International IEC Plug Type M Power Cables | 15 Amp South African & Indian Power
Reference guide:International power connector guide →
14
configurations
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Made to order250 voltsSABSVDEENECColor — Black
Length — 6 Feet
- Made to order250 voltsSABSCEBECKEMA
Color — Black
Length — 2.5 meters
Made to order250 voltsSABSVDEENECColor — Black
Length — 6 Feet
- Made to order250 voltsSABSKEMAHKSI
Color — Black
Length — 6 Feet
Made to order250 voltsSABSRoHSColor — Black
Length — 6 Feet
- Made to order
Color — Black
Length — 6 Feet
Made to order250 voltsSABSCEBECKEMAColor — Black
Length — 2.5 meters
- Made to order250 voltsSABSVDEENEC
Color — Black
Length — 3.0 meters
Made to order250 voltsComponent ApprovalsRoHSColor — Black
Length — 1.0 meter
Made to order250 voltsSABSCEBECKEMAColor — Black
Length — 2.5 meters
Made to order250 voltsSABSCEBECKEMAColor — Black
Length — 2.5 meters
Made to order250 voltsSABSVDECEBECColor — Black
Length — 2.5 meters
Made to order250 voltsSABSVDEENECColor — Black
Length — 2.5 meters
About International IEC Plug Type M Power Cables
India plug type M IA16A3 power cables.
The India power cables are rated for 250 Volts 16 Amperes of power and are built under the same standard as South Africa (BS546 Old English). The ground pin, located above the two-line pins is 28.9mm (about 1.14 in) long and 8.7mm (about 0.34 in) wide. The two identical and horizontally spaced line pins are 7mm wide and 19mm (about 0.75 in) long. This configuration was the Old English style plug, that has since been replaced for type G in the UK however it is still the standard for India IS694.
C19 power cord South African SANS 164-1 (BS546) typical use case scenario.
The South African SANS 164-1 (BS546) 3 Pin Plug is a 2-pole grounded power connection plug rated for 250 Volts and 16 Amperes of power. These Type M to C19 power cables are the primary source of power for larger devices. If your equipment requires about 15 amperes of power or more, you will likely need the C19 connector. Before purchasing, ensure that your equipment power inlet has the C20 Power Inlet that will mate with the C19. Our standard length is 2.5 Meters, with a 1.5mm2 H05VV-F Black Cordage.
The plugs and connectors in this collection
What each end is, what it mates with, and where to find every cord built on it.
Plug · International
South Africa SANS 164-1 (BS546) 3Pin 16A (LARGE) Type M
- 16 Amps
- 250 volts
On 13 of the cords here (93%)
The SANS 164-1 16A plug type configuration is rate for 250VAC and 16 Amps in South Africa. The plug type was previously know as BS546 (Old-English) configuration, and is the standard plug type for larger appliances in South Africa. The plug type is also referred to as the international type M.
Mates with SANS 164-1 16A Outlet
You are on the South Africa SANS 164-1 (BS546) 3Pin 16A (LARGE) Type M family page.
Connector · IEC 60320
IEC 60320 C13
- 15 Amps
- 125/250V
On 3 of the cords here (21%)
The IEC 60320 C13 is a grounded 3 Wire connector rated up to 250V and 15 Amps. The C13 mates with a C14 inlet, and is commonly used in a jumper cable scenario in IT Installations providing power from a PDU to a server, router, switch or other computing device. Most people know the C13 as 'the thing that plugs into my computer' because it is the standard connector used to power most desktop computers. In a desktop computer application, the most common cable is the NEMA 5-15P to C13, which connects your standard North American wall outlet to a desktop computer.
Mates with IEC 60320 C14 Inlet
Connector · IEC 60320
IEC 60320 C5
- 10 Amps
- 250 volts
On 2 of the cords here (14%)
The IEC 60320 C5 is a grounded 3 Wire connector rated up to 250V and 2.5 Amps Internationally or 125V and 10 Amps in North America. The C5 mates with a C6 inlet, and is commonly used for laptop power supplies, projectors, and some televisions. Being slightly smaller in size than the C13, the C5 can be a good choice for smaller appliances. This connector is sometimes referred to as a "Mickey Mouse" connector due to the shape of the connector looking similar to the kids television show character.
Mates with IEC 60320 C6 Inlet
Connector · IEC 60320
IEC 60320 C7
- 10 Amps
- 125 volts
On 2 of the cords here (14%)
The IEC 60320 C7 is an ungrounded 2 Wire connector rated up to 250V and 2.5 Amps Internationally or 125V and 10 Amps in North America. The C7 mates with a C8 inlet, and is commonly used for laptop power supplies, video game consoles, televisions, and other double-insulated small appliances. This connector is sometimes referred to as a "Figure-8" or "Shotgun" connector due to it's shape. A variation of the C7 exists, sometimes referred to as a C7P or C7 Polarized, although it is not documented in the IEC 60320 standard. The C7P has one square side and one circular side so the connector only mates with the inlet using the correct pin configuration.
