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Electrical connector for carrying DC power

A DC connector (or DC plug, for one common type of connector) is an electrical connector for supplying direct current (DC) power. Compared to domestic AC power plugs and sockets, DC connectors have many more standard types that are not interchangeable. The dimensions and arrangement of DC connectors can be chosen to prevent accidental interconnection of incompatible sources and loads. Types vary from small coaxial connectors used to power portable electronic devices from AC adapters, to connectors used for automotive accessories and for battery packs in portable equipment.

These extra low voltage connectors are rated at or below 120 VDC.

Small cylindrical connectors come in a variety of sizes. They may be known as "coaxial power connectors", "barrel connectors", "concentric barrel connectors" or "tip connectors". The intended use of these plugs is on the cable connected to an external AC adapter (power supply). The matching jack or socket is permanently fitted to the equipment to be powered. Some of these jacks contain a normally closed contact, which can be used to disconnect internal batteries whenever the power supply is connected, avoiding the risk of battery leakage or explosion posed by incorrect recharging of the batteries. Cylindrical plugs usually have an insulated tip constructed to accept insertion of a pin. The outer body of the plug is one contact, most often but not always the negative side of the supply. Inverted polarity plugs can, and do, damage circuitry when plugged in, even if the voltage is correct; not all equipment is equipped with protection. A pin mounted in the socket makes contact with a second internal contact. The outer plug contact is often called the barrel, sleeve or ring, while the inner one is called the tip. There are a wide variety of sizes and designs for these power connectors, and many appear quite similar to each other yet are not quite mechanically or electrically compatible. In addition to a plethora of generic designs (whose original designer is unknown) there are at least two different national standards—EIAJ in Japan and DIN in Germany, plus the JSBP connector used on some laptop computers. The Japanese EIAJ standard includes five different sizes, with each supporting a specified range of voltages. Most of the other coaxial DC power connectors have no specified voltage association, however. Generic plugs are often named for the pin diameter they are designed to take. Many non proprietary co axial power plugs are in outside diameter (OD) and in length. Two pin sizes are common in the jacks for this size plug body, and , and the plugs should match. If the size is not known, it is difficult to distinguish by eye or measurement between the 2.1mm and 2.5mm ID plugs; some suppliers suggest simple methods. Maximum current ratings commonly vary from unspecified up to 5 A (11 A for special high power versions from some companies), with 1 A, 2 A and 5 A being common values. The smaller types usually have lower ratings, both for current and voltage. The 'tip' (i. e., the inner conductor) usually carries the positive (+) pole, but some devices, and their power supplies, use negative tip. Connector size does not usually indicate the voltage. It is not possible, except for some proprietary connectors, to reliably infer any information on power parameters (current, voltage, polarity, even whether AC or DC) by examining the connector.

Molex connectors were frequently used as DC power connectors in personal computers, for floppy, hard disk, and CD drives. These connectors have four pins, +5 V (red), 2 common ground (black), and +12 V (yellow). SATA peripherals use a different style of connector. Locking Molex connectors are available in 3, 4, and 6 terminal configurations.

Tamiya connectors are commonly used on radio control (toy) vehicle battery packs and chargers.

The JST RCY series connector is a 2.5mm pitch and manufactured by J. S. T. Mfg. Co., Ltd. It is known in radio control circles as the battery eliminator circuit (BEC) or P connector. JST also produces other types of connectors that are used in R/C and hobby electronics.

The Deans style T Plug connector is a polarized high power plug that inhibits accidental reversed connections. This also applies in particular to avoid the LiPo flash, which can cause burn injuries or related damage. Depending on the make, Deans plugs are sensitive to overheating during soldering, as the plastic can become soft and the plug surfaces can easily twist. Depending on the construction, they can support currents up to 40A (pulse to 70A). Usual pin assignment T Plug: negative ( ) is the parallel pin; positive (+) is the perpendicular pin.

Inverter tabs/lugs are available in 2, 4, and 8 AWG. These are designed to pass very high currents at voltages up to 600 V DC to and from battery packs, inverters, and other high current loads to a terminal bus.

Two different airline in seat power supply system (ISPSS) standards for DC power have been used in the past. American Airlines in the past used an automobile auxiliary power outlet. Most other airlines that provide DC power use the smaller EmPower system, which has a 4 pin Hypertronics' D series connector. It can supply 15 volts maximum 5 amperes.

