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IEC 60320 Connector Guide

Complete specifications for every IEC 60320 coupler family. Temperature ratings, ampacity tables, derating curves, and application guidance for data center and industrial use. Updated 2025.

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Connector Specifications

IEC 60320 Connector Families

Specifications for every coupler family. Physical fit does not mean correct specification — always match the temperature and ampacity rating to the application.

  • C13 / C14 — Most Common · 10A · 250V · 70°C

    Server, networking equipment, PDUs — the most widely used connector in IT infrastructure. C13 = female connector (cord end). C14 = male inlet on equipment. The dominant pairing in data center applications. Not suitable for hot-aisle temperatures above 35°C under continuous load above 7A.

  • C15 / C16 — High-Temp · 10A · 250V · 120°C

    High-temperature environments — hot-aisle cord runs, high-density switches, routers, PDU inlets. Physically identical to C13/C14 except for a small notch at the bottom of the C15 connector. C15 fits C14 and C16 inlets. Required for Cisco, Juniper, and Arista high-density chassis. Use when ambient exceeds 35°C under load above 7A.

  • C15A / C16A — Extreme-Temp · 10A · 250V · 155°C

    Industrial/appliance applications with extreme ambient temperatures. Uncommon in standard data center applications. Used where ambient temperatures regularly exceed 80°C, such as industrial control enclosures or certain HVAC equipment.

  • C19 / C20 — High Current · 16A · 250V · 70°C

    High-power servers, UPS output connections, PDU feeds, GPU servers drawing 1.5–3 kW per inlet. C19 = female connector. C20 = male inlet. Required for any equipment drawing over 10A. Widely used for PDU-to-UPS connections and high-power 1U/2U servers. Standard for AI accelerator servers including NVIDIA H100 and A100 variants.

  • C21 / C22 — AI Racks · 16A · 250V · 120°C

    High-power, high-temperature — AI server inlets in dense GPU racks, high-load PDU connections in hot-aisle environments. The correct specification for AI compute racks above 30 kW where hot-aisle temperatures exceed 35°C. Combines the 16A capacity of C19/C20 with the 120°C rating of C15/C16.

  • C5 / C6 — Consumer · 2.5A · 250V · 70°C

    Laptops, small printers, projectors, consumer electronics. The “mickey mouse” or “cloverleaf” connector. Rarely seen in data center environments except for very small UPS units or KVM accessories.

  • C7 / C8 — Consumer · 2.5A · 250V · 70°C

    Laptop power supplies, certain audio/video equipment, small appliances. Figure-8 or “shotgun” connector. The figure-8 shape prevents incorrect insertion. Occasionally used for KVM switch power in small deployments.

Compatibility Matrix

Which plugs fit which inlets. Physical fit does not mean correct specification — always match the temperature and ampacity rating to the application.

Plug (Cord)C14 InletC16 InletC20 InletC22 Inlet
C13 plug✓ Fits✓ Fits——
C15 plug⚠ Fits*✓ Fits——
C19 plug——✓ Fits✓ Fits
C21 plug——⚠ Fits*✓ Fits

* Physically fits but the plug has a higher temperature rating than required by the inlet — this is safe. The problem is using a lower-rated plug (C13) in a higher-rated inlet (C16 on hot-aisle equipment). That fits, but is not correct for the application.

Temperature Derating Table

Maximum continuous current capacity decreases as ambient temperature increases. Based on NEC correction factors for 60°C-rated conductors. Apply the 80% rule: multiply derated capacity by 0.80 for continuous loads.

Ambient TempCorrectionC13/C14 (10A rated)C19/C20 (16A rated)Notes
25°C (77°F)1.0010.0A16.0AStandard rated condition
30°C (86°F)0.949.4A15.0AMild hot aisle
35°C (95°F)0.888.8A14.1AWarm hot aisle — C13 marginal above 7A load
40°C (104°F)0.828.2A13.1ATypical containment hot aisle — C15 required for >7A
45°C (113°F)0.757.5A12.0ADense deployment hot aisle — C15/C21 required
50°C (122°F)0.676.7A10.7AHigh-density AI rack hot aisle — C21/C22 required

Source: NEC Table 310.15(B)(2)(a) correction factors applied to IEC 60320 rated capacities. Values shown are maximums before the 80% continuous load rule. For continuous loads, multiply by 0.80.

