Power Cord Configurations

Technical documentation for NEMA straight-blade, NEMA locking, and IEC 60320 power cord configurations. Find connector types, amperage ratings, voltage ranges, and wiring specs across Iron Box's complete power cord lineup.

Configurations

NEMA Straight-Blade Power Cords


Straight-blade power cords utilize non-locking NEMA plug and receptacle configurations commonly used in commercial and industrial power distribution. Iron Box straight-blade cords are available in 2-, 3-, and 4-wire configurations, supporting amperage ratings from 10A to 60A and
voltage ranges from 125V to 277V.

Configurations

NEMA Locking Power Cords

Locking power cords use NEMA locking plug and receptacle configurations designed to prevent accidental disconnection. Iron Box offers a wide range of NEMA locking power cords, including L5-20, L5-30, L6-20, L6-30, L14-20, L14-30, L15-20, L15-30, L21-20, and L21-30. These cords are available in multiple wire configurations with amperage ratings from 15A to 60A and voltage ratings up to 600V.

Configurations

IEC Data Center Power Cords

IEC 60320 connectors are widely used for power distribution to servers,
network equipment, rack-mounted devices, and consumer electronics. This
chart provides a visual and technical reference for common IEC plug and
receptacle types, including electrical ratings, conductor configurations, and typical applications.

Voltage & Amperage

Voltage & Amperage

Voltage


Voltage refers to the electrical potential supplied by the power source. In power cord applications, voltage determines compatibility between the power source, cord, and connected equipment. Common voltage ranges include:

  • 125V – Standard single-phase power used for general equipment and consumer electronics
  • 250V – Higher-voltage single-phase power commonly used for servers and rack equipment
  • 277V / 480V – Three-phase power environments found in data centers and industrial settings

Using the correct voltage is critical — connecting equipment to the wrong voltage can result in damage or failure.

Amperage

Amperage (amps) measures the amount of electrical current the cord and connectors are designed to safely carry. Typical amperage ratings include:

  • 10A – 15A – Light-duty and standard equipment loads
  • 20A – 30A – Common for servers, PDUs, and rack-mounted equipment
  • 50A and higher – High-capacity or three-phase applications. Amperage ratings are determined by connector type, wire gauge (AWG), and number of conductors. Exceeding an amperage rating can cause overheating or premature failure.

Working in Tandem

Voltage and amperage must be considered together when selecting a power cord. In simple terms:

  • Higher voltage allows the same amount of power to be delivered using less current
  • Higher current requires heavier wire and higher-rated connectors

That’s why specific NEMA and IEC configurations are limited to certain voltage and amperage combinations.

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