Nippon Labs 16AWG Power Cord, Black NEMA 5-15P to C13, SJT 13A 125V

A NEMA 5-15P to IEC 60320 C13 power cord in 16 AWG, rated 13A at 125V. This is the everyday replacement cord for anything with the standard C14 inlet. It is thinner and more flexible than the 14 AWG version, and still rated well above what a monitor, printer or desktop actually draws.

Specifications

• Plug: NEMA 5-15P, three-prong grounded North American wall plug
• Connector: IEC 60320 C13 (fits C14 inlets)
• Cable: 16/3 SJT hard-service jacket, rated 105 degrees C
• Rating: 13A at 125V
• Color: Black
• Construction: fully molded ends
• Listings: UL, cUL, CSA approved
• Compliance: RoHS and REACH
• Lengths: 1 ft to 25 ft

Good for

• Monitors, desktop PCs, printers, scanners, TVs and AV receivers with a C14 inlet
• Replacing a missing or frayed cord without over-specifying
• Tidier routing where a 14 AWG cord is stiffer than the space allows
• Buying spares in quantity for an office or classroom fleet

FAQ

16 AWG or 14 AWG? Both fit the same inlet. 16 AWG at 13A covers ordinary desktop and AV equipment comfortably. Step up to 14 AWG at 15A for PDUs, power strips and anything with a large power supply or a heating element.

What does 16 AWG mean here? AWG is conductor thickness, and the scale runs backwards, so a lower number is a thicker wire. At 16 AWG this cord is built to carry its rated 13A at 125V without the conductors heating up. A thinner cord with a higher AWG number carries less current.

What is an SJT jacket? SJT is a thermoplastic hard-service jacket, the heavier and more abrasion resistant type used on equipment and rack cords. It holds up better than SVT to being stepped on, pinched or pulled.

Does the cord affect performance? No. As long as the cord is rated above the load, a power cord delivers the same mains supply. What differs is current headroom, flexibility and how much heat the conductors shed under sustained load.

How much load can I actually put on it? The cord is rated 13A at 125V. Usual engineering practice is to keep a continuous load at or below 80 percent of a circuit or cord rating and leave headroom for inrush when equipment powers on, so size the cord to the equipment rather than to the outlet.

Related reading

Power cord types explained · All North American power cords · Home office cables