Some Notes about an IEC-60320 Connector Pair.
Table of Contents
IEC-60320 C18 and C17
An (uncommon) IEC-60320 C18 Inlet and an C17 power-cord connector.
Detached, around year 2000, from an old Nilfisk vacuum-cleaner that itself was probably from the 1980's. Stored in a nondescript box, long forgotten, survived several house-moves, and recently found again when looking for something else.
They fit nicely together:
((Double?-) Click on any of the photos to see the full-sized version.)
C13 fits into C18
An C13 connector, delivering protective earth (PE), also fits in an C18 inlet that doesn't require PE.
C17 doesn't fit in C14
The C17 power-cord connector (on the left) doesn't deliver PE and an C14 inlet (on the right) indicates that the consumer requires PE. So, this combination shouldn't and doesn't fit.
Question(s)
Are these really, formally, IEC-60320 C17/C18 plugs and connectors ? There are no imprints or indications on these pieces, except for the name Nilfisk and Nilfisk's own typename "GS".
Still, it is a pity that such C17/C18 combinations are used so little. They works nicely and in a safe way with the often available C13/C14.