Power Cord Comparison

Power cords are among the most overlooked components of surge protectors, power strips, relocatable power taps, and uninterruptible power supplies. While marketing materials frequently emphasize surge ratings, outlet counts, and protection features, the power cord itself often provides valuable information regarding manufacturing practices, construction quality, safety certifications, and component sourcing.

The OldSurge Archive documents cord type, conductor size, manufacturer markings, approval identifiers, and related construction details whenever possible. Comparing cords across multiple products can reveal long-term trends in the power-protection industry, including changing wire gauges, common third-party cord suppliers, manufacturing locations, and evolving product designs.

Early observations suggest that 14 AWG SJT cord assemblies remained common across a wide range of surge protectors and relocatable power taps from the late 1980s through at least 2009. Examples documented by the OldSurge Archive include products manufactured by Tripp Lite, APC, PowerSentry, ACE, and Universal. Multiple third-party cord suppliers have been identified, including Bon-Eagle, Apollo, and Baohing.

Documented 16 AWG SJT examples presently appear primarily among lighter consumer-oriented surge protectors, including the Gemini Surge Model VG307 and Universal 71641. In contrast, many larger surge protectors, relocatable power taps, and business-oriented products documented by the archive utilize 14 AWG SJT cord assemblies.

Overview

Most power-protection products utilize flexible power cords identified by standardized designations such as:

• SJT
• SJTW
• SVT

These markings provide information regarding conductor count, insulation type, voltage rating, flexibility, and intended service conditions.

The majority of products currently documented by the archive utilize SJT cordage, reflecting its widespread use in consumer and office electrical products throughout the 1990s and 2000s.

Common Cord Types

Cord Type	Meaning	Typical Use
SJT	Junior Hard Service Thermoplastic Cord	Surge protectors, power strips, office equipment
SJTW	Junior Hard Service Thermoplastic Weather-Resistant Cord	Outdoor-capable products, extension cords
SVT	Vacuum Cleaner Cord	Light-duty appliances and consumer products

Documented Cord Manufacturers

The following manufacturers have been identified through markings visible on products documented by the archive:

• Bon-Eagle
  • APC PRO7 (1994, 1996)
  • Universal 71632 (1998)
  • Universal 71637 (1998)
  • PowerSentry 626 (2002)

• Apollo
  • Universal 71641 (2004)
  • Staples 33895-US (2011)

• Baohing
  • APC PRO7 (2008)

• CWCO
  • Model No. 2371, 0728, 2174 Relocatable Power Tap

• I-SHENG
  • APC SurgeArrest Professional PRO7 (2017)

• Kingtec
  • Amazon Basics 270103-B (2026)

• Rhythm
  • Gemini Surge Model VG307 (1990s)

• Unknown (Belkin-branded)
  • Belkin SurgeMaster F9H710-06 (2003)

Additional manufacturers will be added as more products are documented.

Conductor Gauge Comparison

Product	Year	Cord Manufacturer	Cord Type	Conductors	Wire Size
Tripp Lite SPIKE BAR SK6-6	≤ Nov 1989	Unknown	SJT	3	14 AWG
Gemini Surge Model VG307	1990s	Rhythm	SJT	3	16 AWG
APC SurgeArrest Professional PRO7 (Z94030204087)	1994	Bon-Eagle	SJT	3	14 AWG
APC SurgeArrest Professional PRO7 (Z96030204796)	1996	Bon-Eagle	SJT	3	14 AWG
Universal 71632	1998	Bon-Eagle	SJT	3	16 AWG
Universal 71637	1998	Bon-Eagle	SJT	3	14 AWG
PowerSentry 626	2002	Bon-Eagle	SJT	3	14 AWG
Belkin SurgeMaster F9H710-06	2003	Unknown (Belkin-branded)	SJT	3	14 AWG
Universal 71641 (Yellowed Example)	2004	Apollo	SJT	3	16 AWG
Universal 71641 (Lightly Yellowed Example)	2004	Apollo	SJT	3	16 AWG
APC SurgeArrest Professional PRO7 (4Z0842P07546)	2008	Baohing	SJT	3	14 AWG
ACE 33543 Relocatable Power Tap	2009	Unknown	SJT	3	14 AWG
Staples 33895-US	2011	Apollo	SJT	3	14 AWG
APC SurgeArrest Professional PRO7 (7Z1714L05335)	2017	I-SHENG	SJT	3	14 AWG
Amazon Basics 270103-B	2026	Kingtec	SJT	3	14 AWG
Model No. 2371, 0728, 2174 Relocatable Power Tap	Unknown	CWCO	SJT	3	14 AWG

