Power cable types are innumerable. The intricacies of which type of power cable connector belongs to which appliance and gadget are complex. Some cables are wired to the appliance, while others can be detached. This generally depends on two factors: the device's portability and the appliance's voltage requirement.
So how many power connector types exist? Let's go through them! There are two main types in the US: NEMA, short for National Electrical Manufacturers Association, and IEC, short for International Electrotechnical Commission. The types of NEMA connectors are 1-15, 5-15, and 5-20, and IEC connectors are C5/C6, C7/C8, C13/C14, C15/C16, and C19/C20. NEMA A fair amount of cables contain NEMA 1-15, 5-15, or 5-20 connectors to an outlet. The older and ungrounded type of connector that has two metal prongs is the 1-15. Generally, one is a little larger than the other, but these prongs were the same size on the old cables. 1-15, which is the grounded type, has seen an update in the 5-15, which is three-pronged. 5-15 and 5-20 look similar, with the key difference being that one of the metal prongs is horizontal instead of vertical. 5-15 are not rated as high as 5-20 for amperage and are most commonly used for hospital equipment. IEC For devices that have international usage, IEC cables are used, including but not limited to computers, kitchen appliances, etc. These connectors are not referred to as male and female but given their unique number. For instance, a C6 is the male version of a C5. To avoid confusion, remember that the male side will always be even numbers, and the female side will be odd numbers. C5/C6 C5/C6 will have three circular holes connected. Frequently, these are called "Mickey Mouse" connectors because their shape bears a resemblance to the famous Mouse symbol. Most commonly, they are seen on laptop power supplies. C7/C8 C7/C8 resembles figure 8 and can be seen on older TVs, laptop power supplies, and smaller DVD players. These are generally paired with 1-15 NEMA connections. Non-polarized and polarized are the two different versions of the C7/C8. Both sides of the connector are round in the non-polarized version. One side will be flat in the polarized version. You need to make sure to figure out which version you require to guarantee the power cable will fit your device. C13/C14 C13/C14, AKA a Universal Power Cord, is the current standard for TVs and desktop computers. Older laptop power supplies, which were smaller devices, used a C13/C14. Nowadays, these smaller devices use scaled-down options like C5/C6. C15/C16 C15/C16 and C13/C14 look similar, the only difference being that C15/C16 has a notch above the prong used for grounding. C15/C16 is primarily used for high voltage equipment, like insulators. These cables are rated for high temperatures generated by extra electricity. C19/C20 A step up from C15/C16 is C19/C20, which is rated for even higher amperage. It is most commonly used in areas with abundant power running through cables, like data centers or hospitals. And these are all the most popular power cords. We stock all of them and will be happy to be your power connector supplier! Source: www.sfcable.com/blog/power-cords-101-brief-guide
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A universal cause for annoyance for anyone who has ever used an electrical device are the power cords. They are present in everything: household appliances like refrigerators and microwaves, construction tools like drillers and circular saws, and all electronic devices at a workplace, namely computers, printers, and laptops. At any given workplace, power cords can be the bane of its existence, as there are numerous for different purposes, are always strewn about, and forever present a tripping hazard.
If one is to maintain the sanity of the workplace, they must go through the given eight points for keeping power cords up to date at the workplace. 1. Storage of Cords When Not in Use As witnessed in every workplace that uses computers, power cords can be found hanging everywhere; walls and floors are covered in jumbles of cords. If one trips over these, they risk yanking them out either from the device or the socket, causing damage to both. To avoid this, we have to get in the habit of putting them away properly when not in use. We must wrap them up securely and in a way which does not fray the length or ends of the cords. Wrapping it around the elbow and then tying it is one way. But this may lead to damage. The best solution is to get a cord reel. These simple mechanical devices are easily available in the market and are the most efficient way to store power cords when not in use. 2. Invest in Wire Clips When in use, power cords are an ungainly sight at a workstation, or even under it. If they lie on top of the table, then they take up a lot of space; there’s just the computer, and three different cords on the table, and space for nothing else. You would be lucky to rest an elbow there. One can invest in a little device called the wire clip which will keep the unruly cables fixed to a surface. You can thus attach your cables to one side of the desk, or a leg of the table, and some wire clips even allow you to fix the cables on a wall. This keeps the wires out of sight, tangle-free and magically creates space on your desk for a pen stand, and your elbow. 3. Your Work Environment Matters For an efficient and damage-free workplace, one must maintain the equipment, especially the things that can easily snap and cause more harm. Your work environment is something you can control, taking into consideration whether you work in direct sunlight or not, whether the desks, chairs and such, if heavy, are not lying on the power cords or not. Both of these may seem like minor points, but the consequences, if they are not taken seriously, can be severe. Power cords themselves tend to run a little hot because of the electricity passing through them, so it’s best not to keep them around heat sources so more heat is not added to them. Exposure to more heat may lead to overheating, and sometimes even an electrical fire. Another thing one must be aware of is that no heavy furniture is resting on the cords. Prolonged weight may crush the insulation, or snap the wire entirely. 