TYPES OF PLUGS.pdf

8/14/2019 TYPES OF PLUGS.pdf

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TYPE A

(used in, among others, North and Central America and Japan) ( Click here for a complete list of all countries that use type A)

This class II ungrounded plug with two flat parallel prongs is pretty much standard in most of North and Central America. At first

glance, the Japanese plug and socket seem to e identical to this standard. !owe"er, the Japanese plug has two identical flat

prongs, whereas the #$ plug has one prong which is slightly larger. Therefore it is no prolem to use Japanese plugs in the #$, ut

the opposite does not work often. %urthermore, Japanese standard wire si&es and the resulting current ratings are different than

those used on the American continent.

Type A and ' plugs ha"e two flat prongs with a hole near the tip. These holes arent there without a reason. If you were to take

apart a type A or ' socket and look at the contact wipers that the prongs slide into, you would find that in some cases they ha"e

ha"e umps on them. These umps fit into the holes so that the outlet can grip the plugs prongs more firmly. This pre"ents the

plug from slipping out of the socket due to the weight of the plug and cord. It also impro"es the contact etween the plug and the

outlet. $ome sockets, howe"er, dont ha"e those umps ut *ust two spring+action lades that grip the sides of the plug pin, in

which case the holes arent necessary.

There are also some special outlets which allow you to lock the cord into the socket, y putting rods through the holes. This way,

for eample "ending machines cannot e unplugged. -oreo"er, electrical de"ices can e factory+sealed y the manufacturer

using a plastic tie or a small padlock through one or oth of the plug prong holes. %or eample, a manufacturer might apply a

plastic and through the hole and attach it to a tag that says/ 0ou must do 1 or 0 efore plugging in this de"ice. The user cannot

plug in the de"ice without remo"ing the tag, so the user is sure to see the tag.

Type A and ' plugs are among the most dangerous ones in the world/ the prongs are not insulated (i.e. the pins dont ha"e a lack

co"ering towards the plug ody like type C, 2, I, 3 or N plugs), which means that if a type A or ' plug is pulled halfway out, its

prongs are still connected to the socket4 3ittle children run the risk of electrocuting themsel"es when pulling such a plug out and

putting their fingers around it.

TYPE B(used in, among others, North and Central America and Japan) ( Click here for a complete list of all countries that use type ')

This is a class I plug with two flat parallel prongs and a grounding pin (American standard N5-A 6+768Canadian standard C$99.9, n

:;9). It is rated at 76 amps and although this plug is also standard in Japan, it is less fre<uently used than in North America.

Conse<uently, most appliances sold in Japan use a class II ungrounded plug. As is the case with the type A standard, the Japanese



ype p ugs an soc e s are s g y eren rom e r mer can coun erpar s.

An ungrounded "ersion of the North American N5-A 6+76 plug is commonly used in Central America and parts of $outh America. It

is therefore common for e<uipment users to simply cut off the grounding pin that the plug can e mated with a two+pole

ungrounded socket.

Type A and ' plugs are among the most dangerous ones in the world/ the prongs are not insulated (i.e. the pins dont ha"e a lack

co"ering towards the plug ody like type C, 2, I, 3 or N plugs), which means that if a type A or ' plug is pulled halfway out, its

prongs are still connected to the socket4 3ittle children run the risk of electrocuting themsel"es when pulling such a plug out and

putting their fingers around it.

TYPE C

(used in all countries of 5urope ecept the #nited =ingdom, Ireland, Cyprus and -alta) (Click here for a complete list of all

countries that use type C)

This two+wire plug is ungrounded and has two round prongs. It is popularly known as the europlug which is descried in C55 >87?.

This is proaly the single most widely used international plug. A type C plug has two ; mm diameter pins spaced [email protected] mm on

centres at the ase since its prongs are slightly fleile, it will mate with any socket that accepts ;.B + ;.@ mm round contacts on

[email protected]+7 mm centres. The plug is generally limited for use in class II applications that re<uire 9.6 amps or less. It is, of course,

unpolarised. It is commonly used in all countries of 5urope ecept the #nited =ingdom, Ireland, Cyprus and -alta. It is also used in

"arious parts of the de"eloping world. Dhereas type C plugs are "ery commonly used, this is not the case for type C sockets. This

kind of socket is the older and ungrounded "ariant of socket types 5, %, J, =, 3 and N. Nowadays most countries demand grounded

sockets to e installed in new uildings. $ince type C sockets are ungrounded, they ha"e ecome illegal almost e"erywhere andthey are eing replaced y type 5, %, J, =, 3 or N (depending on the country). $o as to lea"e no dout/ only the sockets ha"e ecome

illegal, the plugs remain in use of course. A type C plug fits perfectly into a type 5, %, J, =, 3 or N socket.

