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 V DC or AC; the highest current, 250 A; and the highest frequency, 500 Hz. 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In the United Kingdom, this standard was first adopted as BS 4343:1968 and has since been replaced by its European equivalent EN 60309:1999, catalogued in the BSI system as BS EN 60309:1999. In the UK these plugs are often referred to as CEE industrial, CEEform or simply CEE plugs.
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[edit] Color Code
The color of the plug and socket refers to the voltage and frequency range. A large part of the power grid works with 50 Hz or 60 Hz where the color referes to the voltage:
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The color code green is used to refer to current with a frequency higher than 60 Hz (up to 500 Hz).
The color code gray shall be used if none of the above voltage and frequency ranges are met.
[edit] Keying
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, 63 A and 125 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 | 380-415 V 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 | - | - | - | |
A six-phase plus earth (6P+E) version also exists.
[edit] Common plugs
The red 3P+N+E, 6h plug is the most common connector as it allows to connect to the widespread 400 V three phase power network that reaches many domestic places. The most common ratings are 16 A, 32 A and 63 A - only in some cases the higher specifications of 125 A and 200 A is used. The five pins are positioned in a circle with the ground connector E to be thicker and longer than the network pins. When looking at the socket the three hot pins L1, L2, L3 are supposed to make for a clockwise turn, i.e. to have their high in the order L1 first, then L2, and L3 last. As some domestic wiring does not support this assumption (which could make some motors to turn backwards) many machines on construction sites feature a phase swap plug that allows to swap two pins. Although not actually allowed by the standard in some wiring setups the N neutral pin is not connected - for their usual occurrence often called farmer three phase (German "Bauerndrehstrom").
The blue P+N+E, 6h plug is a two phase connector that replaces other 230 V domestic plugs. It is especially common in camping vehicles and sockets to be found in caravan parks and yacht marinas throughout Europe including the British isles. It is used since the plain IEC 60309 plugs are inherently safe to standard IP44 and when sockets are mounted looking downwards then the connector system reaches IP53 that is safe to use in outdoor settings under all weather conditions.
