What is an AC power cord and what does a complete cord set include?

An AC power cord connects mains power to equipment and consists of a wall plug, a flexible cable and either an IEC 60320 appliance connector or stripped and tinned ends. A cord set has both a molded plug and an appliance connector for immediate use.

How do I choose an AC power cord for a specific country?

Match the national plug standard and its certification: NEMA with UL or cUL for the USA and Canada, CEE 7 with VDE or TUV for Europe, BS 1363 with BSI or ASTA for the UK, AS/NZS 3112 with SAA for Australia, and JIS with PSE for Japan.

What is the difference between a power cord and a power cord set?

A cord set is factory molded with both a plug and an appliance coupler and is ready to connect, while a power cord or open-wire harness may have a plug on one end and stripped, tinned or crimped ends for internal wiring.

Which IEC 60320 connectors are most common?

Common connectors include the 2.5A C7 figure-eight and C5 cloverleaf, the 10A C13 used on most computers and monitors, and the 16A C19 for servers and high-power equipment, each paired with a matching C8, C6, C14 or C20 inlet.

How do voltage, current and wire size affect cord selection?

The cord must meet the equipment voltage, commonly 125V or 250V, and current such as 2.5A, 10A, 13A, 15A or 16A. The conductor cross-section in AWG or mm2 must carry that current, and longer cords may need a larger conductor to limit voltage drop and heating.

Are custom lengths, colors and private-label cords available?

Yes. We offer OEM cord sets with custom lengths, jacket colors, connector orientations and branded labels or packaging, typically with an MOQ of 200 to 1,000 pieces and the required national certification.