Power connector

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A power connector is an electrical connector designed to carry a significant amount of electrical power, usually as DC or low-frequency AC. Some types of RF connector may also carry large amounts of power, but are considered as a separate category. Connectors carrying small amounts of power are known as signal connectors.

Types

• AC power plugs:
• *Mains power plugs, principally used for connecting equipment to wall outlets. See that article for information about mains electricity plugs around the world as well as information for travellers.
• *Industrial power plugs, used for larger equipment than normal mains plugs.
• DC plugs
• Mains inlet connectors, designed to attach a power cable to an appliance, of which the IEC connector (see image below) is the most common
• Battery connectors
• Lucar connectors
• Terminals
• Terminal blocks
• Industrial power connectors, of which one of the most common types is
• *the IEC 309 (BS 4343) so-called "commando" plug and socket.
• Personal computer power supply connectors
• *Molex connector — four pin hard disk drive (HDD) connectors, also used for powering CD-ROM drives, burners etc
• *Berg connector — smaller four pin floppy disk drive (FDD) connectors, also used by some hard drives, and carrying the same power supplies as the HDD connectors
• *AT motherboard connectors consisting of two in-line connectors
• *ATX motherboard connectors which have now obsoleted the older AT-style connectors
• *serial ATA (SATA) power connectors

On the left is a British mains power plug, on the right is an IEC-320 C-13 connector

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