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View Full Version : Frankencable - IEC C19 to NEMA 5-20 plug



ampnation
01-18-2013, 12:45 AM
Long story short - I am selling a Crown iTech 8000 amp. I'm in the Sacramento area at the moment as is the amp while the special 20 amp IEC power cord is at home in Modesto. It would take gas and time to pick up the cable so I went shopping for one. I can buy them online but I needed the cord ASAP. I couldn't find the cable ready made that I needed, but I did find the IEC C19 connector locally was from a computer parts and accessories store I have shopped at in the past. Apparently the same connectors used in heavy duty audio equipment are used for big iron computer servers.

The thing is, they only had C19 (female) to C20 (male) extensions, not C19 to NEMA 5-20 which is your common 20 amp plug that can fit into most household receptacles. If the receptacle as a T-shaped socket on one side, it can take the NEMA 5-20.
Here's an IEC connector guide: http://www.stayonline.com/reference-iec320.aspx
Here's a NEMA connector guide: http://www.stayonline.com/reference-nema-straight-blade.aspx

Drawing on experience from when I modified a 50 foot, 10 gauge extension cable, I picked up a screw-on 20 amp plug from Home Depot for $11 and created the cable you see below.

http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/4904/itechfrankencablesm.jpg

When I upgrade from red, yellow and orange construction site type extension cords to black SOOW, I'll be using these same types of connectors, but I'll be using everyday 15 amp versions. They're made by Pass & Seymour and it only took me about 10 minutes to put this on including taking a few pictures in the process.

The most time consuming part is stripping the insulation, first the outer insulation, then from each of the three conductors, at 1 inch and 1/2 inch respectively. The job is made easier if you remember to put the outer casing of the new plug on the cable before you start stripping. Then after all the stripping is done, you insert the wire ends into three marked holes in the body of the new plug, and screw them down. No soldering needed. You then slide the casing around the body, screw that on, attach the cable grip pieces, screw them down. AND YOU'RE DONE!

Just make sure you connect the proper conductor to the right position. The plug instructions make it pretty clear I think.

This type of cable construction is also great if you want an odd sized power cable for a custom application.
Hopefully this will inspire others to take on their own custom power cable mini projects. This wasn't the biggest DIY project here by a long shot, but someone might find it useful.

btw, while I was buying the C19/C20 cable, I bought a couple of these 10 foot iOS dock to RCA adapter cables for $3.19 each. The store sells online too and they have a lot of cool computer parts, geeky gadgets etc.. Cyberguys.com.
http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/purplus_2241_8338425.jpg