IEC 60309

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IEC 309 (now IEC 60309, 1999) is an international standard from the International Electrotechnical Commission for "plugs, socket-outlets and couplers for industrial purposes". Part 1 of the standard specifies general functional and safety requirements for any form of industrial high-current power connector. Part 2 specifies a range of mains power connectors with circular housings, and different numbers and arrangements of pins for different applications. The highest voltage allowed in the standard is 690 volts DC or AC, the highest current 250 amperes, and the highest frequency 500 hertz. The temperature range is −25 °C to +40 °C.

In the United Kingdom, this standard was first adopted as BS 4343:1968 and has since been replaced by its Europe-wide equivalent BS EN 60309:1999.

[edit] Keying

16 A 3P+E 400 V plug

16 A P+N+E 230 V plug

Mated 16 A plug and wall-mounted socket

IEC 60309-2 connectors are produced in many variants, designed so that a plug of one type can only be inserted into a socket of the same type. Different current ratings (such as 16 A, 32 A and 63 A) are distinguished by different diameters of the circular housing.

Different voltage and frequency combinations are distinguished by the location of the ground pin (or a plastic projection called the minor keyway, for connectors with no ground pin), as shown in the following table. The ground pin can be in one of twelve locations spaced at 30° intervals around the circle on which all the pins lie. Position 6 is at the same angle as the major keyway, a projection on the plug casing that aligns with a notch on the socket. The ground pin has a larger diameter than the other pins, preventing the wrong type of plug being inserted in a socket.

		Number of pins
		P+N+E	3P+E	3P+N+E
Ground pin location
	2	>50 V, 300-500 Hz, green housing	>50 V, 300-500 Hz, green housing	>50 V, 300-500 Hz, green housing
	3	50-250 V AC	380 V, 50 Hz 440 V, 60 Hz	220/380 V, 50 Hz 250/440 V, 60 Hz
	4	100-130 V AC, yellow housing	100-130 V AC, yellow housing	57/100 - 75/130 V AC, yellow housing
	5	277 V, 60 Hz	600-690 V AC, black housing	347/600 - 400/690 V AC, black housing
	6	200-250 V AC, blue housing	380-415V AC, red housing	200/346 - 240/415 V AC, red housing
	7	480-500 V AC, black housing	480-500 V AC, black housing	277/480 V - 288/500 V AC, black housing
	8	250 V DC	-	-
	9	380-415 V AC, red housing	200-250 V AC, blue housing	120/208 V - 144/250 V AC, blue housing
	10	-	>50 V, 100-300 Hz, green housing	-
	11	-	440-460 V, 60 Hz, red housing	250/440 V - 265/460 V, 60 Hz, red housing
	12	-	-	-