Power connector

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A power connector is an electrical connector designed to carry a significant amount of electrical power, usually as DC or low-frequency AC. Some types of RF connector may also carry large amounts of power, but are considered as a separate category. Connectors carrying small amounts of power are known as signal connectors.

[edit] Types

AC power plugs:
- Mains power plugs, principally used for connecting equipment to wall outlets. See that article for information about mains electricity plugs around the world as well as information for travellers.
- Industrial power plugs, used for larger equipment than normal mains plugs.
DC plugs
Mains inlet connectors, designed to attach a power cable to an appliance, of which the IEC connector (see image below) is the most common
Battery connectors
Lucar connectors
Terminals
Terminal blocks
Industrial power connectors, of which one of the most common types is
- the IEC 309 (BS 4343) so-called "commando" plug and socket.
Personal computer power supply connectors
- Molex connector — four pin hard disk drive (HDD) connectors, also used for powering CD-ROM drives, burners etc
- Berg connector — smaller four pin floppy disk drive (FDD) connectors, also used by some hard drives, and carrying the same power supplies as the HDD connectors
- AT motherboard connectors consisting of two in-line connectors
- ATX motherboard connectors which have now obsoleted the older AT-style connectors
- serial ATA (SATA) power connectors