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Technical Reference — AI Infrastructure

Saf-D-Grid Power Connector Guide

Anderson Power SDG 400: 7.2× the power of a standard C13/C14 in the same panel footprint. UL-rated for live disconnect at 400V/30A. The connector standard for high-density data-center power and switching infrastructure.

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What Saf-D-Grid is and why it exists

Saf-D-Grid is a proprietary connector system manufactured by Anderson Power Products. It was designed to solve a specific data center problem: as switch and router power densities climbed past what IEC 60320 C13/C14 (10A, 250V) could safely handle, engineers needed a connector that could deliver substantially more power in the same chassis footprint without requiring new panel cutouts or mounting hardware.

The SDG 400 (the most common Saf-D-Grid variant) delivers 400V AC or 380V DC at 30A — approximately 7.2× the power capacity of a C13/C14 connector — in a housing that fits the same 19.9 × 26.8mm panel cutout as a standard C14 inlet. It also adds three safety features that IEC 60320 lacks: integral locking, earth-first contact sequencing, and arc containment.

Technical specifications

Maximum voltage400V AC or 380V DC
Maximum current30A (SDG 400); 55–63A (SDG Max)
FootprintCompatible with IEC 60320 C14 panel cutout
Locking mechanismIntegral T-Latch — automatic on insertion
Temperature rating–55°C to +105°C
Safety standardUL 950 / IEC 60950 compliant
Ground designEarth conductors mate first, disconnect last
Hot-swap ratedUL-rated for disconnect under full load
HousingArc containment — protects personnel during live mating
Part numberingColor-coded by polarity: black = standard; red = 24VDC (with adapter)

Saf-D-Grid vs. IEC 60320 C13/C14

AspectIEC 60320 C13/C14Saf-D-Grid SDG 400
Voltage250V max (IEC 60320)400V AC / 380V DC
Current10A (C13/C14) / 16A (C19/C20)30A (SDG 400)
Power delivery2,500W (C13) / 5,000W (C19)12,000W (SDG 400 at 400V/30A)
FootprintC14 inlet — 19.9 × 26.8mmSame C14 footprint
LockingNone (standard); retrofit availableIntegral T-Latch — always locked
Hot-swapNot rated for live disconnectUL-rated for live disconnect at full load
Ground sequenceSimultaneous with line conductorsEarth mates first, disconnects last

Safety features explained

  • Integral T-Latch

    The locking mechanism is built into the connector housing — there is no unlocked state. The T-Latch engages automatically on insertion and requires a deliberate two-finger press to release. Pull-out force exceeds 200N.

  • Earth-first contact

    The ground pin is longer than the line conductors. It makes contact before power conductors on insertion and breaks last on disconnection, ensuring continuous ground path during live-swap operations.

  • Hot-swap rated

    Anderson and UL have rated the SDG 400 for disconnect under full 400V/30A load. The arc containment housing captures and extinguishes the arc when disconnecting under load, protecting both the connector and personnel.

  • Arc containment

    The connector housing is designed to contain the electrical arc that occurs when breaking a live circuit. This is the primary reason Saf-D-Grid requires no load-shedding before maintenance on compatible equipment.

Equipment using Saf-D-Grid inlets

This list covers the most common Saf-D-Grid deployments. Always verify the specific model's power supply spec before ordering.

BrandModels / Product lines
CiscoNCS 5000 series, NCS 5500, Nexus 9000 (NXA-PHV power shelf), Nexus 3000 high-density
Arista7280R, 7500R, 7800R chassis — high-density switching line cards
JuniperPTX10008, QFX10016, MX10016 — select chassis with 400V DC distribution
HitachiVirtual Storage Platform (VSP) G-series, F-series
Brocade / ExtremeSLX 9850, SLX 9640 chassis
Various OEM serversSystems with 400V DC input modules for high-density compute

Shop Saf-D-Grid power cords

C14-to-Saf-D-Grid and C20-to-Saf-D-Grid — in stock, same-day shipping.

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