TYPE D

(used almost eclusi"ely in India, $ri 3anka, Nepal and Namiia) (Click here for a complete list of all countries that use type E)

India has standardi&ed on a plug which was originally defined in 'ritish $tandard 6;? (the standard in 2reat 'ritain efore 7?9).

This plug has three large round pins in a triangular pattern. It is rated at 6 amps. Type -, which has larger pins and is rated at 76

amps, is used alongside type E for larger appliances in India, $ri 3anka, Nepal and Namiia. $ome sockets can take oth type -

and type E plugs.

Although type E is now almost eclusi"ely used in India, $ri 3anka, Nepal and Namiia, it can s till occasionally e found in hotels

and theatres in the #= and Ireland. It should e noted that tourists should not attempt to connect anything to a '$6;? round+pin

outlet found in the #= or Ireland as it is likely to e on a circuit that has a special purpose/ e.g. for pro"iding direct current (EC) or

for plugging in lamps that are controlled y a light switch or a dimmer.



Type E plugs are among the most dangerous ones in the world/ the prongs are not insulated (i.e. the pins dont ha"e a lack

co"ering towards the plug ody like type C, 2, I, 3 or N plugs), which means that if a type E plug is pulled halfway out, its prongs

are still connected to the socket4 3ittle children run the risk of electrocuting themsel"es when pulling such a plug out and putting

their fingers around it.

TYPE E

(primarily used in %rance, 'elgium, Foland, $lo"akia, the C&ech Gepulic, Tunisia and -orocco) (Click here for a complete list of all

countries that use type 5)

%rance, 'elgium and some other countries ha"e standardi&ed on a socket which is different from the C55 >8; socket (type %) that is

standard in 2ermany and other continental 5uropean countries. The reason for incompatiility is that grounding in the 5 socket is

accomplished with a round male pin permanently mounted in the socket. The plug itself is similar to C ecept that it is round and

has the addition of a female contact to accept the grounding pin in the socket. It has two ;.@ mm round contacts on 7 mm centres.

In order to ridge the differences etween sockets 5 and %, the C55 >8> plug was de"eloped (see photo ao"e)/ it has groundingclips on oth sides to mate with the type % socket and a female contact to accept the grounding pin of the type 5 socket. The

original type 5 plug, which does not ha"e grounding clips, is no longer used, although "ery rarely it can still e found on some older

appliances. Note that the C55 >8> plug is polarised when used with a type 5 outlet. The plug is rated at 7? amps. Ao"e that,

e<uipment must either e wired permanently to the mains or connected "ia another higher power connector such as the I5C HB

system. A type C plug fits perfectly into a type 5 socket.

TYPE F

(used in, among others, 2ermany, Austria, the Netherlands, $weden, Norway, %inland, Fortugal, $pain and 5astern 5urope) ( Click

here for a complete list of all countries that use type %)

Flug %, known as C55 >8; and commonly called $chuko plug, which is the acronym of Schut&kontakt, a 2erman word meaning



protection contact or safety contact. The plug was designed in 2ermany shortly after the %irst Dorld Dar. It goes ack to a

patent (E5 H>B6H@) granted in 79? to Alert 'ttner, a 'a"arian manufacturer of electrical accessories. It is similar to C ecept

that it is round and has the addition of two grounding clips on the side of the plug. It has two ;.@ mm round contacts on 7 mm

centres. 'ecause the C55 >8; plug can e inserted in either direction into the receptacle, the $chuko connection system is

unpolarised (i.e. line and neutral are connected at random). It is used in applications up to 7? amps. Ao"e that, e<uipment must

either e wired permanently to the mains or connected "ia another higher power connector such as the I5C HB system. In order to

ridge the differences etween sockets 5 and %, the C55 >8> plug was de"eloped (see photo ao"e). This plug, which is shown

ao"e, has grounding clips on oth sides to mate with the type % socket and a female contact to accept the grounding pin of the

type 5 socket. The original type % plug, which does not ha"e this female contact, is still a"ailale at the EI0 shops ut only in a

rewireale "ersion. A type C plug fits perfectly into a type % socket.

