What is a TRUE1 cable?
A TRUE1 cable is an AC power cable fitted with Neutrik powerCON TRUE1 connectors, or with a third-party connector built to mate with them. It is the locking power connector used on most modern moving heads, LED wash fixtures, powered speakers and line array modules. The same connector is written several ways in the field: TRUE1, True1, TRU1, TR1 and TruCon all refer to it. Rated 20 A / 250 V AC in North America and sealed to IP65 when mated, it replaced the loose IEC cord on professional gear because it locks, seals and can be pulled under power.
TRUE1 specifications
| Rated current and voltage (North America) | 20 A / 250 V AC per UL 60320-1 |
|---|---|
| Rated current and voltage (Europe) | 16 A / 250 V AC per EN IEC 60320-1 |
| Ingress protection | IP65 / IP67 when mated or with closed caps |
| Breaking capacity | Yes. Can be connected and disconnected under load |
| Operating temperature | -30 to +80 degrees C per IEC 61984 |
| Keying | Separate keyed bodies for power in and power out, so the two cannot be crossed |
| Locking | Quarter-turn twist lock with a release latch |
| Mates with original powerCON | No. Different connector family |
Ratings above are Neutrik's published figures for the powerCON TRUE1 connector itself. A finished cable is limited by whichever is lower, the connector or the wire. Most US TRUE1 assemblies use 12 or 14 AWG and are marked 15 A / 125 V, which is the household branch-circuit limit rather than a connector limit.
Does TRUE1 work with the older blue powerCON?
No. TRUE1 and the original powerCON are two different connector families and will not physically mate. The original powerCON is the blue NAC3FCA power-in body and the gray NAC3FCB power-out body, and it must never be connected or disconnected under load. TRUE1 uses a different, sealed body and it may be pulled live. If your fixture has a blue round twist-lock inlet with a plastic latch, you need an original powerCON cable, not a TRUE1 cable. We wrote this up in more detail in TruCon vs powerCON: what is the difference.
Can I unplug a TRUE1 cable while the fixture is running?
Yes. TRUE1 is a connector with breaking capacity, which Neutrik defines as the ability to be connected or disconnected under load or live. That is the single biggest practical difference from the original powerCON, which is not rated for it. It is why TRUE1 became standard on touring lighting and powered speakers, where a fixture at the end of a chain often has to come off the run without killing power to everything upstream.
Are Seetronic, REAN and ProX TR1 connectors the same as Neutrik TRUE1?
They are different manufacturers building to the same mating interface. Seetronic calls its version SAC3 or powerKON, REAN calls its version Power X, and ProX labels its cables TR1. Each of these vendors states its connector is fully compatible with Neutrik powerCON TRUE1, and in practice they intermate on a normal show. Neutrik's own TRUE1 is the reference part and carries the ratings above. If a rider or a venue specifies genuine Neutrik, order Neutrik.
Which TRUE1 cable do I need?
| What you are doing | Cable to order |
|---|---|
| Getting power from a wall outlet or distro to the first fixture | Mains cable: Edison NEMA 5-15P male to TRUE1 |
| Linking one fixture to the next in a chain | Interconnect or jumper: TRUE1 male to TRUE1 female |
| Running power and DMX to the same fixture on one run | DMX combo cable: TRUE1 plus 3-pin or 5-pin DMX in a single jacket |
| Running power and audio to a powered speaker | XLR combo cable: TRUE1 plus XLR in a single jacket |
| Running power, audio and network to one box | TRUE1 plus XLR plus Cat6 combo jumper |
| Feeding several fixtures from one feed | TRUE1 splitter box or power distribution box |
| Breaking out a 19-pin Socapex run to individual fixtures | Socapex to 6x TRUE1 breakout |
| Building or repairing your own cable | Loose TRUE1-compatible connectors, male and female, panel and cable |
How many fixtures can I daisy-chain on one TRUE1 run?
Use the fixture manufacturer's number, not the cable's. Every fixture that offers a power-out inlet publishes a maximum link count at 120 V, and that figure already accounts for inrush and the branch circuit. The cable is rarely the limit: a 12 AWG TRUE1 jumper will carry more than a 15 A circuit will give you. Add up the running watts of the chain, divide by 120, and stay under 80 percent of the breaker rating, which is 12 A on a standard 15 A circuit.
What length should I buy?
For fixture-to-fixture links on truss, 3 ft and 6 ft jumpers cover most bar and totem spacing, and 10 ft covers a wider fixture pitch. For the run from the distro to the first fixture, 25 ft and 50 ft mains cables are the common choices. Buying a jumper longer than you need costs money and adds weight to the truss, so most rental shops carry a lot of 3 ft and 6 ft and a few long mains cables.
Are TRUE1 cables safe outdoors?
The connector is rated IP65 or IP67 when mated or capped, so a correctly mated TRUE1 pair resists dust and water jets. Two conditions matter. An unmated connector is only protected if its cap is closed, so cap every unused end. And the cable jacket has its own rating that is separate from the connector, so for a wet or outdoor run choose a cable listed as IP-rated rather than assuming the connector rating covers the whole assembly. Neutrik specifies mating powerCON TRUE1 TOP cable connectors with TRUE1 TOP chassis connectors for full outdoor protection.
Do you stock TRUE1 cables in Los Angeles?
Yes. Hollywood DJ stocks TRUE1 mains cables, jumpers, combo cables and splitter boxes at our Los Angeles warehouse at 934 E 11th St, Los Angeles, CA 90021. Anything showing in stock ships the same day when the order is placed by noon PST, and local customers can pick up. Call 1-800-700-4542 if you need a length or a configuration you do not see listed.