IEC 60320-2-4:2018

IEC 60320-2-4:2018 is applicable to two-pole appliance couplers for alternating current only, with or without earthing contact, with a rated voltage not exceeding 250 V and a rated current not exceeding 16 A, for household and similar general purposes and intended for incorporation or integration within electric appliances or other electric equipment of multi‑part construction for 50 Hz or 60 Hz supply which depend on the weight of the appliance to ensure correct engagement. This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition published in 2005 and Amendment 1:2009. This edition constitutes a technical revision. This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
- IEC 60320-2-4 is aligned with IEC 60320-1:2015.
- IEC 60320-2-4 is aligned with IEC 60335-1 and IEC 60335-2-15. IEC 60320-2-4 appliance couplers are incorporated into appliances designed and manufactured to these standards. To this end, particular attention is drawn to 14.2 and Clause 20.
- It also now proposes that appliance couplers with auxiliary contacts be considered.

This clause of IEC 60320-1 is replaced as follows: This part of IEC 60320 is applicable to two-pole appliance couplers for alternating current only, with or without earthing contact, with a rated voltage not exceeding 250 V and a rated current not exceeding 16 A, for household and similar general purposes and intended for incorporation or integration within electric appliances or other electric equipment of multi-part construction for 50 Hz or 60 Hz supply which depend on the weight of the appliance to ensure correct engagement. This document is also applicable to appliance couplers with auxiliary contacts rated for alternating current, direct current or both, with a total rated current not exceeding 16 A. This document is also valid for appliance inlets/appliance outlets integrated or incorporated in appliances. NOTE 1 Appliance couplers complying with this document are suitable for use in appliances which are used in an ambient temperature not normally exceeding 25 °C but occasionally reaching 35 °C. However the ambient temperature surrounding the appliance coupler can exceed these figures and can be declared by the manufacturer. It is possible that the maximum working ambient temperature for the appliance inlet and for the connector can be different. NOTE 2 Appliance couplers dependent on appliance weight for engagement can be subject to spillage of liquid in normal use. They are classified according to whether protection against liquid spillage is provided, when installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s installation instructions. NOTE 3 If appliance inlets according to this document are used with appliances or other equipment which can be subject to spillage of liquid affecting the appliance inlet when the functioning part of the appliance or equipment is seated on its power base, then protection against moisture is provided by the equipment. NOTE 4 References to standard sheets within IEC 60320-1 do not apply to appliance couplers dependent on appliance weight for engagement. NOTE 5 Special constructions can be required: • in locations where special conditions can prevail, for example, in ships, vehicles and the like; • in hazardous locations, for example, where explosions are likely to occur. NOTE 6 Additional auxiliary contacts can be used as part of the appliance coupler. An example of an auxiliary contact is a contact used to supply a low power device or used to transmit signals for sensors and to/from a microprocessor.