4. Do Not Use Power Cords in High Foot Traffic Area Statistics show that 20% of workplace accidents are due to power cords. People may trip and fall, causing them to fling that mug of coffee at a computer and thus frying that. It is best to avoid keeping the cords in an area where a lot of people are walking by. Cord reels and wire clips take care of half the problem as they can, essentially, gather the cables at one place, preferably away from people’s feet. Some may also wish to cover the cords with a carpet, but that also ultimately leads to damage as the cords are not given the space to let out the extra heat they generate. Also, being trampled on by hundreds of feet all day long is not ideal for anything; they may fray or bend. 5. Labeling Always Helps While labels in social context are tricky, in a workplace, they are remarkably beneficial. With the massive jumble of the same black wires everywhere, its easy to get lost in the land of cables. You may be trying to connect your laptop to one device and end up connecting to something else entirely, slowing down your work while you hunt for the correct wire. One can make little labels, or even use sticky notes, and attach it to both ends of a wire to know which end goes where. For example, you can make labels which say “NEMA 5-15p to NEMA 5-15r”, one end of which goes into the wall socket, and the other goes into the central adapter, which then connects to your laptop. This is found in most laptops. Or NEMA 5-15P to 3 NEMA 5-15R, which has a similar function. Labeling each end of your product ultimately saves you time and effort. 6. If Possible, Shorten Them Most confusion and clutters stem from the fact that cables are usually very long. This is good when one wants to sit back and work in a relaxed setting. But it just causes problems in a proper work setting. What we can do is try to shorten the length of the cable. For instance, if the cable is two feet long, then we may measure however much we wish to keep, allowing for some slack, and then tie up the rest of it and tuck it away out of hand. As and when needed, we can shorten and extend the length. We can use decorative tie ups, or just ones that are purely functional. 7. Set up Power Strips Another thing one can do is set up power strips, or extension boards. They give you more plug points, and some smart ones have the added advantage of being surge protectors. Some good ones in the market can be hung on a small nail anywhere, be it a wall or the side of, or underneath a desk. If not equipped with hanging tools, you can securely stick them to certain surfaces using double sided tape, or velcro strips. The good quality power strips can double as surge protectors. A surge protector is a device that protects your electrical device from sudden spikes in the alternating current (AC). If not for these, a random jump in the AC can damage your device beyond repair. One can use a multipurpose outlet saver power cord splitter to protect their device. 8. Remove the Slack Long wires are the cause of a lot of disgruntled workforce. Dealing with meters upon meters of wires is no fun trip, especially if you have to do it everyday. The best way around this is to get some sturdy, functional cable ties and round up the slack that remains after you have adjusted the length of the wires you actually require. This makes your workplace look more organized. These were the eight tips for you to keep your power cords up to date at your workplace, lessen the tripping hazards, and make your workplace look more organized and professional. Source: https://www.sfcable.com/blog/8-tips-keeping-power-cords-up-to-date-workplace Technology is at a turning point right now, and growing pains come with that. By 2022 we were supposed to have flying cars and wireless charging. While both are true, they are only in their initial stage. Our devices' processors are ultra-fast, but the batteries are only catching up to that requirement. The biggest requirement the tech of today demands from us is certain port sacrifices.
In an attempt to cut down on multiple cables, we now have fewer ports on our devices. However, not all peripherals have hopped on this trend. They are still using their other connectivity standards, so connecting them to a laptop can get tricky. This is where that sacrifice comes in. Instead of always simply carrying around a laptop and getting everything done on it, we have to carry around little adapters that are just the right version for what you connect via them. So here are a few dongles you need to keep around: A charging cable for your iPhone iPhones have infamously not switched to USB C. However, the Apple ecosystem, in general, is slowly but steadily adopting the universal standard. So if you want to have more than one cable that comes in the box with your phone, you need to carry around an MFI-certified USB C to Lightning sync charging cable. You can even use this with a third-party charging brick that provides fast charging. Not only for charging, but the MFI-certified USB C to Lightning sync charging cable also comes in handy when you want to sync your phone via your MacBook, which has a USB C port. This is the fastest way to transfer media within the Apple ecosystem. Ethernet adapter Ethernet connections are not as rare as in advertisements or regular use. However, anyone with a fixed setup for work or a retail POS system can benefit from a USB 3.0 to Gigabit Ethernet adapter. A wired internet connection ensures speed and reliability, both of which are crucial in something like a POS system. WIFI is, of course, preferred in terms of USB C to SD Card cable For anyone who regularly needs to transfer media files from a camera to a computer needs this cable. While there is always cloud storage and wireless transfer available, this adapter makes quick work of it. Since pretty much anyone who is a professional photographer will capture images on SD cards, it is easier for them to plug it into the laptop to edit them. SD cards are massive storage devices now, and can therefore store huge amounts of data, like RAW images. USB C to USB A dongle This is one of the most essential dongles you will ever need. Any peripheral not by a huge brand or slightly older will connect via a USB A connector. Your laptop might not have that and will have a USB C port. So a USB C to USB A dongle can bridge this gap. All of these dongles can be separated for individual functions and devices, but you can also opt for a USB hub that can connect to your laptop and give you a range of ports. If you have a stable setup, opt for individual adapters so you can easily upgrade them when required, but for a more portable requirement, a hub will work better as it is easier to add to your backpack and brings a host of options. Source: https://www.sfcable.com/blog/essentials-cable-drawer 4Nowadays, it is common practice to pair a computer with a long extension cord. But is it safe for your computers or laptops? With laptops, you don't have to think about electricity, but they can only work if you don't have any battery issues. Has the thought ever crossed your mind whether your laptop or computer is safe or not with the continuous use of an extension cord? Keep reading further to explore it yourself.
