUs. The C15 female connector end on the cable mates to a C16 power inlet on your equipment. The C15 connector does not have a locking mechanism and will mate with any C16 or C14 inlet. 

IEC 60320 C14 CONNECTOR (MALE)

The IEC 60320 C14 is a grounded 3 Wire Plug rated up to 250V and 15 Amps. The C14 mates with a C13 outlet, typically found on Data Center/IT specific PDUs (Power Distribution Unit). The most common configuration for a C14 is in a jumper cable scenario, providing power from a PDU to IT Equipment.

IEC 60320 C15 CONNECTOR (FEMALE)

The IEC 60320 C15 is a grounded 3 Wire connector rated up to 250V & 10 Amps Internationally and 125V/250V & 15 Amps in North America. The C15 mates with a C16 inlet as well as a C14 Inlet and is commonly used in a jumper cable scenario in IT Installations providing power from a PDU to a server, router, switch or other computing devices. The C15 is a HIGH-TEMPERATURE connector rated up to 120°C, unlike the 70°C rating of the C13. The C15 is commonly used in electric kettles and other household appliances that involve higher temperatures than a normal C13 is made to withstand.

North American Applications

These cord sets are available for North American applications in 10 amp, 13 amp, and 15 amp ratings to meet the specific equipment current draw requirements of various applications. C14 to C15 cords are manufactured with 18 AWG (10A), 16 AWG (13A) or 14 AWG (15A) conductors and are finished with a flexible but robust SJT outer jacket. The maximum voltage ratings of all the above cords is 250 volts regardless of the conductor size. Black is the most common production color, however, they are available in a wide range of colors. Commonly used colors are red, blue, green, yellow, gray and white.

IEC 60320 Standard

Interchangeability of different manufacturers’ products is ensured by supplying cord sets which adhere to the internationally accepted standards as established by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). IEC standard 60320 specifies the dimensions and arrangement of the pins on the C14 male plug as well as the dimensions and arrangement of the sockets on the C15 female connector. The C15 and C16 are both rated for use up to 120°C which makes them ideally suited to rack environments that often contain densely packed cords.

P-Lock Locking Cables

P-Lock power cables are used in a variety of applications that require additional assurance that the power cable will not become disconnected from the PDU (power distribution unit). All standard IEC 60320 power cables are designed to snuggly fit into their receptacle, however, external forces such as vibration or human interference may exceed the amount of force a standard outlet/plug are designed to withstand without disconnecting.  P-Lock power cables feature tabs on the outside of the C14 male plug, which, when used with a mating P-Lock C13 outlet, snap into place to ensure the cable does not become disconnected. To disconnect a P-Lock cable, simply squeeze the tabs on either side of the plug and pull away from the outlet. 

Safety and Certifications

Safety is ensured through the use of an independent nationally recognized testing laboratory (NTRL). Every cord is tested for continuity, polarity and dielectric voltage-withstand (Hi-Pot). Cords that are intended for use in the United States will be marked with the Underwriters Laboratories’ (UL) mark. Cords that are approved for use in Canada will carry the cUL mark or the Canadian Standards Associations’ CSA mark. Cords that are designed for use outside of the United States and Canada will have the approval mark that is specific to the country in which the power cord is being utilized, i.e., a cord set intended for use in Germany will have the VDE safety marking.