• Live Demo Section
• Intelligent Power
• Remote KWh Monitoring
• Remote Current Monitoring
• Environmental Monitoring
• 19" Accessories +
• Power strips / PDUs +
• Auto Changeover Switch
• 3 Phase Power Solutions
• Splitter Boxes
• Ammeters
• Power Meters
• In-line link box Monitoring
• Heat & Load Test Banks
• The MOD Defence Standard
• Medical Standard
• Outdoor Power
• Fan Trays
• Demarcation Box
• Surge Suppressor
• RFI Filter
• Plug & Cable Options
• Colour Options
• Frequently Asked Questions

Useful Info

 

This page should help answer some commonly asked questions and hopefully clear up any misconceptions about the products we supply.

Please let us know if you think something should be added, or if anything is unclear.

 

Go straight to:

 

Plugs and Sockets:

• UK 13 Amp
• IEC 60320
• BS4343
• Schuko

Amps, Volts & Watts - a brief guide

 

 

Plugs and sockets

 

UK 13 amp plugs and sockets - B1363

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cable mounted or 'Trailing'

 

IEC 60320

 

The initials IEC stand for International Electro-technical Commission, who are an International body of technical experts from within the manufacturing industries and various national test houses. Their publications are not 'a standard' as such, but are a set of recommendations that form the basis of most of the national standards in Europe and Australia.

 

You will often hear the phrase 'IEC' used to describe a type of plug or socket, usually referred to as a kettle type connector. This seems to have developed as an incorrect generic term that we all tend to use (and will continue to use in this technical help section). To muddy the waters straight away, you will notice that the connector on your kettle has a raised section inside the inlet. These types of inlets are actually IEC C15 & IEC C16; we don't normally use this type of connector in our industry.

 

The most important term used to clarify exactly what you want is the 'C' Number. Below are a few examples of 'IEC' plugs and sockets covered by the standard IEC 60320. I have included the higher rated C19 & C20 as they are becoming more common for connections to UPS's. The current ratings quoted are based on VDE (Verband Deutscher Electrotechniker) approvals, not UL (Underwriters Laboratory).

 

 

Panel Mounted

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cable mounted or 'Trailing'

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This next group is the bigger 16 Amp version. These are becoming more popular because of their higher current rating and it is where a lot of the confusion has stemmed from.

 

Panel Mounted

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cable mounted or 'Trailing'

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BS4343

 

The next group of plugs and sockets causes just as much confusion. They go by a range of names, Commando , BS4343 , IEC60309 and Industrial. Most people use the name 'Commando' but this is a registered name of MK Electric, so is an incorrect generic name, in the same way we call a vacuum cleaner a Hoover. Having said that, we'll stick to the term 'Commando' to save confusion.

 

They come in a range of colours. The different colours represent the different voltages. The main three are as follows;

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The ones we need to concern ourselves with are the Blue 240V 16Amp and 32Amp 240V 2P+E (Two pins and an Earth pin), although we do supply units with the yellow and red versions and a range of 3 and 5P+E.

 

Panel Mounted

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cable mounted or 'Trailing' 

 

 

 

 

Panel Mounted

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cable mounted or 'Trailing'

 

 

 

 

Schuko

The standard plug and socket adopted for most of Continental Europe is CEE7/7 , also known as the Schutzkontaktsteckdose plug and socket, or Schuko for short . These are sometimes referred to as a Euro plug and socket, this is incorrect. The Euro plug and socket or CEE7/16 is a 2.5Amp two pin un-earthed plug and is not used in our industry. The Earth in the Schuko plug is achieved through the scraping clips on the inside of the socket. The French / Belgian socket differs slightly in that it has an Earth pin although the plug is the same.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is the relationship between Amps, Volts & Watts, and what are they?

 

This is a very brief guide describing Amps, Volts and Watts and how they are related in order to describe some basic electrical dependencies:

 

Amperes (often shortened to Amps) is the standard measure of electrical current. Amps measure how much electricity is moving through a wire at any given time. The Amp draw of a circuit is dependent on the needs of the devices plugged into it, but is always limited by a branch circuit breaker.

 

Volts are the standard measure of electrical potential and are a fixed value for every circuit. Volts are measured with respect to a reference point (usually between the two respective legs of the circuit). As one increases the electrical potential between two points, the amount of potential energy available also increases. For example, consider a stone dropped from 10 feet versus one released from 100 feet. The stone dropped from 100 feet will be going much faster when it hits the ground than one released from 10 feet and therefore will exert more energy on the ground as it hits. Until the stones are actually dropped, that energy exists only as potential. Similarly, a 208V circuit has about 1.73 times the potential energy of a 120V circuit, when drawing the same amount of current.

 

Watts are a measure of the total power being consumed by a system. The simplest calculation is: Watts = Volts x Amps. This is the measurement that power companies use for billing their customers and is also known as Volt-Amps.

 

A true RMS calculation of Watts takes into account the shape and phases of the voltage and current wave forms being delivered to a circuit to provide a reading of the power being used by a circuit. Any difference between the RMS (Root-Mean-Squared) value of Watts and the Volt-Amps value indicates inefficiencies in the way power is being used by the equipment on the circuit.

 

What does RMS mean?
RMS stands for Root-Mean-Squared. It refers to a complex calculation involving the volts and amps over a period of time determining how power is being consumed by the devices on a circuit.

 

What is Apparent Power?
Apparent Power is the instantaneous calculation of Volts x Amps and is the measurement by which the power companies bill.

 

What is Real Power?
Real Power is the RMS value of Watts. When divided by Apparent Power, it is a measurement of the efficiency of power usage on a circuit.

 

What is Power Factor?
Power Factor is the ratio of Real Power to Apparent Power. 100% is perfect power. Lower values of Power Factor indicate that the circuit is wasting energy. Power Factors below 60% can cause significant damage to electronic equipment. Circuits with Power Factors below 40% need power conditioning.

 

For the answers to anything not covered under this section please contact us. 

 

Disclaimer: The information given on this page is delivered in good faith and to the best of knowledge is accurate. If you spot any errors or omissions please feel free to contact us and let us know.

 

 

Can't find it? Try our Sitemap