Proper Specifications: The most expensive laptop or computer cannot work if you don't use the required amperage and voltage. So, it is apparent that you will need a PC power cord. It helps provide power to computers, printers, and monitors. The general specification is that 15 Amps is a proper rating for an extension cord for computers. Apart from the amperage, it would help if you also considered voltage and wattage to determine the power rating. With voltage, you need a 120V setting in countries like the US or 240V in other countries. It would be best to keep the wattage around 1,825W to avoid potential issues. How to Find a Heavy Duty Cord? The next step after picking up a cable with a proper specification is to find a heavy-duty unit. Usually, the computer power cords come in different settings ranging from 12-18 gauge. The thing to remember here is that performance improves with a decrease in the gauge number. However, a 12 gauge cord will carry more current than the 18 gauge one. You must also choose a properly grounded design of the cord. It should have three prongs, as it is one of the safest options to use with a PC, a monitor, or a laptop. You can use SPT-1 VS SPT -2 for the same. Time to Use extension Cord: After choosing the correct specifications, you must choose the right extension cord for your computer. It would be best to place it properly so it is not bent. Also, you must place it optimally so that it is placed properly and no damage is done to it. You need to keep these cables away from the doorsteps, furniture, and carpets. In no way should these things cause damage to the cable, and also, you need to place it so that nobody trips over it and falls, so you also need to be careful with that. Safety Measures: Nowadays, since everyone uses the extension cord to run their computers and laptops, you need to ensure that you follow the safety precautions so that your computer and laptops remain healthy. Keeping all this in mind, here are a few tips to ensure that you use an extension cord, safely and constructively. Tips: 1. At any given time, DO NOT use more than one extension cord for a single device. You can use more than one clip, as it would not damage the extension cables, and you need to ensure that everything is effective and flawless. Do not plug one extension cord into another to create a longer chain of plug points. One cord can only handle the voltage of the number of sockets it has, and not of additional devices. 2. Please turn OFF the extension cord when you are not using it. It keeps the device free from heating and protects it from any damage. 3. Always PULL the PLUG, but not the cord. It would help if you pulled the cord by its plug so that the device is not into insulation or exposed to wires. 4. DO NOT use multiple power strips, a single strip is more than enough for a single device. 5. Avoid adding extension cables to add to the length, as it increases the risks of getting a fire started. 6. The longer cord handles less current. The optimal length is 100 feet for an extension cord for a computer. 7. Never touch the cords while in use. You should not play with the cord while it is plugged in, and you need to be careful that it is not even bent. 8 .Perform occasional inspections on the cord. You need to ensure that there are no damages to the cord; you can check it through a magnifying glass; even though you can repair and use the cords, the experts should do so. So, even if you have minor damage, you need to buy a new one and use it; it is also healthy for your electrical appliances. 9. DON'T plug in heavy appliances into an extension cord. And don't plug in an extension cord into a socket that has high voltage. Conclusion: It is important that you choose the correct cord and take all the safety measures so that the shell life of the accord is increased. You need to ensure that you do not just keep increasing the length of the wire, as it is not good for the device, and anyone can trip. You also need to ensure that if you have a pet, these cables need that extra protection, or you need to keep your pets away from them. Also, it would be best if you did not use it once there is some damage to the cable as it does not last long, and you need to take care of the heating process. And before buying it, look for the proper optimal standardization of the country you are buying for. Source:https://www.sooperarticles.com/shopping-articles/electronics-articles/extension-cord-safe-use-1840328.html |
AuthorI am a Network administrator as an IT professional, Happy to help you to provide accurate and up-to-date information on networking cables. Archives
March 2024
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