If you are using say 38999 series III for mains (or higher ;-) ), as is actually quite common on NATO military kit, please realise that  these connectors are not designed to be used for making and breaking on load ( - actually a similar caveat applies to IEC 'kettle leads' but the earth pin is early make..)  for equipment solidly connected because it is part of an mechanical assembly like a vehicle fitment, you are not relying on the cable for the sole earth connection anyway. The connector keying is normally chosen so that the use of a particular connector is unique, as there is no generic agreement about pin out. What standard are you building to ? If commercial you may be better with something like the Binders that are aimed at mains.

Mke.

thank you for your replies.

This is industrial equipment located in a mobile vehicle (supply source is external and connected via 400V 63A 5pin 60309 inlets). Within the vehicle are a number of 19” racking ‘assemblies’ which contain the control and power switchgear to heat various pipelines located outside the vehicle via other socket outlets which are also relevant to this thread but my question is specifically in relation to the 19” rack control gear assemblies located inside the vehicle which require interconnecting via plug/socket combinations. The customer is testing engine emissions. 

so to answer your question, I’m not sure if there is a specific standard for this ‘test rig’. I would have thought the majority of it falls under BS7671 (and particularly section 717 ‘mobile vehicles). For control gear assemblies 61439 standard is relevant but this doesn’t state anything on the earth pin length. Most of the equipment I deal with falls under machinery 60204-1  and there are some control valves and pumps on this rig but I wouldn’t class it as machinery. I looked at 60519 ‘electroheating’ which BS7671 mentions but having a brief look through it it generally just redirects you to 60204-1 of other harmonised standards - there’s no quality guidance in my opinion, just redirects! I don’t know it well though so again I probably need to look harder. 

I have another question on these interconnecting cables… it is a multi core cable containing the power circuits to 17 heating elements (230V, most onerous is 13Amps). I want to check if all 17 circuits need their own protective earth core or whether I am ok to use 1 core as a common cpc for all 17 circuits? Put another way could I use 1 x 35 core 1.5mm2 with  34 cores being live neutral for 17 elements and just 1 x 1.5mm2 for the common cpc.

thanks 

thank you for your replies.

This is industrial equipment located in a mobile vehicle (supply source is external and connected via 400V 63A 5pin 60309 inlets). Within the vehicle are a number of 19” racking ‘assemblies’ which contain the control and power switchgear to heat various pipelines located outside the vehicle via other socket outlets which are also relevant to this thread but my question is specifically in relation to the 19” rack control gear assemblies located inside the vehicle which require interconnecting via plug/socket combinations. The customer is testing engine emissions. 

so to answer your question, I’m not sure if there is a specific standard for this ‘test rig’. I would have thought the majority of it falls under BS7671 (and particularly section 717 ‘mobile vehicles). For control gear assemblies 61439 standard is relevant but this doesn’t state anything on the earth pin length. Most of the equipment I deal with falls under machinery 60204-1  and there are some control valves and pumps on this rig but I wouldn’t class it as machinery. I looked at 60519 ‘electroheating’ which BS7671 mentions but having a brief look through it it generally just redirects you to 60204-1 of other harmonised standards - there’s no quality guidance in my opinion, just redirects! I don’t know it well though so again I probably need to look harder. 

I have another question on these interconnecting cables… it is a multi core cable containing the power circuits to 17 heating elements (230V, most onerous is 13Amps). I want to check if all 17 circuits need their own protective earth core or whether I am ok to use 1 core as a common cpc for all 17 circuits? Put another way could I use 1 x 35 core 1.5mm2 with  34 cores being live neutral for 17 elements and just 1 x 1.5mm2 for the common cpc.

thanks 

Udtwmc said:

there are some control valves and pumps on this rig but I wouldn’t class it as machinery.

Interestingly, commercial laundry and dishwashing equipment is classed as Machinery, and so is HVAC. A dishwasher really mainly only contains heaters and pumps (the moving spray arms are driven by water pressure and can be stopped by hand without injury usually.

However, if this is a test rig for engine emissions, perhaps BS EN 61010-1 is the most appropriate standard to use (although it wouldn't preclude the use of that with BS EN 60204-1? It doesn't matter how big the 'machinery' or 'test equipment' is, provided you've adopted the standard).

IN any case, I don't think you'd find much different to BS 7671 in terms of plugs and socket-outlets, or connectors/couplers, except that there are not the provisions of Regulation 511 in those other standards (hence no messing around with extra paperwork statements if you want to use SY, CY and YY cables, for example), only the requirements of the relevant legislation to consider (i.e. keep on file manufacturer's specifications and DofCs as appropriate).