Certification File Numbers

Power cords frequently carry independent certification identifiers in addition to the approvals applied to the finished product. These markings can provide useful information regarding cord manufacturers, certification agencies, and supplier relationships across multiple product lines.

Common markings include UL (Underwriters Laboratories), CSA (Canadian Standards Association), and ETL (originally Electrical Testing Laboratories, now Intertek ETL). Although the organizations differ, each conducts product safety evaluation and certification for electrical equipment. Certification file numbers often remain associated with a particular cord manufacturer and can provide valuable clues regarding component sourcing and supplier relationships.

Examples documented by the archive include:

Product	Certification Number	CSA File Number
APC SurgeArrest Professional PRO7 (Z94030204087)	E135710	LL152727
Gemini Surge Model VG307	E88231	LL54008
APC SurgeArrest Professional PRO7 (Z96030204796)	E135710	LL152727
Universal 71632	E135710	LL95737
Universal 71637	E135710	LL95737
PowerSentry 626	E135710	LL95737
Belkin SurgeMaster F9H710-06	E177638	Unknown
Universal 71641 (Yellowed Example)	E176194	LL109777
Universal 71641 (Lightly Yellowed Example)	E176194	LL109777
APC SurgeArrest Professional PRO7 (4Z0842P07546)	E159216	Unknown
ACE 33543 Relocatable Power Tap	E177868	LL109777
Staples 33895-US	E176194	LL196777
APC SurgeArrest Professional PRO7 (7Z1714L05335)	E88265-C	LL81924
Amazon Basics 270103-B	ETL 5013210	Unknown
Model No. 2371, 0728, 2174 Relocatable Power Tap	E55178	LL40876

Archive Observations

Early observations suggest that heavier-duty surge protectors and relocatable power taps frequently utilized SJT 14/3 cord assemblies, while some lighter consumer-oriented surge protectors utilized SJT 16/3 construction. Documented 16 AWG examples presently include the Gemini Surge Model VG307 and Universal 71641.

Documented examples indicate that manufacturers frequently sourced cord assemblies from third-party suppliers rather than producing cords internally. Manufacturers identified through cord markings include Bon-Eagle, Apollo, Baohing, CWCO, Rhythm, I-SHENG, and Kingtec. A 2003 Belkin SurgeMaster F9H710-06 example bears BELKIN SURGEMASTER branding on the cord jacket but does not identify the underlying cord manufacturer, suggesting the use of a private-labeled cord assembly.

Bon-Eagle appears repeatedly among products documented by the archive, including APC, Universal, and PowerSentry examples manufactured between the 1990s and early 2000s. Documented Bon-Eagle cord assemblies include both 14 AWG and 16 AWG SJT construction. The recurring appearance of UL file number E135710 suggests widespread use of Bon-Eagle-manufactured cord assemblies across multiple brands, product families, and conductor sizes.

Apollo-manufactured cord assemblies have been documented on products manufactured in both 2004 and 2011. Documented Apollo examples include the Universal 71641 and Staples 33895-US. Although these products differ substantially in design and intended market segment, both utilize SJT cordage carrying UL file number E176194, suggesting continued use of Apollo-manufactured cord assemblies across multiple product lines.

