White Paper | Pin & Sleeve Connectors

This white paper explains the features and benefits of pin & sleeve connectors and their advantages over standard twist lock connectors.

BENEFITS OF PIN AND SLEEVE CONNECTORS OVER STANDARD TWIST LOCK

W H I T E P A P E R

By Raj Desai Product Manager, LAPP

These male-female connections are well-suited for supplying power in a wide range of equipment such as welders, motor gen-sets, compressors, conveyors and portable tools and lighting. They’re also good for matching high-current power sources with the right equipment and integrate with switched and fused interlock receptacles in wet or corrosive environments. Pin and sleeve connectors have plenty of other benefits that give them the edge over standard twist lock. Their rugged design provides heightened durability and a click-lock housing makes assembly fast and easy. Male plugs are surrounded by a shroud to protect the contact pins. These pins are exposed to the environment in most NEMA plugs. In addition, pin and sleeve connectors have more configuration options than twist lock, and they’re color-coded for different amps—between 20 and 100 in the United States. NEMA twist lock sockets don’t have color coding. Whether you’re designing machines for international customers, specifying mobile power solutions on the factory floor or planning outdoor power distribution systems, these connectors and mechanical interlock switches are a safe and cost-effective option for your wiring requirements.

Y ou’re likely familiar with twist lock cable connectors—they’re the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) standard. However, there’s a lesser-known advanced cable connector that’s common in Europe, but has yet to find its place in the United States: the pin and sleeve connector. In a nutshell, pin and sleeve connectors seal power connections and insulate power delivery from moisture, grime and chemicals. They’re designed to prevent disconnecting under load, and are often used for applications with abusive environments. Pin and sleeve devices range from metal-housed products to high impact-resistant plastic products with varying designs.

Pin and sleeve connectors come with more configuration options than NEMA twist lock plugs.

LAPP 29 Hanover Road, Florham Park, NJ 07932 T. 800 774 3539

www.lappusa.com www.lappcanada.com

EPIC ® CEE CONNECTOR IP67

Spring-loaded gasketed locking cover. Color-coded to identify voltage

High-copper solid brass, self-adjusting contacts in contact carrier

LAPP’s EPIC ® CEE pin and sleeve connectors handle single and three phase power requirements up to 600 volts and 125 amps.

Neoprene incised grommet

Molded housing keyway

EPIC ® MULTIMAX Series: • Patented click-lock housing • Patented self-locking cable grip secures cable without tools TECHNICAL FEATURES OF LAPP EPIC ® MULTIMAX AND EPIC ® CEE CONNECTORS:

• Patented universal membrane seal • High-copper solid brass contacts

IP protection is standard for pin and sleeve connectors, while twist lock offers this protection as an option with a higher price point. Also, you have the option of North American and international versions of the pin and sleeve connector. Twist lock, on the other hand, is only available in North American markets. But perhaps the biggest advantage of pin and sleeve connectors is that they’re safe to use. Safety first. Safety is perhaps the most appealing reason to use a pin and sleeve connector instead of a twist lock connector. Measures are taken to assure they’re safe for both the operator and application, and it all starts with IEC 60309. MULTIMAX connectors can be assembled in under 20 seconds, and an innovative retaining tab prevents unintentional withdrawal by engaging with the mating connector’s cover.

EPIC ® CEE Series: •

Internal cable clamp

• High-impact non-conductive thermoplastic housing. • PG-threaded cable gland • Stainless steel assembly screws • Nickel plated high copper solid brass contacts for IP67 - North American: 20A and 30A plugs - International: All plugs

