hams on classiccmp

Tony> 'Figure of 8' is the common (although incorrect for many Tony> reasons) name for the normal 2 pin main connector you find Tony> (found?) on cassette recorders, radios, etc in the 1980s. I've Tony> seen it caleld a 'Telefunken connector', although I suspect Tony> that name is dubious too. Perhaps the same, perhaps not -- there are a number of IEC mains connectors. There is the 5 sided one found on many computers, which is rated at 10 or 13 amps depending on country. A less common variant (also 5-sided) has the blades parallel to the long edge rather than the short edge -- 16 or 20 amps. (There's also a version of the 13 amp connector with a dent in the long side opposite the ground pin; that indicates high operating temperature rating.) For lower power, there are "figure of 8" connectors. One has two wires (no ground). The other is 3 wire (with ground); the ground is in between the other two, offset to the side, a 120 degree or so equilateral triangle. That plug style is good for 3 amps or so. Some "brick" power supplies come with this; I think I had a Sony laptop once that did. All of those are IEC-nnn for suitable nnn. paul