A power cord or mains cable is a cable that temporarily connects an electrical appliance to an electrical power source. The term is generally used for cables using a power plug to connect to a single-phase alternating current power source at "mains voltage" (100 to 240 volts, depending on the location). The terms power cable, mains lead or flex are also used. The term cord set is also used to distinguish those cords that include connectors molded to the cord at each end. Electric egg beater Small appliance refers to a class of home appliances that are semi-portable or which are used on tabletops, countertops, or other platforms. ... CEE 7/7 plug and socket Domestic AC power plugs and sockets allow a connection between the mains (domestic, usually single-phase, AC electrical power) and the appliances commonly used in homes. ... City lights viewed in a motion blurred exposure. ... Mains may mean or refer to, or be a subject of: Mains electricity Electricity transmission Public utility, about mains services, including electricity, natural gas, water, and sewage disposal Mains (Scotland), about the central steading of a townland BMX racing See also: Main Mane Category: ... International safety symbol Caution, risk of electric shock (ISO 3864), colloquially known as high voltage symbol. ...

Power cords from those countries that use 110 V mains supply (chiefly the United States, Canada, parts of South America and Japan) tend to be bulkier than the mains cables used in the rest of the world, because of the higher currents required to deliver the same power (watts) at 110&nbspV compared with 230 V. South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... The watt (symbol: W) is the SI derived unit of power, equal to one joule per second. ...

Power cables may be either fixed or detachable from the appliance. In the case of detachable leads, the appliance end of the power cord has a socket (female connector) rather than a plug (male connector) to link it to the appliance, to avoid the dangers from having a live protruding pin. Cords may also have twist-locking features, or other attachments to prevent accidental disconnection at one or both ends.

Common types of detachable power cable have appliance-side connectors such as the IEC 60320 C13 sometimes colloquially known as an "IEC connector" or "IBM plug" (commonly used for higher current appliances where an earth or ground connection is required) and IEC 60320 C7 commonly used for low-current applications such as an power supply inlet for use with a laptop computer. The IEC C7 is also known as a "figure-of-eight lead" (connecting by two small round pins, with round insulating bushings; the connector has a figure-of-eight cross section). The polarised IEC 60320 C5 connector is now commonly used on the AC side of laptop computer power supplies. The IEC C5 is commonly known as "cloverleaf plug" or "Mickey Mouse plug" because of the shape of its cross section. IEC connector is the common name for the set of thirteen line sockets (called the connector in the specification) and thirteen panel plugs (called the inlet) defined by International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) specification IEC 60320. ... Big Blue redirects here. ... IEC connector is the common name for the set of thirteen line sockets (called the connector in the specification) and thirteen panel plugs (called the inlet) defined by International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) specification IEC 60320. ... An electronic power supply, often referred to somewhat incorrectly as an AC adaptor, is an electronic device that produces direct current of a particular voltage and current from a source of electricity such as a battery or wall-socket power. ... Laptop with touchpad. ... IEC connector is the common name for the set of thirteen line sockets (called the connector in the specification) and thirteen panel plugs (called the inlet) defined by International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) specification IEC 60320. ... Cloverleaf may refer to: a highway cloverleaf interchange the leaf of a clover plant This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Mickey Mouse is an Academy Award-winning comic animal cartoon character who has become a symbol for The Walt Disney Company. ...

IEC power cables come in high-temperature and low-temperature variants, as well as various current capacities. The connectors have slightly different shapes to ensure that it is not possible to substitute a cable with a lower temperature or current rating, but that it is possible to use an over-rated cable. Cords also have different types of exterior jackets available to accommodate environmental variables such as moisture, temperature, oils, sunlight, flexibility, and heavy wear. For example, a heating appliance may come with a cord designed to withstand accidental contact with heated surfaces.

Note that the same types of connectors are used with both 110 V and 230 V power cables, so care must be used when moving appliances between countries with different voltage standards — substituting a power cord that matches local power outlets will result in an incorrect voltage being applied to the appliance or equipment. Unless explicitly labelled as capable of handling local voltages, this is very likely to damage or destroy the appliance.

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See also

• Alternating current (AC)
• Domestic AC power plugs and sockets
• Chart of plugs for each country
• Extension cord, extension lead
• Power cable
• Power strip
• Power supply

City lights viewed in a motion blurred exposure. ... CEE 7/7 plug and socket This article covers only plugs and sockets intended for common domestic use. ... This is a list of countries and territories, with the plugs, voltages and frequencies they use for providing electrical power to small appliances and some major appliances. ... An extension cord (also known as a power extender or an extension lead) is a length of flexible electrical cable (flex) with a plug on one end and one or more sockets on the other end (usually of the same type as the plug). ... A power cable is an assembly of two or more electrical conductors, usually held together with an overall sheath. ... French/Belgian power strip — top A power strip (also known as a plug board, power board, power bar, distribution board, gangplug or multibox) is a strip of sockets that attaches to the end of a flexible cable and allows multiple devices to be plugged in. ... A wall wart style variable DC power supply with its cover removed. ...

External links

• Technical details and explanation (PDF) -bilingual (German/English)