Power connector - Definition and Overview

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.

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
  • four pin hard disk drive (HDD) connectors, also used for powering CD-ROM drives, burners etc
  • 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