PWR-CAB-AC-USA= AC Power Cable: Technical Specifications, Compliance, and Deployment Guidelines

​​Overview of the PWR-CAB-AC-USA= Power Cable​​

The ​​PWR-CAB-AC-USA=​​ is a ​​regionalized AC power cable​​ designed for Cisco’s enterprise and data center equipment, including routers, switches, and UCS servers. Tailored for the North American market, this cable complies with ​​NEMA 5-15P to IEC-60320-C13​​ standards, ensuring compatibility with 120V AC power distribution units (PDUs) and UPS systems. Its role in delivering reliable power to mission-critical hardware makes it a foundational component in network infrastructure.

​​Key Technical Specifications​​

​​1. Electrical and Mechanical Properties​​

• ​​Voltage Rating​​: 125V AC, 60 Hz, supporting up to ​​10A continuous load​​ (1,250W).
• ​​Conductor Gauge​​: 14 AWG copper wires with PVC insulation (105°C rated).
• ​​Length​​: Standard 6-foot (1.83m) design, with a 15-foot variant (PWR-CAB-AC-USA-L=).
• ​​Connectors​​: NEMA 5-15P plug (US 3-prong) to IEC-60320-C13 receptacle.

​​2. Safety and Compliance Certifications​​

• ​​UL 60950-1​​: Certified for IT equipment safety.
• ​​CSA C22.2 No. 21​​: Validates construction integrity under Canadian standards.
• ​​RoHS 3​​: Free of lead, cadmium, and other restricted substances.

Cisco’s internal testing confirms ​​5,000+ insertion cycles​​ without connector degradation.

​​Primary Use Cases and Applications​​

​​1. Data Center Power Distribution​​

Integrates with Cisco’s ​​APC Smart-UPS​​ and ​​Rack PDU 9020R​​ units to deliver power to Catalyst 9000 switches and UCS C-Series servers. A hyperscaler reduced cable clutter by 30% using PWR-CAB-AC-USA= with vertical PDUs.

​​2. Enterprise Branch Offices​​

Supports Cisco ISR 1100 routers and Meraki MS switches in environments with limited power redundancy. A retail chain standardized these cables across 500+ sites to streamline replacements.

​​3. Industrial IoT Deployments​​

Withstands vibrations up to ​​5 Grms​​ (IEC 60068-2-64) in manufacturing plants, ensuring stable power to IE3400 switches controlling robotic arms.

​​Installation Best Practices​​

​​1. Cable Management​​

• Use ​​Cisco’s CMAK-1U-CABLE-ORG​​ kits to route cables along rack channels, maintaining ​​≥2-inch bend radius​​.
• Avoid daisy-chaining multiple cables to a single outlet; adhere to ​​80% NEC load rule​​ (max 8A per cable).

​​2. Thermal Considerations​​

• Ensure ambient temperatures remain ​​<40°C​​ near PDUs to prevent insulation softening.
• Separate power cables from Cat6A/7A data lines to minimize EMI interference.

​​3. Compliance Audits​​

• Verify ​​UL holographic labels​​ to avoid counterfeit cables, which cause 12% of unplanned outages.
• Document cable serials in ​​Cisco Crosswork Network Controller​​ for lifecycle tracking.

​​Addressing Common Deployment Concerns​​

​​Q: Can this cable support 208V three-phase systems?​​

No—use ​​PWR-CAB-AC-208V=​​ for 208V applications. The PWR-CAB-AC-USA= is strictly 120V.

​​Q: How to troubleshoot intermittent power drops?​​

1. Check for ​​loose IEC connections​​ (common with vibration).
2. Test voltage stability with a multimeter (target: 110–125V).
3. Replace cables older than 7 years due to insulation fatigue.

​​Q: Is it compatible with non-Cisco PDUs like Eaton 5PX?​​

Yes, but Cisco Smart Net Total Care support applies only to Cisco-certified configurations.

​​Comparison with Third-Party Alternatives​​

While the ​​PWR-CAB-AC-USA=​​ excels in compliance rigor, generic cables often lack UL certification, risking insurance voids. Tripp Lite’s N010-06C13 offers similar specs but skips RoHS 3 compliance. Cisco’s advantage lies in ​​end-to-end warranty coverage​​ when used with Catalyst/UCS hardware.

​​Procurement and Lifecycle Management​​

• ​​Bulk Purchasing​​: Available in packs of 10/50/100 units for large-scale deployments.
• ​​Recycling​​: Cisco’s Takeback Program accepts EOL cables for responsible disposal.

For guaranteed authenticity and compliance, ​​itmall.sale​​ stocks PWR-CAB-AC-USA= cables with traceable Cisco product IDs.

​​Future-Proofing and Sustainability​​

Cisco’s 2025 roadmap includes ​​smart cables​​ with embedded RFID tags for asset tracking. The PWR-CAB-AC-USA=’s PVC-free redesign (planned 2026) aligns with the EU’s Circular Economy Action Plan.

​​Engineering Perspective: The Overlooked Lifeline​​

Having resolved countless “mystery” outages, I’ve learned that power cables like the PWR-CAB-AC-USA= are the silent guardians of uptime. In one case, a frayed third-party cable at a fintech firm caused 220Kindowntime—easilypreventablewithCisco’sruggedizeddesign.Whileglamoroushardwaregrabsheadlines,it’sthesehumblecomponentsthatoftendictatenetworkresilience.Forteamsprioritizingcostcuts,remember:a220K in downtime—easily preventable with Cisco’s ruggedized design. While glamorous hardware grabs headlines, it’s these humble components that often dictate network resilience. For teams prioritizing cost cuts, remember: a 220Kindowntime—easilypreventablewithCisco’sruggedizeddesign.Whileglamoroushardwaregrabsheadlines,it’sthesehumblecomponentsthatoftendictatenetworkresilience.Forteamsprioritizingcostcuts,remember:a30 cable can safeguard $3M in infrastructure. Never compromise on the components that bridge your gear to the grid.