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. The various positions are referenced from the view of the open side of a socket; the 6 o'clock (180°) position is at the same angle as the major keyway, and is oriented downwards. The major keyway is 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.
| Ground pin location |
Pin configuration (P, power; N, neutral; E, earth or ground;) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| P+N+E, 2P+E | 3P+E | 3P+N+E | |
| 60° / 2h | >50 V 300–500 Hz green housing | >50 V 300–500 Hz green housing | >50 V 300–500 Hz green housing |
| 90° / 3h | 50–250 V DC | 380 V 50 Hz 440 V 60 Hz |
220/380 V 50 Hz 250/440 V 60 Hz |
| 120° / 4h | 100–130 V AC yellow housing | 100–130 V AC yellow housing | 57–75/100–130 V AC yellow housing |
| 150° / 5h | 277 V 60 Hz | 600–690 V AC black housing | 347–400/600–690 V AC black housing |
| 180° / 6h | 200–250 V AC blue housing | 380–415 V AC red housing | 200–240/346–415 V AC red housing |
| 210° / 7h | 480–500 V AC black housing | 480–500 V AC black housing | 277–288/480–500 V AC black housing |
| 240° / 8h | 250 V DC | ||
| 270° / 9h | 380–415 V AC red housing | 200–250 V AC blue housing | 120–144/208–250 V AC blue housing |
| 300° / 10h | >50 V, 100–300 Hz green housing | ||
| 330° / 11h | 440–460 V 60 Hz red housing | 250–265/440—460 V 60 Hz, red housing | |
- A six-phase plus earth (6P+E) version also exists.
Read more about this topic: IEC 60309