PowerCon

powerCON is an electrical connector manufactured by Neutrik for connecting mains power to equipment in a small space. It looks and works similarly to the Speakon connector, with the line connector inserted in the chassis connector and twisted to make contact and lock. Both line and chassis connectors are fully insulated even when disconnected.

Neutrik powerCON type B connectors.

powerCON Male type A, electricity source, cable connector

powerCON Female type A, electricity inlet, chassis mount

The original and most common version of the powerCON is rated at 20 A. It comes in two deliberately incompatible variants to prevent people connecting two mains supplies together. The type A is blue and used for power sources (power flows out of a blue-ended cable, into a chassis socket). The type B is grey and used for power drains (power flows from a chassis socket into a grey-ended cable). Couplers are available with one chassis socket of each type mounted on the ends of a plastic tube to extend cables.[1]

Later, Neutrik introduced a larger 32 A version of the powerCON. Unlike the 20 A version the 32 A version comes in only one variant which appears to be intended for use as a source. [2][3]

Neutrik powerCON TRUE1 cable connector (male).

The main advantages of the powerCON are high current capacity in a small space (smaller than an IEC connector and double the current-carrying capacity) and locking action. The main disadvantages are cost and reliance on a single vendor. Older models are not designed to be connected/disconnected under load (which makes them unsuitable for equipment used by untrained personnel).

In January 2011 Neutrik announced a new variant of the connector called the powerCON TRUE1.[4] Unlike the traditional powerCON connectors the new connector is specified with breaking capacity, meaning it is designed for disconnection under load[5] The maximum current rating for the TRUE1 connector is reduced to 16 A and it is not compatible with traditional powerCON connectors. The connectors are IP65 and UL50E rated when mated (connected) together, meaning that they are designed to be used in outdoor environments with a heavy dust and/or water presence.[6]