Documented APC SurgeArrest Professional PRO7 examples reveal multiple cord suppliers over the product family's production life. Examples manufactured in 1994 and 1996 utilized Bon-Eagle-manufactured cord assemblies, a 2008 example utilized a Baohing-manufactured cord, and a 2017 example utilized an I-SHENG-manufactured cord assembly carrying UL file number E88265-C and CSA file number LL81924. Despite these supplier changes, all documented PRO7 examples utilize 14 AWG SJT cord assemblies.

The most recently documented example is the Amazon Basics 270103-B manufactured in 2026. The attached power cord is marked as manufactured by Kingtec (Vietnam) Technologies Co., Ltd. and identifies Vietnam as the country of manufacture. This example demonstrates the continued use of 14 AWG SJT cord assemblies in modern surge protectors despite significant changes in product design, certification practices, and manufacturing locations.

Additional documented examples may reveal broader industry trends involving conductor size, supplier relationships, certification practices, manufacturing locations, and component standardization.

Documented Cord Markings

The following examples illustrate typical power-cord markings documented on surge protectors and power-distribution products preserved by the archive.

• 
  Bon-Eagle SJT 14/3 cord marking from Universal 71637.
• 
  UL and CSA markings from Universal 71637 cord assembly.
• 
  Bon-Eagle SJT 14/3 cord marking from APC PRO7 (1996).
• 
  Bon-Eagle SJT 14/3 cord marking from PowerSentry 626.
• 
  SJT 14/3 cord markings from ACE 33543 relocatable power tap.
• 
  Apollo SJT 16/3 cord marking from Universal 71641.
• 
  Apollo manufacturer marking and CSA file number LL109777 from Universal 71641.
• 
  Baohing SJT 14/3 cord marking from APC PRO7 (2008).
• 
  Baohing manufacturer marking from APC PRO7 (2008).
• 
  Additional cord specifications from APC PRO7 (2008).
• 
  Belkin SurgeMaster branded SJT 14/3 cord with no visible OEM manufacturer marking.
• 
  UL E177638, SJT, VW-1, FT2, and 14 AWG cord markings from Belkin SurgeMaster F9H710-06.
• 
  Apollo SJT 14/3 cord marking from Staples 33895-US.
• 
  UL E176194 cord marking and electrical ratings from Staples 33895-US.
• 
  Apollo manufacturer marking and CSA file number LL196777.
• 
  Kingtec SJT 14/3 cord marking from Amazon Basics 270103-B.
• 
  Kingtec (Vietnam) Technologies Co., Ltd. manufacturer marking.
• 
  ETLus certification marking and conductor specifications.
• 
  Rhythm SJT 16/3 cord marking from Gemini Surge Model VG307.
• 
  UL E88231 and CSA LL54008 certification markings from Gemini Surge Model VG307.
• 
  CWCO SJT 14/3 cord marking with UL file E55178 and VW-1 rating from Model No. 2371, 0728, 2174 Relocatable Power Tap.
• 
  CSA LL40876 certification marking and FT2 rating from CWCO-manufactured cord assembly.
• 
  I-SHENG SJT 14/3 cord assembly from APC PRO7 (2017).
• 
  CSA file number LL81924 and I-SHENG manufacturer markings.
• 
  UL file number E88265-C, VW-1 flame rating, and conductor specifications.
• 
  Bon-Eagle SJT 16/3 cord marking from Universal 71632.
• 
  CSA LL95737 certification marking and FT2 rating from Universal 71632.

Historical Notes

Power cords are often among the most durable and standardized components incorporated into power-protection products. Because cord markings frequently survive long after packaging and documentation have been discarded, they can provide important clues regarding manufacturing date, supplier relationships, certification history, and product lineage.

Cord manufacturers rarely receive attention in contemporary marketing materials, making surviving markings a useful source of information for reconstructing historical supply chains.

Related Articles

• Surge Protectors
• Power Strips
• Collection Index