A new classification of plugs and receptacles have emerged on the market with many new safety features that increase operator safety and can prolong the life of many installations.

Safety Shrouded locking products are manufactured in either watertight versions or standard shrouded configurations.

Key Features / Benefits

• Plugs still mate with most NEMA locking connector bodies.
  
• IP66, CSA/Nema 4, 4X, 12K environmental rating.
  
• Bent pins are eliminated.
  
• Provides a barrier for additional shock protection.
  
• Prevents foreign materials from entering between plugs and connectors.
  
• Snuffs arcing and reduces exposure when disconnecting under load.
  
• Prevent deformation of contacts in receptacles from bent pins being inserted.
  
• Complies with new California Code of Regulation for Voltages exceeding 300 Volts.
  
• Lockout / tagout hole in plug and inlet per OSHA Rule 29 CFR 1910.147
  
• Can be used in Mechanical Interlock Receptacles preventing make/break under load.

Shrouded products series virtually eliminate dirt, dust, water, mud etc from entering mated assemblies.

According to the new California Code of Regulation, "skirted " attachment plugs or other connectors supplying equipment with more than 300 V shall be skirted type.

Early failure observed in many industrial environments are from the mishandling of male plugs that are either dropped on hard surfaces or damaged on mobile equipment resulting in bent or broken pins.

A shrouded product virtually eliminates the possibility of bent or broken pins.
When pins are damaged due to mishandling on a standard plugs, a person might either bend the pins back to what may look good enough or may just leave them bent and force the plugs back into the receptacle.

The results of bending back a bent pin to what seems straight may in fact make the circle diameter smaller or larger than what was originally manufactured.

It is not the tip of these blades that make contact, but a circular surface that must not subject the receptacle contacts with excessive force.

The radius of these pins must coincide to the internal radius of the contacts in the mating receptacle.

If the blade is twisted from its original circumference it will eventually force open the contact in a receptacle or connector body resulting in reduced surface contact and poor contact pressure, almost certainly creating excessive heat due to the increased contact resistance. Shrouded plugs guard plugs from this type of abuse due to the skirted construction.

Shrouding provides additional personnel protection by automatically having a barrier between the user fingers and the live pins when plugs are inserted or removed from receptacles and also eliminating the risk of shock from arcing when removed under load.

 

Foreign materials are also prevented from entering between plugs and connectors on the standard shrouded versions or can provide a UL / CSA type 4, 4x & 12K or IP66 seal on the watertight versions.

Shrouded combinations are well suited for industrial applications like woodworking shops, bakeries, portable machinery, and welders, bus drops cords and OEM equipment where contaminants can enter between mated pairs and contaminate contacts.

Watertight combinations are IP66 rated and suitable for industries like food processing, mining, automotive assembly, High abuse industrial areas, water treatment plants etc where the risk of contamination from water, oil is seen everyday.

Both versions of shrouded plugs and inlets are manufactured with a triangular hole on the circumference of the shroud to facilitate locking out the plug for maintenance or safety concerns. This tagout hole in plug meets OSHA Rule 29. CFR 1910.147

Add-A-Shroud devices can also be purchased to convert existing 20A & 30A, 3 to 5 wire plugs to meet these new requirements.

Universal Neoprene Diaphragm seal behind the cord clamp assembly to accommodate from #16-3 Type SJ to #8-5 Type S, So flexible cords on the watertight plugs and connectors.

Receptacles are manufactured from high impact grey Valox. These can be mounted on standard 1 gang flush or surface boxes, or semi-flush two gang boxes.

Inlets are available in watertight versions only and can mounted on a panel or non-metallic back box.