Power cord

The power cord is the cable that connects the TV to the wall. At one end is a plug that fits the local socket; at the other, either a molded connector that pushes into the TV or wires fixed inside it.

It starts with two or three lengths of insulated wire, each with stranded copper for flexibility. Many TVs are double insulated, so they need only two wires, live and neutral, with no earth. The wires are laid side by side or twisted, and an outer jacket of PVC is extruded over them as a second layer of protection. Next comes the plug. Pins of brass, often nickel plated, are stamped or machined and joined to the wire ends by crimping or welding. They are set in a mold, and hot PVC is injected around them, sealing everything into one solid plug that can't be opened. The TV end is formed the same way, commonly the two-slot figure-8 shape.

In the television, the cord brings mains power, 100 to 240 volts depending on the country, to the power supply board. Plug shapes differ around the world, so makers pack a different cord for each region.