LAPP 29 Hanover Road, Florham Park, NJ 07932 T. 800 774 3539

www.lappusa.com www.lappcanada.com

Many of the higher current carrying IEC 60309 connectors for use in electrical interlock systems include pilot pins. The pilot pin contact disconnects before all other connections. When wired to an electrical interlock, this disconnect signals the electrical interlock to shut off power. This ensures that power is safely disconnected before the plug and connector are disengaged, eliminating the potential of dangerous arc flash. A clocking system defined in IEC 60309 prevents the mating of products of different configurations. The system defines the location of the ground pin relative to the keyway on the outside of the plug or connector. For the pins themselves, the ground pin is located at a different location, depending on the voltage. For instance, this ground pin will assure that a person doesn’t accidentally place a 120V plug into a 480V source connector. LAPP offerings. One good example of pin and sleeve connectors that meet all these safety standards are LAPP USA’s EPIC® MULTIMAX and CEE models. Whether you’re designing machines for international customers, specifying mobile power solutions on the factory floor or planning outdoor power distribution systems, these connectors and mechanical interlock switches are a safe and cost-effective option for your wiring requirements. The UL-approved North American versions are available for 20, 30, 60 and 100 amps, while the international-rated devices are good for 16, 32, 63 and 125 amps. Both types meet IP44 for splash proof and IP67 for watertight.

IEC 60309 defines a family of connectors for equipment in domestic and international markets. With a design focused on operator safety, IEC 60309-compliant products meet global standards and ensure compatibility, regardless of the manufacturer or origin country. The standard specifies five devices: plugs, connectors, receptacles, inlets and mechanical interlock switch receptacles. Plugs are designed in such a way that they can’t be inserted into the wrong outlet type. Each pin and sleeve design is unique to a voltage designation, thereby eliminating the possibility of accidentally using the wrong voltage in an application. IEC 60309 connectors and socket outlets feature hinged, spring-loaded covers that snap into place once the plug is removed, reducing the risk of foreign objects entering the contacts. The hinged cover also serves as a locking mechanism to assure that once the plug and socket are mated, they won’t uncouple.

APPLICATIONS:

FOOD AND BEVERAGE: • Bottling plants • Fryers • Conveyors • Food processing equipment

MANUFACTURING PLANTS: • Drop down power cord

• Welding machines • Portable lighting • Power for motors

SHIPPING PORTS:

• Power supply for forklifts • Mechanical Interlock switches for power distribution along port • IP67 for outdoor use. TOOL MACHINE SUPPLIERS: • Frequent splashing of oil during cutting processes • High vibration levels • Frequent insertion and extraction of plugs from sockets • Cleaning processes with water cleaning machines

Ground Pin Location (NA 3Wire: 2+PE and 1+N+PE)

LAPP 29 Hanover Road, Florham Park, NJ 07932 T. 800 774 3539

www.lappusa.com www.lappcanada.com

Some common applications that use LAPP’s pin and sleeve connectors include:

• Farming

• Steel manufacturing

• Tunnels and subways

• Chemical production factories

• Tool machine suppliers

Mechanical interlock switches. LAPP offers high-performance switched socket outlets with mechanical interlock. Designed to prevent a plug from insertion or removal into a powered receptacle, mechanical interlocked switches eliminate the possibility of dangerous arc flash. A zinc-plated steel interlocking mechanism guarantees electrical operation only when a plug is inserted into the outlet. Plug removal is blocked while power is turned on, eliminating arc-flash hazard.

LAPP’s interlocked switched- socket outlets are made of thermoset plastic and provide IP67 environmental protection. They can be mounted individually by using the integral mounting feet or as part of a multiple-unit distribution board assembly.

This receptacle comes equipped with a switch on the outside of its enclosure, so power can be turned on and off. Power can’t be turned on without inserting a plug: When the power is on, the plug mechanically locks inside the receptacle, that way it can’t be removed without turning off the switch. Fused, mechanical interlocked receptacles are also available for overload protection within the enclosure in addition to an interlocked switch. Fuse access is blocked while power is turned on, along with access to the enclosure’s inside.

EPIC ® CEE Connector IP67

LAPP 29 Hanover Road, Florham Park, NJ 07932 T. 800 774 3539

www.lappusa.com www.lappcanada.com

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