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IEC 60320-2-1: Appliance Couplers — The “C13” Standard Behind Every Computer Power Cord
C13/C14, C5/C6, C7/C8 — The Global Standard Behind Every Detachable Power Cord
IEC 60320-2-1:2018 specifies appliance couplers for household and similar purposes — the detachable power connectors on computers, monitors, and printers. The C13 (10A/250V, IEC “cold condition” connector) is the most common appliance power interface worldwide, used by billions of devices.
| Coupler | Current | Pin Layout | Typical Device |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1/C2 | 0.2A | 2-pin flat | Electric toothbrush charger |
| C5/C6 (Cloverleaf) | 2.5A | 3-pin circular | Laptop power adapter |
| C13/C14 (IEC) | 10A | 3-pin rectangular | Desktop PC, monitor, server PDU |
| C19/C20 | 16A | 3-pin rectangular (horizontal) | Server, UPS, high-power equipment |
Each coupler type has a unique physical shape code — a C13 connector physically cannot be inserted into a C19 appliance inlet. This is not for convenience but to prevent a low-current connector from being inserted into high-current equipment, which would cause overload and fire. Physical keying is the core safety design principle of the IEC 60320 series.
TNLab — Every time you plug in your laptop power cord, you are experiencing IEC 60320 physical keying safety design.
