Round-pin power cords for older equipment using PH-163 connector

The round-pin power cords used on older Hewlett-Packard and Dolby equipment  uses a connector called the PH-163. I think I have enough to last me. I bought my last batch in the early 2000s.

As of 2024 these cords are becoming more and more difficult to find…but they still keep appearing in small quantities.

In April 2024, Kazuo Iwase contacted me (out of the blue) from Tokyo, Japan, saying he had just received a box of these cords. His contact information is below.

Thanks once again to Rick Chinn (In 2021), there still is a USA source. These have European connectors, bare ends, or non-molded NEMA 5-15P plugs attached. As of April 2024, this USA link is still active Use your browser’s search function (<ctrl> F) to find HP Oval.

Kazuo Iwase who contacted me in 2024 provided the following contact information:

URBAN MUSIC
3-35-1 Daita Setagaya-ku
Tokyo 155-0033  JAPAN
Ph: 03-3795-3571
Contact@urbanmusic.com <mailto:Contact@urbanmusic.com>
http://www.urbanmusic.com <http://www.urbanmusic.com/>

INFORMATION AND TECHNICAL DETAILS

The round-pin power cords using the PH-163 connector come in two versions. The difference between the two versions is that the hot and neutral are reversed. The ground is always in the same centre position. Fortunately, with either the non-molded NEMA plugs or the bare ends, you can choose which version cord you have.

Volex power cord model #17280 has standard polarity per UL 817 and CSA 895B.

Volex power cord model #17952 has  neutral and hot lines reversed, and it appears that HP used this configuration based on some Web conjecture (i.e., not confirmed).

There is only a risk for maintenance operations. There is no user risk under most applications.

In viewing the PH-163 connector from the end so that the centre earth contact is above the other two, then the neutral is on the left and the hot or line is on the right in the standard #17280 cord set.

In viewing the PH-163 connector from the end so that the centre earth contact is above the other two, then the neutral is on the  right and the hot or line is on the  left in the reversed #17952 cord set.

This image, from this site shows the configuration graphically. Note in the discussion above, the ground is at the top and the illustration below the ground is at the bottom. The information is consistent. The ruler is in cm. There is additional useful information about related obsolete power connectors at this site.

I originally found the link to this image here , where there is an interesting discussion about how this connector was applied in Wurlitzer electric pianos.

Thanks to madrona.ca/e/powerConn/index.html#163 for this image.