TV Power Cable Guide
Most TVs take one of three mains leads: a 2 pin figure 8, a 3 pin cloverleaf, or a kettle style IEC lead. The right one depends on the shape of the power socket on your TV, not on the brand. This guide shows how to tell them apart, which length and angle to choose, and what to use for monitors, PCs, abroad and making a lead longer.
Which power lead does my TV need?
Look at the power socket on the back of the TV, or on its power supply, and match the shape:
| Lead | Connector | Found on |
|---|---|---|
| Figure 8 (C7) | 2 round holes in a figure 8 shape, no earth | Many TVs, games consoles, set top boxes, soundbars, Freeview and Sky boxes. See our 2m, 3m and 5m figure 8 leads, or white figure 8 leads |
| Cloverleaf (C5) | 3 holes in a three lobed shape, earthed. Also called a Mickey Mouse lead | Some TVs, laptop and TV power supplies, projectors. See our cloverleaf lead, 1.8m to 5m, and longer cloverleaf leads up to 10m |
| Kettle style (C13) | 3 slots in a rectangular plug with two corners cut off, earthed | Some larger TVs, monitors, PCs, printers and AV amplifiers. See our UK plug to C13 lead, 0.5m to 5m, and longer IEC leads up to 10m |
Drawings are simplified views of the connector face. Some smaller TVs have a separate power supply, like a laptop charger; the mains lead into that power supply is usually a cloverleaf or figure 8.
Figure 8 power cablesCloverleaf power cablesIEC kettle leads
LG, Samsung, Sony and other brands
There is no single power lead for a brand: LG, Samsung, Sony, Panasonic, Philips and others use figure 8, cloverleaf or kettle style sockets on different models and sizes. The quickest way to be sure is to look at the socket on your TV and match it to the shapes above. If you still have the old lead, the connector at the TV end is the shape you need.
The plug at the wall end is a standard UK 3 pin plug on all of our UK leads.
Length, angle and colour
- Measure from the wall socket to the TV's power socket, following the route the cable will take, and add a little slack. Our TV power leads go up to 5m for figure 8 and 10m for cloverleaf and kettle style.
- Wall mounted TVs: a right angled connector keeps the cable flat behind the TV, such as our angled figure 8 lead, 0.5m to 5m in black or white, our right angled cloverleaf lead and our right angled kettle lead. Check which way the angle points against the socket on your TV.
- Colour: white leads suit white walls and equipment on show; black suits TV units and AV cabinets.
- Use one lead of the right length rather than joining leads together.
Monitors, PCs and other IEC leads
- C13 kettle lead: the standard lead for PCs, monitors and printers, rated at 10A.
- C15 hot condition lead: looks like a C13 with a notch, for electric kettles and equipment that runs hot, such as our 2m C15 lead. Despite the name, a C13 "kettle lead" should not be used on a kettle.
- C19: a larger 16A connector for high power servers, PDUs and UPSs, such as our UK plug to C19 lead.
- PC and monitor from one socket: a UK plug to 2 x C13 splitter lead; keep the combined load within the plug rating.
- Extending an IEC lead: a C14 to C13 extension, such as our 5m and 10m extension cables (rated 6A, so check the load), or short extensions in 7 colours for racks.
- From a UPS or rack PDU: C14 to figure 8 leads, and plug-in adapters from C14 to figure 8 or cloverleaf.
UK IEC power cablesPower extension cablesPower adapter cables
Using a TV or console abroad
- For a figure 8 device in Europe, use a Euro 2 pin to figure 8 lead or our 3m Euro figure 8 lead. In the USA and Canada, a US figure 8 lead or US cloverleaf lead.
- Travel adapters, such as our UK to European and UK to Australasia and Americas adapters, let a UK plug fit a foreign socket. A Euro to UK adapter lets a Euro plug fit a UK socket.
- Leads and adapters do not change the voltage. Most modern TVs, consoles and laptop power supplies run on 100 to 240V, but check the label on the device or its power supply first.
Safety
- Replace a lead if the cable is cut, crushed or kinked, or the plug gets warm.
- Never force a connector into a socket of a different shape, and never use a lead or adapter rated lower than the equipment needs.
- For several devices at the TV, a surge protected extension strip protects them from mains spikes. Do not plug one extension strip into another.
- Rewireable UK plugs and IEC connectors must be fitted by a competent person with the right fuse in the plug.
Not sure which power lead your TV needs? Call us on 0207 100 4874 or contact us and we will help.
For every socket on your TV, see our guide which cable for my TV?