Powercon

Locking mains connectors for fixtures, amplifiers and distribution: Neutrik powerCON alongside Seetronic’s PowerTwist range, covering cable connectors, chassis mounts and IP-rated sealing caps, with TRUE1-format parts making up most of the range.

Know which system you are buying into, because the two do not mix and the mistake is expensive at volume. The TRUE1 format, and Seetronic’s TR1 equivalent, is rated for connection and disconnection under load and comes in IP65 sealed versions, which makes it the default for outdoor rigs and for anything a crew member might unplug while it is live. The original powerCON format is not rated for breaking under load and uses a blue A-type connector for power in and a lighter B-type for power out. It does not intermate with TRUE1 by design, so check what your existing fixtures actually carry before standardising a workshop on one or the other.

Sealing caps matter more than they look. An IP-rated chassis connector only keeps its rating when the cap is fitted to an unmated socket, so order one for every exposed panel position rather than treating them as an accessory. A rated connector left open in weather performs like an unrated one, and the failure is intermittent rather than obvious, which makes it hard to diagnose on site.

Chassis parts come in different panel footprints, so check the cut-out and fixing centres against what you are retrofitting into. Colour and keying are worth standardising too: keeping input and output formats visually distinct across a rack or a truss loom saves confusion when someone else derigs it.

Ready-made TRUE1 and PowerTwist leads are in the Power Cables category if you would rather not terminate your own, and bulk H07RN-F cable to build them is in Cable Drums. The connector guide covers how powerCON relates to the other formats on a stage, and the event power guide covers what feeds them.

powerCON FAQs

TRUE1 or classic powerCON? They do not intermate, so know which you are buying into. TRUE1 (and Seetronic’s TR1) is rated for connection under load and comes IP65-sealed, the default on current fixtures and outdoor rigs. Classic blue/grey powerCON survives on older equipment only.

Neutrik or Seetronic? Both are stage-proven; TR1 parts intermate with TRUE1 format and often win on price. Match the fixture inlet exactly and standardise your stock on one family.