C20 C13 Power Cables

General Information

IEC 60320 C20 to C13 power cords are used primarily to conduct electrical power from a C19 power outlet to a C14 power inlet. The C20 male plug on the cable mates to a C19 power outlet on a power strip or power distribution unit (PDU). The C13 female connector end on the cable mates to a C14 power inlet on your equipment.

IEC 60320 C20 CONNECTOR (MALE)

The IEC 60320 C20 is a grounded 3 Wire Plug rated up to 250V and 20 Amps. The C20 mates with a C19 outlet, typically found on Data Center/IT specific PDUs (Power Distribution Unit). The most common configuration for a C20 is in a jumper cable scenario, providing power from a PDU to a blade server chassis, high powered server, large network router, or similar device.

IEC 60320 C13 CONNECTOR (FEMALE)

The IEC 60320 C13 is a grounded 3 Wire connector rated up to 250V and 15 Amps. The C13 mates with 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. Most people know the C13 as 'the thing that plugs into my computer' because it is the standard connector used to power most desktop computers. In a desktop computer application, the most common cable is the NEMA 5-15P to C13, which connects your standard North American wall outlet to a desktop computer.

North American Applications

These cord sets are available for North American applications with a 15 amp rating. C20 to C13 cords are manufactured with 14 AWG (15A) conductors and are finished with a flexible but robust SJT outer jacket. The maximum voltage rating is 250 volts. 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 C13 female connector. The C13 and C20 are both rated for use up to 70°C.

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 C20 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. 

Common brands of PDUs that have P-Lock outlet are Raritan, Server Technology, and Geist.

A-Lock Locking Cables

A-Lock locking cables are feature a locking mechanism on the C13 (female) equipment end of the cable. The locking C13 squeezes the ground pin of the C20 inlet on your equipment to provide extra resistance to disconnections. A-Lock cables do not require a proprietary inlet to lock, and therefore, are considered a Universal Locking mechanism. A-Lock cables do not feature a locking mechanism on the plug end of the cable.

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.