TYPE G

(mainly used in the #nited =ingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, -alta, -alaysia, $ingapore and !ong =ong) (Click here for a complete list of

all countries that use type 2)

This plug has three rectangular prongs that form a triangle. 'ritish $tandard '$ 7H?H re<uires use of a three+wire grounded and

fused plug for all connections to the power mains (including class II, two+wire appliances). 'ritish power outlets incorporate

shutters on line and neutral contacts to pre"ent someone from pushing a foreign o*ect into the socket.

The 'ritish domestic electrical system uses a ring circuit in the uilding which is rated for HB amps (6 amps for lighting circuits

which are usually spurs). -oreo"er, there is also a fusing in the plug a cartridge fuse, usually of H amps for small appliances like

radios etc. and 7H amps for hea"y duty appliances such as heaters. Almost e"erywhere else in the world a spur main system isused. In this system each wall socket, or group of sockets, has a fuse at the main switchoard whereas the plug has none. $o if you

take some foreign appliance to the #=, you can use an adaptor, ut technically it must incorporate the correct "alue fuse. -ost

would ha"e a 7H amps one, too ig for the computer for eample. '$ 7H?H was pulished in 7?9 and since that time it has

gradually replaced the earlier standard plugs and sockets (type E) ('$ 6;?).

#= plugs are no dout the safest in the world, ut also the most hulking and cumersome. Thats why people often make fun of

them saying that 'ritish plugs are mostly igger than the appliance theyre connected to...

TYPE H

(used eclusi"ely in Israel) (Click here for a complete list of all countries with their respecti"e plugs8sockets)

This plug is uni<ue to Israel. It has two flat prongs like the type ' plug, ut they form a +shape rather than eing parallel. Type !

plugs ha"e got a grounding pin as well and are rated at 7? amps. In 7@ Israel standardi&ed on a new "ersion of the type ! socket/



the holes were made round in order to accommodate type C plugs as well. The slots for the prongs ha"e widenings in the middle

specifically to allow type C prongs to fit in. The flat+laded type ! plugs (lower picture) are currently eing phased out in fa"our of

round+pinned ones (upper picture). This plug is also used in the Dest 'ank and all of the 2a&a $trip.

Type ! plugs are among the most dangerous ones in the world/ the prongs are not insulated (i.e. the pins dont ha"e a lack

co"ering towards the plug ody like type C, 2, I, 3 or N plugs), which means that if a type ! plug is pulled halfway out, its prongs

are still connected to the socket4 3ittle children run the risk of electrocuting themsel"es when pulling such a plug out and putting

their fingers around it.

TYPE I

(mainly used in Australia, New Kealand, Fapua New 2uinea and Argentina) ( Click here for a complete lis t of all countries that use

type I)

This plug has also a grounding pin and two flat prongs forming a +shape. There is an ungrounded "ersion of this plug as well, with

only two flat +shaped prongs. Australias standard plug8socket system is descried in $AA document A$ H779 and is used in

applications up to 7B amps. A plug8socket configuration with rating at 76 amps (ground pin is wider/ @ mm instead of ?.H6 mm) is

also a"ailale. A standard 7B amp plug will fit into a 76 amp outlet, ut a 76 amp plug only fits this special 76 amp socket. There is

also a 9B amp plug whose prongs are wider still. A lower+amperage plug will always fit into a higher+amperage outlet ut not "ice

"ersa. Although there are slight differences, the Australian plug mates with the socket used in the Feoples Gepulic of China

(mainland China).

TYPE J

(used almost eclusi"ely in $wit&erland and 3iechtenstein) (Click here for a complete list of all countries that use type J)

$wit&erland has its own standard which is descried in $5C 7B77. This plug is similar to C, ecept that it has the addition of a

grounding pin. Type J looks "ery much like the 'ra&ilian type N standard, ut it is incompatile with it since type J has the earth pin

further away from the centre line than type N (6 mm instead of H mm). This connector system is rated for use in applications up to

7B amps. Ao"e 7B amps, e<uipment must e either wired permanently to the electrical supply system with appropriate ranch

circuit protection or connected to the mains with an appropriate high power industrial connector. A type C plug fits perfectly into a

type J socket.

TYPE K

(used eclusi"ely in Eenmark, 2reenland and the %aeroe Isl ands) (Click here for a complete list of all countries with their respecti"e

plugs8sockets)



The Eanish standard is descried in Afsnit 7B>+9+E7. The plug is similar to % ecept that it has a grounding pin instead of grounding

clips. A type C plug fits perfectly into a type = socket. The Eanish socket will also accept either the C55 >8; or C55 >8> plugs/

howe"er, there is no grounding connection with these plugs ecause a male ground pin is re<uired on the plug. 'ecause of the

huge amount of 58% plugs in Eenmark, the Eanish go"ernment decided to make it legal to install type 5 and % sockets as well.

