IEC Power Connector Chart: What C13, C14, C15, C19 & C20 Mean and How to Choose

Most IEC cord mistakes do not show up at the bench. The cord seats, the device powers on, and everything looks fine—until a C13 cord baked next to a hot power supply starts browning at the connector, or a "16A" assumption leaves a rack PDU under-provisioned. The connectors in the IEC 60320 standard look deceptively similar, and the wrong choice usually surfaces weeks later—in a warm enclosure, during a certification, or as an outage. This guide compares the five you will meet most often (C13, C14, C15, C19, C20), what mates with what, and the specific mistakes that cause field failures.

IEC 60320 Connector Comparison Chart

International ratings follow IEC 60320-1; North American ratings under UL 60320 are often higher for the same connector, which is why the table lists both.

Highlighted rows are connectors Cable Leader stocks as finished cords. The North American value depends on the cord's certification—always confirm the rating molded on the cord and device.

How the Numbering Works (Odd = Female, Even = Male)

Every IEC 60320 connector comes as a pair. The odd-numbered connector is the female end on the cord; the even-numbered connector one digit higher is the male inlet on the equipment. A C13 cord plugs into a C14 inlet; a C19 cord plugs into a C20 inlet. Once you internalize that, you can verify compatibility from a spec sheet without seeing the hardware—useful when you are sourcing dozens of cords for a build and only have model numbers to go on.

C13 vs C15: The High-Temperature Difference That Bites

C13 and C15 share the same pin layout and the same 10A/250V rating, and to the eye they are nearly identical. The difference is heat tolerance—and a small key that decides what physically fits.

The C13 is rated to 70°C. The C15 is the high-temperature version, rated to 120°C, with a notch on the connector body; its matching C16 inlet has a raised key opposite the earth pin. That key works in one direction only: a C15 cord fits both a C16 and a standard C14 inlet, but a standard C13 will not enter a C16—the key blocks it.

This is deliberate. Equipment that runs hot ships with a C16 inlet precisely so nobody can fit a 70°C cord where 120°C is required. The practical takeaway: if a device has a C16 inlet, use a C15 cord and do not look for a workaround. And because a C15 is backward compatible, when you are unsure whether an enclosure runs hot, a C15 is the safer spec—it covers both inlets.

When You Need C19/C20 Instead

Once a device draws more than about 10A—blade chassis, large UPS units, high-density rack PDUs—the C13/C14 pair runs out of headroom and the connector itself can run warm under sustained load. The larger C19/C20 pair is rated at 16A internationally under IEC 60320, and is commonly available up to 20A in North America depending on the cord's certification. For a rack designed around 20A circuits, treating 16A as a hard ceiling can leave you under-provisioned—check the cord's actual listed rating, not just the connector family.

Common Mistakes That Cause Field Failures

Common IEC Power Cord Applications

Quick Selection Guide

• Device ≤10A, runs cool → C13 / C14
• Device has a C16 inlet or runs hot → C15 / C16 (120°C); unsure? default to C15
• Device draws ~16A or more → C19 / C20, spec to the cord's listed amperage
• Uptime-critical rack → locking version of whichever pair above

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1. IEC 60320-1:2021, Appliance couplers for household and similar general purposes — Part 1: General requirements — International Electrotechnical Commission. https://webstore.iec.ch/en/publication/64901. Accessed: June 2026.
2. IEC publishes updated standard for appliance couplers — International Electrotechnical Commission. https://www.iec.ch/blog/iec-publishes-updated-standard-appliance-couplers. Accessed: June 2026.
3. UL 60320-1, Appliance Couplers for Household and Similar General Purposes — Part 1 — UL Standards & Engagement. https://www.shopulstandards.com/ProductDetail.aspx?productId=UL60320-1. Accessed: June 2026.