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ITGlossary · Electrical units
Input Power Cord
The cable that connects the UPS to the wall socket or distribution board, i.e. to its AC power source.
Technical level:Basic
On small UPS units the input cord is usually detachable, with an IEC C14 inlet on the UPS, or fixed with a Schuko plug. Larger models use an IEC C20 inlet rated 16 A, or are hard-wired to terminals by an electrician on a dedicated circuit with its own breaker.
The cord must handle the UPS's maximum input current, which is higher than the load current when the batteries are charging at the same time.
A common mistake is feeding the UPS from a power strip or extension reel. Poor contacts heat up, and the UPS often sees voltage drops that do not exist at the distribution board, so it switches to battery for no reason. Plug it directly into an earthed wall socket.
Related terms
- Hardwired (Terminal Block) ConnectionPermanent connection of the UPS input or output by an electrician, with cables screwed into a terminal block instead of plugs and sockets, usually on higher-power UPS units.
- IEC C13/C14 ConnectorsStandardised pair of connectors rated up to 10 A under IEC 60320, found on UPS outputs and on the power supplies of computers, servers and monitors.
- IEC C19/C20 ConnectorsPair of connectors rated up to 16 A under IEC 60320, used on higher-power UPS units, rack PDUs and servers or switches with high-consumption power supplies.
- IsolationSeparation of input and output with no conductive connection, usually through a transformer, to protect against faults and noise.
- Peak LoadThe highest amount of power drawn by connected equipment during operation.
- DC VoltageRefers to the direct current (DC) voltage level, typically that of a UPS battery.