White Paper Mating Connectors IEC Appliance Couplers Safe, Power Supply System Selection made easy Detachable power systems (Appliance couplers) according to IEC 60320 provide a great deal of flexibility and efficiency. Products must comply with the strictest safety agency re- quirements to ensure user safety, while responding to the increasing need for user-friend- liness. In SCHURTER's portfolio, this product line plays a central role [1]. Our website's "Mating Connectors" [2] service provides support in selecting the right detachable power configuration by simplifying product selection. ; Power Entry Module Appliance Inlet Appliance Outlet Power Outlet (Mains Socket) Power Plug (Mains Plug) Power Supply Cord Rewireable Connector Interconnection Cord Cord Retaining Clamp Figure 1: Application example including standard terms Detachable power connectors are used in office equipment, in measurement instruments, in IT environments and in medical devices, among many other types of equipment for worldwide distribution. Therefore, each appliance's power system must be adapted to country-specific conditions (e.g. different power plugs in the US, Germany, the UK, etc.). This, in turn, entails differences in the requirements placed on the appliances from the beginning of the life cycle to assembly and testing to logistics and field maintenance. In contrast to hard-wired power components, detachable power systems make it easier to comply with these diverse requirements, thereby minimizing cost and expenses in each phase of the product's life. These trends toward power harmonization are reasons why the need for appliance couplers Figure 1 illustrates the great variety of detachable power systems (appliance couplers) and the different components. ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS

Mating Connectors White Paper The individual terms shown in figure 1 are explained below: used for connecting an electrical appliance to the power supply (mains). Appliance coupler means a device for connecting a flexible power supply cord to an appliance or another type of installation. An appliance coupler consists of an appliance inlet and a connector. Interconnection cord means a structural unit consisting of a flexible cord fitted with a plug and a connector built for interconnecting or disconnecting any appliance or installation with/ from any other appliance or installation using a power...

White Paper Mating Connectors - fewer product types - better process - easy handling - universal test setups - limited temporary - easy handling other countries better hazard for better efficiency, flexibility, safety Figure 3: Advantages of appliance couplers Standards Overview Power supply safety is crucial from the users' well as its sub-standards create a binding agreement, defining the mechanical, electrical and thermal requirements and safety goals of a detachable power system (appliance couplers) and by establishing a common base for combining components with different origins, thus eliminating...

White Paper Mating Connectors Table 1: Standard's definition Table 1 shows the various main criteria and their specific values according to the standard's Nominal current: The standard, instead of 'nominal current', uses the term 'rated current'. It defines the current for which the manufacturer has designed the appliance coupler. Pin temperature TP is measured where the pin projects from the engagement surface (Figure 5). The maximum permitted pin temperatures, normal ambient temperature TA1 during may occasionally reach 35°C. In other words, the pin temperature is determined essentially by...

White Paper Mating Connectors Table 3: Combinations according to IEC 60320-2-2: • Intended □ Possible ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS

Mating Connectors White Paper Mating Appliance Coupler IEC60320-1 Plugs Gender Male Symbol Type Current [A] Temperature [°C] Protection class 70 Gendre Female Table 4: Combinations according to IEC 60320-1: Intended Possible In addition to the connections within the standards, as mentioned, there are possible combinations between IEC 60320-1 and IEC 60320-2-2. Fitted with a flexible cord, the components become interconnection cords to be used for connecting appliances or for extending other interconnection cords or power supply cords. Finding the right Connection Knowing which counterpart to...

White Paper Mating Connectors Starting with an actual selection process begins. Comparing relationships ..Mating Connectors" identifies the matching components from among over 20.000 possible combinations of ..Plugs" and ..Connectors". Incrementally parametrizing the possible ..Plugs" and ..Connectors", the user selects his Connector System (Appliance Coupler) of choice (selecting, on the basis of a Figure 6: Selection of a power supply system The advantage of SCHURTER's 'Mating Connectors' tool [2] is that the user is shown every possible combination, ensuring that he finds the optimal solution...