Are Printer Power Cords Universal? (We Checked)

Printers can use any USB cable that fits into the port but what about the power cord, can you use any power cord with any home printer?

In this article we will talk about the infamous printer power cords and if they are universal.

Are Printer Power Cords Universal?

Printer power cords are universal. Printers are all different sizes and shapes, but home printers typically use the same type of power cord. The standard printer power cord is a 6-foot-long cord that has two connectors on it.

Are Power Cords for Printers Interchangeable?

A universal printer cord is a power supply for printers that can be used with many different models of printers. These cords are usually longer than standard electrical power cables and have a variety of connectors so they can be used with many different printers.

If you have an older printer that uses a non-standard power cord, you may find it difficult or impossible to find replacement cords. You may also find yourself searching for a new cord if the old one fails due to age or damage.

In these cases, it may be easier to buy a universal printer cord in order to avoid having to replace your entire printer when something goes wrong with its power supply.

Universal Printer Power Cords

Universal printer cords are designed so that they can work with any brand of printer — even if it’s an older model or not on the market anymore.

They come in several different configurations depending on the type of printer and what kind of connectors you need on your device.

For example, there are universal cords designed for use with laser printers, inkjet printers and color laser printers as well as ones that work only with specific brands like HP or Canon printers.

Can You Get Universal Power Cords for Printers?

Yes, you can get Universal Power Cords for printers.

The universal power cord is compatible with any printer model and also provides the ability to work with both 110V and 220V electrical outlets.

It will look something like this on the one end:

There are many brands that offer such universal power cords, which can be easily purchased from online stores or even from retail stores.

However, it is important to note that not all universal power cords are created equal and not all of them are good enough for your printer.

Before purchasing the Universal Power Cord for your printer, it is recommended that you do some research on the different brands available in the market so that you can get one that suits your needs perfectly.

There are many online portals where you can read reviews about these products before making a decision on buying them.

You can get universal power cords for printers. These are typically available in two varieties:

• The first type of cord is a universal power cord that works with any printer brand and model. It has one end that fits into the wall outlet and another end that plugs into your printer. This type of cord works just like any standard printer cord, with no need to worry about compatibility issues or ordering specific models.

• The second type is a universal power cord that works with multiple brands of printers. These cords have one end that connects to the wall outlet, but they have several different types of adapters on the other end so you can plug them into different types of printers.

You’ll need to buy a new adapter if you want to connect your printer to something other than what came with it originally, but they’re relatively inexpensive so this isn’t much trouble.

Read our blog here about are sewing machine power cords universal?

What Happens If You Use the Wrong Power Cord with a Printer?

You cannot really use the wrong power cord for a printer. If the power cord fits into the female socket on the back of the printer you can plug it in. It would power up the printer instantly and work just fine.

The following is what could happen if you use the wrong power cord:

If you suspect that you don’t have a main circuit breaker, however, you will need a surge protector.

A surge protector is always a good idea to be on the safe side – ESPECIALLY if you don’t know if your main electrical panel has a surge breaker installed.

The surge protector will absorb and divert any spikes in power higher than 120 volts. It will divert it into the ground. The TV or stereo will suffer from small spikes happening daily.

Check the protected light on the surge protector because it will stop working at some point. At that point it will turn into a power strip (losing its ability to absorb power spikes).

The best option is to have a surge breaker installed on your main electrical panel. That will protect the WHOLW house rather than the few items you plug into a surge protector. This will render all surge protectors obsolete as you now have protected the whole house.

How Much Power Do Printers Normally Use?

Printers typically use 40 to 50 watts when printing, and only a few watts when on standby mode.

The good news is that there are steps you can take to reduce your printer’s energy consumption, with little or no impact on performance.

Here are some tips for reducing the amount of energy used by printers:

1. Turn it off at the wall when you’re not using it. Otherwise, it will use standby power (phantom power).
2. Send emails instead of physical paper!

How Do You Know Which Power Cord to Use?

It’s pretty easy: Just should use the one that fits into the back of the printer. Printers rarely use adaptors so you can safely insert any power cable that fits into the thing.

If it uses an adaptor, however, it will look something like this round plug (photo from my monitor):

IF your printer has a round power input female socket like this one, you need to pay attention to the amount of voltage and make sure it’s a perfect fit.

Otherwise, it will probably use one of these standards:

• NEMA 5-15P to IEC C13: This type of cord can be used with devices that have an American plug, like many printers on the market today.
• IEC C13 to NEMA 5-15R: This type of cable can be used with devices that have an American plug as well as devices that have a European/Asian plug.

What Type of Power Cord Do Printers Generally Use?

The most common types of power cords are:

• IEC 320 C13/C14 – Used by older computers and printers that use Centronics connectors on their parallel ports (see below).
• IEC stands for International Electrotechnical Commission and 320 refers to the maximum current allowed through a wire (320 milliamperes).
• C13 and C14 are two different types used by different countries around the world; C13 is more common in North America and Europe than C14, which is more common in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and parts of Asia.

Where Can You Buy Power Cords for a Printer?

Printer power cords are available in a variety of lengths and types.

There are short and long versions, male or female ends, and single-outlet or multi-outlet models.

If you need to replace your printer’s power supply cord, it’s only important to choose one that matches your device’s original cord.

But you should also make sure it’s not damaged or too worn.