Powerpole connectors are a series of connectors developed by Anderson Power Products and are available in a variety of sizes and colors. The commonly used 15/30/45 series connectors are interoperable with each other and use the same housings but use different contacts for different wire sizes and current requirements. Powerpole connectors are physically and electrically genderless, thus avoiding the need to worry about which end is the plug and which the socket, or which end has the correct polarity, as is the case with the physically but not electrically genderless two wire trailer plug. Powerpoles have been adopted as a standard 12 VDC connector by most RACES Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service organizations and ARES Amateur Radio Emergency Service units. They deliver good current capability for their sizes. They also facilitate very easy pluggability for those without good eyesight or good lighting. However, they can be damaged relatively easily, and if not properly crimped, can occasionally separate from each other easily with minimal force unless additional retaining measures are taken.

The SAE connector is a physically self mating hermaphrodite two conductor DC connector commonly used for solar and automotive applications (also motorcycles). It is so named for the Society of Automotive Engineers who created the specifications this connector is based on. Although the plug is physically hermaphroditic, and any SAE connector can be connected to any other SAE connector, they are NOT electrically hermaphroditic and care needs to be taken to maintain correct polarity when connecting different plugs to each other. This connector is typically used for applying a maintenance charge to a vehicle battery. The polarity of the connector, when installed in a vehicle and attached to a battery, is always such that no short circuit will occur if the exposed terminal were to touch the vehicle chassis. In most vehicles, this means that the exposed terminal connects to the negative terminal of the battery. Conversely, the positive terminal on a battery charger is exposed, to mate with the concealed one on the vehicle side. (On vehicles with a positive ground frame, such as vintage British motorcycles, this is reversed.) Although there is a risk of short circuiting a battery charger, the risk is minimal and often mitigated by the circuitry of the battery charger itself. On the other hand, the short circuit current of the lead–acid batteries installed in vehicles is sufficiently great, that a short circuit could result in a fire or explosion. The priority is therefore given to avoiding short circuits of the vehicle battery, rather than of the charger. Although the term "SAE connector" is commonly used to refer to the pictured two pin connector, there are many different connector standards designated by SAE International that may also be referred to by this term. Furthermore, while the design of the subject connector was inspired by and based on SAE Standards, the connector itself has no official SAE designation. The SAE Specifications are available for J928 and J1239 but do require payment to be viewed.

The automobile auxiliary power outlet is also called a cigarette lighter receptacle, or cigar lighter receptacle, since it was originally designed as a lighter for cigars—hence its rather large size. Nowadays, it is used to power automotive accessories such as portable inverters, mobile phone chargers and portable refrigerators. These sockets were not originally designed to provide DC power, and are not an ideal DC connector for several reasons, but still widely used for compatibility to existing accessories. Three sizes exist, one for 6 VDC and two for 12 VDC and the mating of the different sized 12 VDC plugs and jacks is problematic. Because of this, and the small gauge wire sometimes used, they may provide unreliable power connections. The polarity for 12 VDC sockets is center pin positive (+), outer collar negative (−). Reversed polarity will damage some electronic devices. Although the nominal voltage of a 12 V lead acid battery is 12 VDC, when the engine is running the car's battery charging system will bring the system voltage to 13.8 VDC or higher. The possible range of battery voltages from 11–15 VDC must be taken into account by devices attached to the cigar lighter socket. This connector is also often used for powering accessories on motorcycles, such as heated clothing (vests, gloves, etc.) or GPS units. This makes "plugging in" easier to manage while wearing gloves. As the accessory lacks any power of its own, there's no risk of "shorting" the exposed connector.

Similar in concept to an automotive cigar lighter, the ISO 4165 connector is shorter and smaller. Found most frequently on motorcycles, it is also known as a "BMW Accessory", "Hella", "Merit", "Norm" or "Powerlet" connector.

In the broadcast, film, and television industries, the 4 pin XLR connector is the standard for 12 V power. The connectors are wired pin 1 negative, pin 4 positive. Often pins 1 and 2 will be negative, 3 and 4 positive for a higher current rating. Female connectors are used as supply and male connectors are used on loads. Most battery belts and power supplies output 13.2 V, but equipment can usually handle a range of 11–18 volts to accommodate battery packs of varying voltages and charging while operating. The readily available XLR3 is also used by some manufacturers as power supply plugs despite their being a well accepted standard for other purposes.

In Australia, a T configuration Clipsal socket is used for extra low voltage DC power outlets, such as in stand alone power systems (SAPS) or on boats, in order to prevent accidental connections of 12 V appliances into 240 V socket outlets. This connector is also used for temporary equipment in emergency vehicles. The connector pins are mutually perpendicular, and are usually oriented to look like a capital T. Polarity at the outlet can be random, and must be verified to avoid equipment damage.

