Explosion-Proof Plugs and Sockets
Interlocked plugs and sockets for temporary power and portable equipment in classified areas — 16 A to 63 A, with mechanical interlock and IP65 sealing.
Typical range
- Ex d plugs and sockets, 16 A / 32 A / 63 A
- 1P+N+PE, 3P+PE and 3P+N+PE configurations, at 16 A / 32 A / 63 A
- Interlocked socket with switch
- Portable and panel-mount versions
- AC series explosion-proof plug and socket — full specification ›
Indicative specification
- Protection: Ex db eb IIB T4 Gb / Ex db eb IIC T4 Gb; Ex tb IIIC T130°C Db (temperature class T4)
- Ingress protection: IP65
- Rated voltage: AC 220–250 V / 380–415 V, 50 Hz
- Materials: aluminium alloy with stainless hardware
- Ambient: -40 to +55 °C
Applications
Maintenance power, welding sets, portable tools and test equipment in refineries, chemical plants and offshore facilities.
Part of the explosion-proof electrical apparatus range. Request a quote with the current rating and configuration you need.
Interlocked or non-interlocked — start here
An interlocked plug and socket cannot be withdrawn while the switch is closed: the plug is held in place until the supply is isolated. For portable equipment in a classified area that interlock is the whole point of the assembly, because it removes the possibility of pulling a live plug. Our range is built with a mechanical interlock and a switch, in portable, panel-mount and wall-mount versions.
How to specify plugs and sockets
- Current rating. The range covers 16 A, 32 A and 63 A. Rating and pin configuration go together — a plug of one rating does not fit a socket of another, which is deliberate.
- Configuration. 1P+N+PE for single-phase supplies; 3P+PE and 3P+N+PE for three-phase. All three configurations are available at 16 A, 32 A and 63 A. State the configuration rather than the voltage alone.
- Voltage and frequency. Assemblies are rated for AC 220–250 V / 380–415 V, 50 Hz. Different voltages within one site should use different configurations so that a plug cannot be inserted into the wrong supply.
- Zone and group. Ex db eb IIB / IIC T4 Gb across the range.
- Mounting. Portable for tools and welding sets, panel-mount where the socket is part of a control panel, wall-mount for fixed points.
- Material. Aluminium alloy body with stainless hardware — a combination chosen so that the fasteners do not seize after years outdoors.
What the assembly is normally used for
| Rating | Typical use in a classified area |
|---|---|
| 16 A | Portable tools, lighting sets for maintenance work, test instruments |
| 32 A | Larger portable equipment, temporary panels, small welding sets |
| 63 A | Welding sets and heavier temporary loads during shutdowns and turnarounds |
Where they are installed
Maintenance power, welding sets, portable tools and test equipment in refineries, chemical plants and offshore facilities: in practice the sockets sit where the work is, on pipe racks, in compressor houses and at loading areas, and they are used by people who are not electricians. That is the argument for the interlock and for keeping one configuration per voltage across the whole site.
Frequently asked questions
Can a 32 A plug be used in a 63 A socket?
No, and the designs are deliberately incompatible. Each rating has its own pin arrangement so that a cable rated for 32 A cannot be connected to a circuit protected at 63 A.
Do I have to switch off before unplugging?
With an interlocked assembly you cannot unplug while the switch is closed. Where an interlock is not fitted, the supply must be isolated first — the interlock exists to make that rule automatic.
Can I use the same socket for single-phase and three-phase tools?
Only if the configurations differ. Using one configuration for two different voltages is exactly the mistake the standard configurations are designed to prevent.
Which glands should be ordered with the sockets?
Glands sized to the actual cable outside diameter, in the same thread standard as the socket entry. Tell us the cable type and we will confirm the gland with the socket.
Are panel-mount versions available?
Yes — portable, panel-mount and wall-mount versions are all part of the range, so a fixed installation and a portable set can share the same plugs.
What to send us for a quote
- Current rating and configuration (for example 32 A, 3P+N+E)
- Voltage and frequency of the installation
- Zone and gas group
- Mounting type: portable, panel-mount or wall-mount
- Cable outside diameter for the gland, and quantity
Request a quote with the current rating and configuration and we will confirm the closest assembly.
Our factory videos give an overview of how explosion-proof electrical apparatus and accessories are manufactured.
Explosion-Proof Plugs and Sockets: Frequently Asked Questions
Ratings, interlocking and compatibility questions for hazardous-area power connections.
Why are explosion-proof plugs and sockets interlocked?
Because the risk is not the plug itself, it is the arc drawn when a live connector is separated. Interlocked designs mechanically prevent the plug from being withdrawn while the contacts are energised, so the circuit is broken inside a protected enclosure and the exposed connection is always dead. This is why explosion-proof connectors are supplied as a matched plug and socket pair, and why mixing brands in the same circuit is not advisable.
Which current ratings and pole configurations are available?
Our range covers 16 A, 32 A, 63 A and higher ratings, in 2P+E, 3P+E and 3P+N+E configurations, for single-phase and three-phase supplies up to 690 V, with the pin geometry following the familiar industrial IEC 60309 pattern so ratings cannot be mismated. Enclosures are sealed to IP66, with IP67 versions for washdown and outdoor duty.
Can your connectors replace the ones already installed on site?
Usually yes, if you match three things: current rating, pole configuration and voltage, plus the cable entry size you need. Send us a photo of the existing socket nameplate and the inside of the plug body, and we will identify the matching item in our range or confirm which adapters are required.
What industries use explosion-proof plugs and sockets most?
Oil and gas terminals, chemical and petrochemical plants, paint and solvent stores, grain and starch handling, pharmaceutical plants where solvents are used, and tanker loading bays. In all of these the connector is the point where portable or temporary equipment is connected, so it is also the point most often inspected during a hazardous-area audit.
Question not answered here? Send it to our engineering team — we answer hazardous-area selection questions with the relevant standard referenced.
Related: explosion-proof electrical apparatus, push button switches and control stations, cable glands and conduit fittings.
