This part of lEC 63236, which is a Technical Specification, applies to DC appliance couplers for class I equipment with two active contacts plus an earthing contact, a rated power of 5,2 kW and a rated voltage range from 294 V to 400 V DC. They are intended to power DC information and communication technology equipment only, as specified in IEC 62368-1.

The accessories according to this document are intended to be used by ordinary persons in data centres only where the value of the DC voltage distribution system is defined as follows:
- 380 V with a tolerance of ±20 V for installations with no backup battery or with a voltage regulation system;
- 380 V with a voltage range of 294 V to 400 V for installations with a backup battery where voltage regulation is not guaranteed;
- the voltage value between each live conductor and earth does not exceed 200 V DC during normal operation;
- there are two abnormal voltage ranges (duration below 10 min):
    260 V up to 294 V, and
    above 400 V to 410 V.

The maximum current of the appliance couplers is
- 13 A when the voltage between live contacts is 400 V DC,
- 17,6 A when the voltage between live contacts is 294 V DC,

and can rise up to 20 A when the voltage between live contacts decreases to 260 V DC for 10 min maximum. 

The voltage between live conductors can fall down to 260 V DC when the voltage discharge value of the battery reaches the disconnecting level. The consequence is that the current increases accordingly.

The accessories according to this document do not require maintenance.

The accessories according to this document are intended for use in circuits where
- basic protection,
- an overcurrent protection (of 17,6 A or less for each socket-outlet or multiple socket-outlet),
- the fault protection (indirect contact protection), and
- additional protection
are already assured.

Appliance couplers complying with this document are suitable for normal use at ambient air temperatures not normally exceeding +60 °C, with a lower limit of the ambient air temperature of -5 °C.

Appliance couplers are not suitable for use in place of plug and socket-outlet systems according to the IEC TS 62735 series

The 2,6 kW system complying with IEC TS 63236-1 is not compatible with the system complying with IEC TS 63236-2 as it is impossible to mate the 2,6 kW connector in the 5,2 kW appliance inlet and it is also impossible to mate the 5,2 kW connector into the 2,6 kW appliance inlet.