Mates with IEC 60320 C8 Inlet
Connector · IEC 60320
IEC 60320 C19
- 20 Amps
- 125/250V
On 2 of the cords here (14%)
The IEC 60320 C19 is a grounded 3 Wire connector rated up to 250V and 20 Amps. The C19 mates with a C20 inlet, and is commonly used in a jumper cable scenario in IT Installations providing power from a PDU to a server, router, switch or other computing device. The C19 is typically used in high powered blade server chassis, large network routers, and other IT equipment that draws more power than a standard C13 can accommodate.
Mates with IEC 60320 C20 Inlet
Connector · IEC 60320
IEC 60320 C13 Right Angle
- 15 Amps
- 125/250V
On 1 of the cords here (7%)
The IEC 60320 C13 is a grounded 3 Wire connector rated up to 250V and 15 Amps. The C13 mates with a C14 inlet, and is commonly used in a jumper cable scenario in IT Installations providing power from a PDU to a server, router, switch or other computing device. Most people know the C13 as 'the thing that plugs into my computer' because it is the standard connector used to power most desktop computers. In a desktop computer application, the most common cable is the NEMA 5-15P to C13, which connects your standard North American wall outlet to a desktop computer. With the ground at 12:00 and looking at the back of the C13 (when plugged in), the cord exits at 3:00 (to the right).
Mates with IEC 60320 C14 Inlet
About International IEC Plug Type M Power Cables | 15 Amp South African & Indian Power
The IEC Type M Power Cords are the heavier duty Type D (10 Amp Rated) plug type, and are rated for 250VAC and 15 Amps of power. They are used in many places globally but are know specifically for South Africa and India power. The South Africa SANS 164-1 and India IS 1293 are the same specifications for the design of the plug and have 3 pins, with a larger ground pin located above the 2 matching line pins.
What Is a Type M (BS546) Plug and Where Is It Used?
The IEC Type M plug — also known as the BS546 large-format plug — is a three-pin, 250 V / 16 A grounded plug used primarily in South Africa (under SANS 164-1) and India (under IS 694). It is the heavy-duty counterpart to the smaller Type D plug and is required for higher-current appliances and equipment.
Key physical dimensions
- Ground pin: 28.9 mm long × 8.7 mm wide (located above the two line pins)
- Line pins: 19 mm long × 7 mm wide, horizontally spaced
Common use cases
- Servers and networking equipment shipped to South Africa or India
- High-current appliances (≥ 15 A) requiring a C19 outlet end
- Laptops and projectors using a C5 or C7 outlet end at lower current draws
Certifications on this page
Cords in this collection carry SABS (South Africa), BIS (India), VDE, KEMA, CEBEC, ENEC, and RoHS approvals — ensuring compliance for both local sale and export.
Related
Current rating
2.5–16 Amps
Voltage rating
250 volts
Certifications & compliance
- SABS
- VDE
- ENEC
- CE
- Every cord we build is hi-pot tested
- Same-day shipping by 2:30 PM ET
- NET 30/60/90 for approved accounts
- In-house engineering and compliance support
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between a Type M and a Type D plug?
- Both Type M and Type D are South African / Indian BS546-family plugs with the same triangular pin layout, but they differ in size and current rating:Type D (BS546 small): rated for 5 A; used for light-duty appliancesType M (BS546 large): rated for 16 A; used for heavy-duty appliances and equipment requiring higher currentThe two plug types are not interchangeable — a Type M plug will not fit a Type D socket.
- Which IEC 60320 connector end do I need for my server or PDU?
- The right IEC 60320 connector depends on your equipment's inlet:C13 — mates with a C14 inlet; standard for servers, switches, and routers up to 15 AC19 — mates with a C20 inlet; used for high-powered blade servers and large PDUs up to 16 A (on this collection)C5 — mates with a C6 inlet; used for laptops and projectors (2.5 A internationally)C7 — mates with a C8 inlet; used for double-insulated small appliances (2.5 A internationally)Check your equipment's power inlet label before ordering.
- Are these Type M cords approved for use in South Africa and India?
- Yes. Cords in this collection carry the approvals required for both markets:South Africa: SABS certification under SANS 164-1 (BS546)India: BIS certification under IS 694Additional international marks — VDE, KEMA, CEBEC, ENEC, SEMKO, NEMKO, OVE, and RoHS — are present on selected cords, making them suitable for multi-country deployments.
- What lengths and cordage gauges are available?
- Stocked lengths in this collection are 1.0 m, 6 ft (≈ 1.8 m), 2.5 m, and 3.0 m. Cordage options include:0.75 mm² H03VV-F — light duty, 2.5 A1.0 mm² H05VV-F — standard duty, 10 A1.5 mm² H05VV-F — heavy duty, 16 AIf you need a length not listed (such as 10 m), World Cord Sets offers custom cable builds — use the Power Cord Configurator or contact the sales team directly.