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Neutrik* PowerCON connectors are sealed couplers with locking device that guarantee a safe power connection in rugged conditions. Among others they are used for on stage performances and applications in harsh outdoor environment. 250V connectors, appliance inlets and outlets exist for 16A, 20A and 32A.

Image no. 14 shows the original XLR connector designed by Cannon Electric Co. in the 1950s.
Image nos 15 and 16 show a Neutrik XLR connector based on the Cannon original.

* Neutrik A.G. in Schaan, Liechtenstein, designer and manufacturer of appliance couplers for audio, video, lighting, power and data applications.

 

Neutrik 16A NAC3MX-NAC3FX-NAC3PX
Neutrik 16A NAC3FX-W and NAC3MX-W_parts

1, 2 Neutrik PowerCON TRUE1 TOP* cable connectors rated at single phase 16A - 250V (USA: 20A - 120V).
(a) NAC3MX-W-TOP locking male connector;  (b)
NAC3FX-W-TOP locking female connector;  (c-d) NAC3PX TOP appliance inlet (c) and outlet (d) combination. Rubber, flexible covers for in- and outlet can be added. Separate inlet and outlet units exist also.
Female connector fits in inlet 'c'; male connector in outlet 'd'.

Neutrik PowerCON TRUE1 TOP 16A connectors and appliance in-/outlets fully comply with IEC 60320 standard specifications, which among others means that connection and disconnection under load or live is allowed.

* TOP stands for True Outdoor Protection (IP65).
2 Exploded view of male (top) and female (bottom) connectors. Neutrik logo and TOP mark are shown bottom right.

Neutrik 16A NAC3MX-W top view Neutrik 16A connectors

3 Front view of NAC3FX-W-TOP. Line, neutral and earth contacts are located in confined spaces.
Female connectors and appliance outlets (image 1d) have four cams (green arrows). The top left cam is wider than the other three. Male connectors and appliance inlets have corresponding notches. The wide cam serves to position a male connector correctly, see image 4; any other position is impossible.
 
4 (a)  Procedure to connect and lock male (right) and female (left) connectors.
(b)  As explained in the caption to image 3, there is only one position in which the male connector fit.
(c)  Male and female connectors are nearly fully plugged into each other, but electrical contact has not yet been made.
(d)  Press male connector further inwards and rotate 30 degrees clockwise to lock and make electrical contact.
To unlock, shift the metal clip of the female connector backwards and rotate male connector counterclockwise.

 

Neutrik NAC3FCA connector plug
Neutrik NAC3FCA connector plug, components

Neutrik NAC3FCA connector plug, front view
Neutrik NAC3MPA-1 chassis connector
Neutrik NAC3MPA-1  and NAC3FCA


5-7
NAC3FCA lockable cable connector, assembled (5) and the four separate connector components (6). Rating: single phase 20A - 250V. Image no. 7 show a front view of the connector. Rating: single phase 20A - 250V.

20 and 32 Amp devices are designed for professional use of audio, video and power appliances, and should not be connected or disconnected under load or live.
8
NAC3MPA-1 chassis inlet. To plug in the connector, the wider cam (see image no. 7; blue arrow) has to be positioned in the top notch.
9 To make contact, the connector has to be fully plugged into the inlet and then rotated 30 degrees clockwise. The tip of the yellow clip springs automatically in large notch of the inlet and locks the connector fully. To remove the connector, the yellow clip has to be moved backwards manually whereafter the connector can be rotated counterclockwise and pulled out.

Neutrik NAC3FCB connector plug
Neutrik NAC3MCB chassis connector


10 NAC3FCB lockable, power-out cable connector. Rating 20A - 250V.
11 NAC3MPB-1 appliance chassis inlet (grey) and outlet (blue). Chassis parts are nearly identical to each other, but there is one crucial difference: the position of notches and cams. The different position makes it impossible to mix blue (power-in) and grey (power-out) components.

Neutrik powerCON 32A chassis inlet
Neutrik powerCON 32A cable connector



12, 13
NAC3MP-HC chassis connector power-in (12) and NAC3FC-HC cable connector (13). Rating: 32A - 250V, single phase.

 

XLR connectors

Cannon XLR type 3pin-connector





 
14
In 1950 the Cannon Electric company in Los Angeles, California introduced the Cannon X series connectors for audio, video and stage lighting applications. In 1955 a latch was added to lock connectors. The series was renamed XL.
The original model had 3 poles, but 4 - 7 pin models have been added to the range: XLR3, XLR4 ..... XLR7.
See Wikipedia for more information about XLR connectors.


Classic XLR LNE (Line, Neutral, Earth) "female" connector made by Cannon in the Melbourne, Australia plant.
Rating: 5A - 250V AC.   {DF}

 

Neutrik XLR series LNE female connector
15


 
16
XLR LNE-FC (female) connector, made by Neutrik. This older model is rated at 5A - 250V.
Modern Neutrik XLR series are rated at >50V. See XLR link below for details.
The Swis +S electro-technical certification mark was introduced in 2002.   {DF}

Exploded view of XLR LNE-FC components.
a. Female Connector part with solder contacts. After inserting into an appliance inlet the earth clip locks the connector. To unlock, press the black button down.
b. Sleeve to avoid contact of wires, joined with solder, with housing 'c'.
c. Metal housing.     d. Screw to fix connector part 'a'.
e. Cord grip; when cap 'f' is screwed on, the three cord grip projections fasten the cord.
f. Cap with flexible cord exit (orange).

Neutrik XLR series LNE female connector, details

 

Find additional information on web pages  PowerCON TRUE1 TOP  /  PowerCON 32A  /  XLR series

 


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