TYPE L

(used almost eclusi"ely in Italy and randomly found throughout North Africa) ( Click here for a complete list of all countries that

use type 3)

The Italian grounded plug8socket standard, C5I 9H+7?8II, includes two styles rated at 7B and 7? amps. They differ in terms of contact diameter and spacing, and are therefore incompatile with each other. The diameter of the holes of the 7B amp "ersion is ;

mm and the holes are [email protected] mm apart. This means that the socket is compatile with type C plugs. The 7? amp socket "ersion, on

the other hand, is not compatile with type C plugs, since its prongs are a it thicker and further apart. 'oth "ersions of the Italian

type 3 plug are earthed y means of a centre grounding pin. $ince they can e inserted in either direction at random, they are

unpolarised. Nowadays there are also uni"ersal sockets a"ailale, of which there are two kinds/ the last socket ut one on the

right is the so+called ipasso socket, which accepts 3 and C plugs, and the last one on the right looks eactly like a type % socket

(with grounding clips), ut it also has a grounding hole in the middle. This uni"ersal schuko socket accepts C, 5, % and 3 plugs.

TYPE M

(used almost eclusi"ely in $outh Africa, $wa&iland and 3esotho) (Click here for a complete list of all countries that use type -)

This plug resemles the Indian type E plug, ut its pins are much larger. Type - is rated at 76 amps. Although type E is standard in

India, $ri 3anka, Nepal and Namiia, type - is also used for larger appliances. $ome sockets o"er there can take oth type - and

type E plugs. Type - is also used in Israel for hea"y appliances such as air+conditioning circuits (in cases where wall+mounted

units are plugged in to a dedicated socket) and certain types of washing machines.



TYPE N

(used almost eclusi"ely in 'ra&il) (Click here for a complete list of all countries with their respecti"e plugs8sockets)

The ao"e type N socket and plug are the official standard in 'ra&il. This standard was gradually phased in etween 9BB> and

9B7B. Type N looks "ery much like the $wiss type J standard, ut it is incompatile with it since type N has the earth pin closer to

the centre line than type J (H mm instead of 6 mm). Type N consists of two pins and a grounding pin. There are two "ersions/ one is

rated at 7B amps and has got a pin diameter of ; mm. The second "ersion, rated at 9B amps, is used for hea"ier appliances and has

a ;.@ mm pin diameter. Type N sockets were specifically designed to accommodate the ui<uitous type C plugs as well.

Type N is actually ased on the international standard 9HB household plug system, called I5C ?BB?+7. In 7@?, the International

5lectrotechnical Commission pulished this standard, which was intended to ecome the common standard for the whole of 5urope

(and, y etension, all other regions with 9HB mains). #nfortunately, the effort to adopt it as a 5uropean #nion standard was put

on hold in the mid+7Bs. 'ra&il had een using as many as 7B (4) different types of plugs and sockets, including the fre<uently

used type C. In order to put an end to this proliferation of different types of sockets and plugs, the 'ra&ilian Association of

Technical $tandards (AssociaLMo 'ras ileira de Normas Tcnicas (A'NT)) pulished the standard N'G 7;7H? in 9BB7 and started

implementing it in 9BB>. This Norma BRasileira 7;7H?, howe"er, is not completely identical to I5C ?BB?+7. The iggest difference

is the fact that the 'ra&ilian standard has a pin diameter of ;mm for the 7BA plug and ;.@mm for the 9BA plug, while the original

I5C ?BB?+7 standard has a single pin diameter of ;.6mm and a maimum current of 7?A.

Although type N plug and socket are among the safest in the world, 'ra&ils standardi&ation on one single plug and socket does

entail some risks. DhyO $imply ecause 'ra&il is one of the few countries that does not ha"e a standard "oltage, ut at the same

time it has only one official type of socket4 In other words, you cannot tell the difference etween a 99B and a 79> socket4(Click here for an ehausti"e list of all 9> 'ra&ilian federati"e units and their respecti"e "oltages.) -ost states use 79> electricity,

ut a couple of them are on 99B . This means that a 79> hairdryer ought in the state of -inas 2erais will e destroyed when

plugged into a compatile 99B socket in Eistrito %ederal4 -ake sure you check out the local "oltage efore plugging something

in4 (Click here for a trick to know the local "oltage.) It must e said, though, that many appliances sold in 'ra&il are dual "oltage,

ut thats definitely not the case for all of them.

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TYPES OF PLUGS.pdf