Specifying International Cords
Selection of the appropriate power cord (plug or connector on cable) or cordset (plug, connector on cable) for each export market is one of the easiest steps the equipment designer takes to assure the product can be easily plugged-in and used by their global customers.

Choosing a cord involves four steps:
1. Identify the correct plug for the country
2. Determine the desired rating of the power cord or cordset
3. Choose the correct cable
4. If a cordset, choose IEC 60320 power connector

World Plug and Socket Standards
There are 13 standard plug/socket patterns used throughout the world for Class I (grounded) and Class II (ungrounded) applications with current ratings from 2.5–16A depending on country and agency. These standards are Continental Europe, Europlug, Argentina, Australia, China, Denmark, India/South Africa, Israel, Italy, Japan, North America, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom/Ireland. See the Guide to Worldwide Plugs and Socket Patterns.

100% of Interpower Cords are Tested Back to the top 
Cords and cordsets are tested using the following procedures:
1. Ground continuity is determined at 25A.
2. Polarity and continuity are checked on each conductor to assure that line is connected to line, neutral to neutral, and ground to ground.
3. High voltage breakdown tests are performed at 2500VAC
for one second between the primary conductors and ground conductor.
4. All plugs, connectors and cable are visually inspected for surface quality, molding flash, markings, etc.
5. Length of cords/cordsets is checked on a random sample basis.

Measuring Power Cords and Cordsets
Interpower Corporation measures its power cords from the face of the connector or plug, not including pins, to the end of the cable, stripped or not. See illustration below.

Interpower cordsets are measured from the face of the connector to the face of the plug, not including pins. See illustration below.


Power Connections in Developing Countries Back to the top 
Information on electrical systems used in developing countries is imprecise. Formal electrical standards, where they exist, frequently do not cover plugs and sockets or are ignored in the marketplace. Furthermore, with regard to voltages and frequencies, power generating and distribution systems have been installed at various times by different contractors. These systems occasionally produce power at different frequencies and provide different voltages for final distribution. Therefore, some cities—even individual buildings in those cities—may be supplied by two or more generating plants and power distribution systems, each with a different single-phase voltage and frequency.

Most third world electrical distribution systems are ungrounded. Three-contact, grounded plugs, while mateable with the sockets, are not necessarily providing the expected equipment ground. An alternative method of equipment ground is advisable in these cases.

An ungrounded version of the North American NEMA 5-15 plug is commonly used in Central America and parts of South America. It is, therefore, common for equipment users to use a Class I to Class II adapter similar to Interpower part number 88100011. Interpower Corporation does not recommend cutting off the ground pin so that the plug can be mated with a two-pole, ungrounded socket. Another common international standard is the Europlug, an ungrounded version of the Continental European (German Schuko) standard.

IEC 60320 Power Connections Back to the top 
Whenever a detachable cordset is used, the mating connector must be included in the specification for the equipment. The connectors used throughout most of the world are defined in the IEC publication 60320. A common example is described as the standard sheets C13 (connector) and C14 (inlet). The C13 is rated by most agencies for service 10A at 70°C. UL and CSA allows its use up to 15A (220–240VAC). Cordsets with molded-on cable connectors are available for most countries. These detachable cordsets make it easy for manufacturers to export products by using international plugs with the common IEC 60320 C13 connector.

For lower amperages, IEC provides 2.5A connectors, either grounded or ungrounded. The grounded IEC 60320 C5 (connector) and C6 (inlet) are available with nine international plugs in this catalog. IEC 60320 C7 (connector) and C8 (inlet) are the ungrounded 2.5A connection. The C7 is commonly used with the Europlug and is available with five other international plugs. The C5, C6, C7, and C8 are rated at 70°C.

The IEC 60320 standard C19 (connector) and C20 (inlet), describes a connector rated at 16A/250VAC (20A in North America). It is rated at 70°C and permits detachable power connections for higher amperage requirements.

Accessory power connections, described in IEC 60320-2-2, can be powered almost anywhere in the world by using the accessory power system based on the international IEC 60320 connector pattern. Both 10–15A and 16–20A rated models are available.

The NEMA 5-15R socket used by North American manufacturers for accessory power applications is not recommended for use on exported products.

Cable Considerations Back to the top 
Determine jacket abrasion resistance needed for use on your product. Interpower power cords and cordsets are PVC jacketed and generally rated for use in off-the-floor office situations (Note: we can prepare made-to-order cable assemblies with rubber or TPE cable for harder service usage. Contact us for more information). See Cable Recommendations section for assistance in specifying cable.

Shielded Cords
The use of shielded cords and cordsets on products that will be sold internationally presents special problems from an agency approval point of view. The reason is that shielded cords are not specifically covered by existing cable standards. The equipment manufacturer may be forced to incur the extra costs in getting an application approval to use the shielded cordset. VDE has tested and approved shielded cordsets in the past and therefore in Germany, at least, this may not be an overwhelming problem. Other countries, however, may not accept shielded cordsets. In general, shielded cords should be avoided whenever possible. Shielded cords are available only on a special order basis.

Power Cords and Cordsets Approvals and Markings Back to the top 
Most international and North American agencies test and approve molded plugs separately from molded appliance connectors. The agencies normally specify on the approval documents a limited range of cable types, which are acceptable for use with molded plugs or IEC 60320 connectors. A typical cordset will have two or three separate approval documents. One will describe the molded plug and the type(s) of cable that is (are) acceptable. The second will reference the molded connector, again with reference to one or more specific cable types. The third will cover the cable itself.

Specific World Requirements
• Europe—Most European agencies require that agency markings be molded directly into molded plugs and connectors. The cable itself will have the required marks either on the jacket or on the primary insulation. Alternatively it will incorporate a color-coded thread to identify the manufacturer.

• Australia—The Australian agencies require that an approval number be molded into the plug and appliance connector and that the cable be surface marked with information that also includes this approval number.

• United States—UL does not require that their mark be molded directly into the cord; however, it does require surface marking of the cable with the manufacturer’s file number. Furthermore, cords are normally be tagged on the cartons or in bundles with markings that conform to UL regulations.

• Canada—CSA’s requirements are similar to UL’s except that they require a CSA label on each cord that conforms to CSA requirements.

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