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Radio Frequencies “Freqing” Out Equipment? Eliminate Unwanted EMI.

Posted on 9/25/24 9:14 AM

Whether caused by an ill-conceived electrical design or other nearby frequencies, electromagnetic havoc can interfere with or cause damage to sensitive equipment. While electromagnetic interference (EMI) and radio frequency interference (RFI) are often used interchangeably, EMI is typically the more comprehensive term. A basic example of EMI is the effect of lightning and its electrical discharge causing static across multiple frequencies. While atmospheric discharges are nearly impossible—if at all—to suppress, there are many methods to suppress EMI in machines that use AC power.

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Topics: EMI, ferrites

Electrical Arcing and Tracking? Not if You Can Prevent It.

Posted on 8/20/24 9:54 AM

When searching for cord-locking mechanisms to prevent accidental or abrupt disconnects from IEC 60320 power inlets such as the IEC 60320 C13, beware of the type of metal locking mechanisms (one unfortunately approved by a well-known agency) that tightly clamp onto notched grounding blades, a tight metal-on-metal retention resulting in a dangerous loss of material on the grounding blade. This friction, similar to striking a flint to produce sparks, creates carbonized buildup around the terminal after repeated disconnects, which could lead to an electrical fire through repeated arcing. Carbonized buildup may also appear on alloy pins if those pins are molded a fraction too close together, the narrow space between them providing small enough air gaps for the current to jump from one pin to the next. This would also apply to metal screws on the plug face of rewirable cord sets.

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Topics: electrical safety, IEC 60320, connector locks

If Setting Up Equipment in Tight Spaces, Or Using Accessory Power Strips, You Need an Angle

Posted on 7/18/24 12:48 PM

In hospitals and clinics, production floor areas, and standard brick-and-mortar offices, the spatial relationship of heavy machinery, diagnostic equipment, and peripheral devices and their AC power outlets can become a tricky geometric problem to solve—equipment placed tightly against walls where odd angles and tight corners loom. Even when designing and building your own facility, local building codes and other present mechanical infrastructure can pose challenges when it comes to positioning AC equipment in optimal areas.

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Topics: product design, Angled Plugs, product development, 1-week lead-time

To “B” or not to “B” . . . Crimping Flexible Power Cords

Posted on 6/27/24 2:37 PM

By automation or manually by hand, Interpower® crimps bridges for country-specific plugs, and IEC 60320 connectors onto miles of flexible cable it manufactures each year. For cord sets, the optimal crimp is one that provides the most electrical contact between the conductors of stranded wire and its bridge or connector—the B crimp provides optimal electrical contact for flexible cable.

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Topics: product design, testing, manufacturing, crimps

Interpower® Manufactures Newly Designed Japanese 12A/125VAC Medical Cord Set

Posted on 5/28/24 10:26 AM

Interpower recently received updated approvals for its new Japanese 12A/125VAC hospital-grade power cord set. With a Japanese hospital-grade plug on one end, and an IEC 60320 C13 connector on the opposite end of 3x1.25 mm² VCTF cable, the Japanese hospital-grade cord set is ready to use right out of the box. A major benefit of the cord set is how the newly designed plug offers more flexibility in manufacturing custom cord length and color options.

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