Application Guide by Rack Density

Standard Density (1–12 kW per rack)

Traditional servers drawing 100–400W each. C13/C14 at 18 AWG or 16 AWG is appropriate for most equipment. Verify load does not exceed 8A per cord with the 80% continuous rule. PDU feeds may be C19/C20 depending on PDU ampacity.

High Density (12–30 kW per rack)

Modern multi-core servers and high-density storage. Individual servers often 500–1000W. C15/C16 for any equipment in hot-aisle-containment environments. C19/C20 for servers with 12–16A inlets. 16 AWG minimum conductors. Locking connectors recommended.

AI/GPU Density (30–132 kW per rack)

NVIDIA H100, A100, and similar AI accelerators. Multiple 2–3 kW power supplies per unit. C21/C22 at 16A for equipment in hot aisles. C19/C20 for cooler environments. 14 AWG or 12 AWG conductors. Locking C19/C21 mandatory to prevent accidental disconnection in critical AI workloads. Thermographic inspection recommended quarterly.

Extreme Density (132–240+ kW per rack)

NVIDIA GB200 NVL72 and next-generation AI clusters. Power distribution at this density typically moves to 480V distribution with per-rack power conversion. Standard IEC 60320 cord infrastructure applies at the server-to-PDU level. Engage power distribution specialists for rack-level infrastructure. All C-series connections should be C21/C22 or C19/C20 at 14 AWG minimum. Liquid cooling proximity requires C21/C22 for all nearby cord runs.

Common Mistakes

Common Specification Mistakes

The five specification errors we see most often — and how to avoid them.

Using C13 in C16 inlets on network equipment

Why it matters: C16 inlets on Cisco, Juniper, and Arista high-density switches indicate the equipment requires C15 cords for safe operation in hot-aisle environments. C13 cords fit but may be inadequate at elevated ambient temperatures.

Fix: Specify C15/C16 cords for all high-density network equipment, regardless of whether C13 physically fits.

Applying rated ampacity without derating for ambient temperature

Why it matters: IEC and UL ratings assume 25°C ambient. Hot aisles in modern data centers routinely exceed 35–45°C, which reduces safe continuous current by 12–25%.

Fix: Apply NEC correction factors for the actual ambient temperature in your hot aisle. Run the calculation before committing to a cord gauge and connector type.

Not applying the 80% continuous load rule

Why it matters: The NEC requires that continuous loads (those expected to run for 3+ hours) not exceed 80% of the circuit ampacity. Most data center equipment runs continuously.

Fix: Size cords so that the actual load is no more than 80% of the derated ampacity. A 10A C13 cord in a 40°C hot aisle derated to 8.2A should carry no more than 6.6A continuously.

Using non-locking connectors in critical single-path systems

Why it matters: Accidental cord disconnection is a leading cause of single-server and small-cluster outages. A cord pull during maintenance, cable management work, or even cleaning can cause downtime.

Fix: Use locking connectors (P-Lock, Z-Lock, A-Lock) for any equipment that does not have dual-path redundant power. Verify locking cord compatibility with your PDU model before ordering.

Ordering standard lengths without accounting for installation requirements

Why it matters: A cord that is 2 feet too long does not just look messy — it creates impediments to airflow, makes cable management difficult, and creates tripping hazards during maintenance.

Fix: Measure actual rack-to-PDU distances before ordering. Order cords 6–12 inches longer than the measured distance to allow for routing. Avoid excess length beyond that.

Need IEC 60320 cords for your deployment?

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Browse IEC 60320 cordsSpec a custom configuration