What power cord does a 3D printer use? IEC C13 and NEMA 5-15

Most desktop 3D printers use a standard computer power cord: a three-prong NEMA 5-15P wall plug on one end and a C13 connector on the other. C13 comes from IEC 60320, the International Electrotechnical Commission’s standard for appliance cords, and it plugs into the C14 inlet on the printer. An 18-gauge cord rated 10 A covers almost every desktop printer. Bambu Lab’s H2 series needs a 16-gauge, 13 A cord.

What power cord does a 3D printer use?

Most desktop 3D printers use the same detachable cord as a desktop PC or monitor. It has a NEMA 5-15P three-prong plug at the wall and an IEC C13 connector at the printer, which fits the printer’s C14 inlet. In North America, Underwriters Laboratories (UL) certifies C13 connectors up to 15 A. The cord’s wire gauge sets its actual rating.

C13 is the female connector on the cord, and C14 is the male inlet on the printer. That inlet has three flat pins in a rectangular socket with two angled corners. IEC 60320 rates the pair at 10 A. The NEMA 5-15P plug is rated 15 A at 120 V.

If the inlet on your printer has a different shape, it takes a different cord:

Inlet on the printer	Cord connector	Rating (IEC / UL)	Where you see it
C14, three pins	C13	10 A / 15 A, 70 °C	Most desktop printers, PCs, monitors
C16, C14 with a ridge	C15	10 A / 15 A, 120 °C	Hot appliances such as kettles
C20, larger three pins	C19	16 A / 20 A	Large printers, servers, UPS units

A C16 inlet has a ridge that blocks a C13 connector. A C15 cord, the hot-condition version, still fits an ordinary C14 inlet. You only need a C15 cord if the printer has the ridged C16 inlet.

What rating does a replacement cord need?

The replacement cord needs three conductors including ground, a 5-15P plug, a C13 connector, and an amp rating above the printer’s maximum draw. Look for a UL or other nationally recognized testing laboratory listing. The jacket is printed with the gauge and conductor count, for example “18/3 SJT,” which means 18-gauge wire (American wire gauge, AWG) and three conductors.

Cord gauge	Rated amps at 125 V
18 AWG	10 A
16 AWG	13 A
14 AWG	15 A

All three ratings appear on UL-listed 5-15P to C13 cord sets, and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) gives the same 10 A and 13 A figures for 18 and 16 gauge. To find the printer’s draw, divide its maximum power by the voltage:

amps = watts ÷ volts

Bambu Lab P1S or A1, 350 W max at 110 V:   350 ÷ 110 = 3.2 A   → 18 AWG (10 A) is fine
Bambu Lab H2 series, 1,250 W max at 110 V: 1,250 ÷ 110 = 11.4 A → 16 AWG (13 A) or heavier

Never remove the ground prong or use a two-prong adapter. Replace a cord that is cracked or feels hot. The CPSC says softened plastic at the plug means the wires or connections are failing. The power supply calculator gives a printer’s total draw if you can’t find its nameplate figure.

What power cord does an Ender 3 use?

The Ender 3 uses a 5-15P to C13 cord. Creality sells it as the “USA Standard Power Cord” (item 3103120029), 1.5 m long. Creality lists the same cord for the Ender-3, Ender-3 Pro, Ender-3 V2, V2 Neo, S1, S1 Pro, V3 SE and V3, and for the K1 and K1 Max. Any listed 18-gauge or heavier C13 cord fits.

A new cord does not change the input voltage. Some Ender 3 power supplies, including the Mean Well replacement TH3D sells for the Ender 3 Pro, have a 115/230 V switch that must be set to 115 for US outlets. The Creality printer voltage guide covers which models have the switch.

What power cord does a Bambu Lab printer use?

The A1, P1P, P1S, P2S, X1C, X1E, X2D and H2 printers all use one detachable US cord, Bambu Lab part CAB031. Photos in Bambu Lab’s X1 repair guide show a C14 inlet with a fuse holder and a rocker switch above it. A generic C13 cord fits that inlet.

Size the cord for the model. The A1, P1 and X1 draw 350 to 600 W at 110 V, which 18 AWG covers. The P2S, X2D and H2 series draw 1,000 W or more at 110 V, close to or above 10 A, so they need 16 AWG.

The A1 mini is the exception. Its cord is wired inside the printer to the power supply terminals, and there is no inlet to plug into. A damaged A1 mini cord is replaced with Bambu’s own part, CAB020, by opening the base. Bambu support or a qualified technician should do the swap. Don’t splice the cord.

What power cord does a Prusa printer use?

Prusa ships the MK4S with a power cable for your country, and you choose the version when you order. The printer runs on a 240 W power supply made by Delta. Check the inlet on the back of that power supply and match its shape against the connector table.

Prusa’s US mains cord (“Mains Power Cord, US Version”) is a different part. It is a 2 m cord with a C19 connector, rated 15 A at 125 V, made for the Prusa Pro HT90. Prusa marks it as not compatible with the MK4S or the CORE One.

Which 3D printers use a power adapter instead of a cord?

Some small printers run from an external power brick, like a laptop’s. The Flashforge Finder is one example: its adapter takes 100 to 240 V AC and puts out 24 V DC at 2.71 A (65 W). If the brick fails, the replacement has to match the printer on all three counts:

• Voltage: the same DC voltage, 24 V for the Finder.
• Current: at least the original amp rating. More amps is fine because the printer only draws what it needs.
• Polarity and plug: the same center pin polarity, shown by the symbol on the label, and the same plug size.

A plug that fits doesn’t prove the adapter matches. Barrel plugs of the same size are sold on supplies with different voltages, and the wrong supply can damage the printer or start a fire.

Can I use a longer power cord?

Yes. Longer 5-15P to C13 cords are sold in lengths up to 25 ft, with the same gauge ratings. For a run that a cord can’t reach, the extension cord guide covers gauge by length and power strip limits. The circuit capacity calculator checks whether the breaker can carry the printer plus everything else on that circuit.