Due to the popularity of USB for mobile phones and tablets, USB sockets and plugs have become a common choice for other small devices that require five volts or less, even those that require no data connection. Examples include flashlights, toys such as small helicopters, and rechargeable battery packs (which in turn provide five volts over USB to recharge other devices). Wall sockets with built in USB power adapters and USB sockets are available. In 2009, the EU created a common external power supply specification, a voluntary specification which encouraged mobile phone manufacturers to use the micro USB B connector. As of 2016, most new mobile phones used this connector for charging. In 2012, the USB Power Delivery (PD) specification was released. The USB PD specification provides the ability for 5 V devices to draw more than (the USB battery charging specification limit of) 7.5 W of power from USB "PD aware" ports when using PD aware USB cables. The specification also allows USB PD ports to provide even greater power at higher voltages over PD aware cables – up to 36 W at 12 V and 60 W at 20 V (for micro USB connectors) and up to 60 W at 12 V and 100 W at 20 V (for standard USB A/B connectors). After previous connectors were deprecated in USB 3.2, the new USB C plug has become a new standard for charging (and data transfer) over USB. In the European Union, the Radio Equipment Directive 2021/0291, requires new smartphones to use USB C as a universal charger by the end of 2024, and laptops by 2026.

There are a number of similar design PC board power connectors, including Molex Mini Fit SR, Molex Mini fit jr., MOLEX MICROFIT and Molex SABRE connectors, and AMP DUAC connectors that look similar to each other. Some plugs with three, four, five or more pins are also called DC plugs. These were common on vacuum tube equipment and continue to be used where several voltages are supplied. On vacuum tube equipment the pins are normally on the equipment side of the join for safety reasons. Many mobile phones use DC connectors that are unique to the manufacturer, or even a specific phone. In the interest of improved interoperability of phone battery chargers, major manufacturers have agreed to standardize on the micro USB connector for new phone chargers from 2010. Many manufacturers make special purpose DC power connectors for battery packs, instruments, medical equipment, communications equipment and other devices. Power Pack (PP) series of batteries such as the PP3 nine volt battery have circular and hexagonal terminals which mate with a "snap" connector with physically identical (but opposite polarity) terminals. Special "octal" connectors with either 8 or 11 pins, almost identical to octal relay sockets or tube sockets, were used to connect power supplies to some tube audio amplifiers, transmitters, and transceivers (especially in amateur radio models). Female sockets were installed on the power supply and male sockets (with exposed pins) on the radio equipment. Cable assemblies with mating connectors were also readily available. These connections transferred anode positive voltage (typically 600 VDC for Heathkit, 800 VDC for Collins), grid negative bias (−130 VDC), 6.3 and 12.6 VAC for heaters (filaments), and control functions (remote mains switching).

These low voltage connectors are rated at or below 1,500 VDC.

The Anderson SBS and SBS Mini series of connectors are rated at up to 600 VDC at (depending on the connector) 50 A, 75 A or 110 A. They are only rated for disconnection under load at up to 120 VDC however. specifies connectors capable of carrying between 294 and 400 VDC. There are two connectors in the standard rated at 2.6 kW and 5.2 kW. The lower current plug can be inserted into the higher current socket, but the higher current plug will not mate with the lower current socket. The 2.6 kW plug can be disconnected under load, but the 5.2 kW plug cannot. Designed primarily for supplying power to computer and communications equipment, these connectors are intended to allow data centers to migrate towards supplying equipment with DC power as an alternative to AC.

The Saf D Grid connector delivers up to 600 VDC at up to 30 A, with the connector occupying the same space as an IEC 320 C13/C14 connector normally limited to 250 VAC at 10 A. The connector can also be disconnected under load. Like the IEC 62735, this connector was designed to replace the IEC connector used in computer power supplies so that they can be operated from 380–400 VDC instead. Introduced in January 2009, it arrived before the competing IEC standard, however despite this it has not seen widespread use.

The Imperium connector from Molex is aimed at automotive applications and is rated at 1,000 VDC at 250 A. As of 2021 the manufacturer has classed this connector as obsolete.

These high voltage connectors are rated for voltages above 1,500 VDC.

The Banana connector, normally only rated for extra low voltage, is available in a high voltage variant as well. This version of the connector contains a thick shroud around both male and female connectors, permitting use at voltages of up to 30 kV. The shroud is typically deep enough to prevent connection by traditional banana plugs. This style of connector is often seen on high voltage test equipment, such as power supplies and volt meters capable of handling 10 kV and above.