EPIC® Pin & Sleeve Connectors

The IEC’s mission is to promote international cooperation on all electrotechnical standardization questions and related matters in the fields of electricity, electronics, and related technologies. IEC’s international standards insure that a component or system manufactured to IEC standards and manufactured in country A can be sold and used in countries B through Z.

IEC 60309-1 (1999-02)
Plugs, socket-outlets and couplers for industrial purposes- Part 1: General Requirements

Applies to plugs and socket-outlets, cable couplers and appliance couplers, with a rated operating voltage not exceeding 690V D.C. or A.C., 500 Hz A.C. and a rated current not exceeding 250 A, primarily intended for industrial use, either indoors or outdoors when the ambient temperature does not normally exceed 40°C.

Applies to plugs and socket-outlets, cable couplers with a rated operating voltage not exceeding 690V, 500Hz and a rated current not exceeding 125A., primarily intended for industrial use, either indoors or outdoors. Together, the IEC 60309 standards provide industrial pin and sleeve connectors that are coded to provide positive voltage and frequency matching. Physical characteristics of these connectors make it virtually impossible to mis-match plugs and receptacles of different voltage and current ratings.

The size of the device is determined by its amperage rating. Devices with different amperage ratings cannot be coupled due to the size variance used.

Pin & Sleeve devices conforming to IEC309-2 are single rated with their voltage determined by the location of the oversized female ground contact relative to a key way molded into the bottom of the housing. Twelve positions are possible (conforming to the positions on a clock face) to represent the ground pin location for specific voltages. Mismatched voltage devices are impossible to couple. In addition, each device is clearly marked and color coded to indicate the voltage for which it is intended to be used.

As a result of this standardization, all manufacturers’ devices which conform to these standards are intermateable and interchangeable.