File: /tmp/world-mains-plugs-sockets-types

There are currently 15 types of electrical outlet plugs in use today,

each of which has been assigned a letter by the US Department of Commerce
International Trade Administration (ITA).
* Flat hot and neutral prongs, round grounding pin (if present):
Type A: US/Japan/North-Central-America NEMA 1-15 2pin ungrounded polarized 15A
Type B: US/Japan/North-Central-America NEMA 5-15 3pin grounded 15A
* Round pins:
Type
Type
Type
Type
Type
Type
Type
Type
Type

C: Europe/South-America/Central-Asia 2pin Europlug ungrndd unpolarzd 2.5A

E: France/Europe 2pin + 1 female grounding receptacle 16A
F: Germany/Europe Schuko 2pin + 2 grounding clips unpolarzd 16A
E/F CEE 7/7: Works with both E and F type sockets grounded
J: Switzerland/Liechtenstein/Rwanda 3pin grndd 10A
N: Brazil 3pin grndd 10A/20A (most compact/robust and safest type)
O: Thailand 3pin grounded 16A
K: Denmark/Greenland 3pin grndd 16A
L: Italy/Chile, some North Africa 3pin grndd unpolarzd 10A/16A

Note: Type
Type
Type
Type

J
N
O
L

= Type C +
= Type C +
= Type C +
10A = Type

grounding pin
grounding pin
grounding pin
C + grounding

in triangle formation
in triangle formation
in triangle formation
pin at center in a straight line

Type D: India/Nepal 3-pin grounded 5A

Type M (large type D): SouthAfrica/India/Nepal/Swaziland/Lesotho 3pin grndd 15A
Type H: Israel/Palestine 3pin grounded 16A
* Rectangular pins:
Type G: UK/Ireland/Malaysia/Singapore/Hong Kong 3pin grounded 13A
* Angled flat pins, live and neutral pins at 30 deg angles:
Type I: China/Australia/NZ

2pin/3pin 10A

-------------------------------------------------------------------------http://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plugs-and-sockets/d/
Type D plug (and socket)
Type D is used almost exclusively in India and Nepal.
India has standardized on a plug which was originally defined in British
Standard 546 (the standard in Great Britain before 1947). This 5 amp
plug has three round prongs that form a triangle. The central earth
pin is 20.6 mm long and has a diameter of 7.1 mm. The 5.1 mm line and
neutral pins are 14.9 mm long, on centres spaced 19.1 mm apart. The
centre-to-centre distance between the grounding pin and the middle of
the imaginary line connecting the two power pins is 22.2 mm. Type M,
which has larger pins and is rated at 15 amps, is used alongside type
D for larger appliances in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Pakistan. Some
sockets can take both type M and type D plugs.
Incidentally, there is an unintended compatibility between type D sockets
and various European plugs. Although the centres of the prongs of a

Page 1 of 5

File: /tmp/world-mains-plugs-sockets-types
Europlug (type C) are closer together (17.5-18.6 mm vs 19.1 mm) than
those of a type D plug, a Europlug fits into a type D outlet without
much effort, largely thanks to the elasticity of its pins. However, the
plug cannot be fully inserted into a D receptacle, because the prongs
are inelastic at the base of the plug and they are longer than the pins
of type D plugs (19 mm vs 14.9 mm). This is the reason why type C plugs
do not always make proper contact and may cause the socket to spark,
which, in some cases, might result in a short-circuit.
Whereas type C plugs and type D sockets could be considered an imperfect,
but relatively workable combination, the same does not apply to E/F plugs
being used with D outlets. The centres of the pins of type E & F plugs
are slightly closer together (19 mm vs 19.1 mm) than those of type D, but
unlike Europlugs (type C), they do not have flexible prongs. This means
they literally have to be forced into the receptacle. Obviously, this kind
of improper use poses a safety hazard for a number of reasons. Firstly
unlike type C E & F plugs are supposed to be grounded, but
when they are used with type D outlets, this wont be the case. So,
be prepared for a sparking receptacle and a regularly tripping circuit
breaker. Moreover, type E and F plugs cannot be fully inserted into a D
socket, because the pins are longer than the pins of type D plugs (19 mm
vs 14.9 mm). This means that 4.1 mm of the pins of plug types E & F will
still be exposed when plugged in and if you were to touch the live prong,
you most certainly will get an electric shock. This risk does not exist
with type C plugs, since their pins are coated in insulation.
Although type D is now almost exclusively used in India and Nepal,
it can still occasionally be found in hotels in the UK. It should be
noted that tourists should not attempt to connect anything to a BS 546
round-pin outlet found in the UK as it is likely to be on a circuit
that has a special purpose: e.g. for providing direct current (DC) or
for plugging in lamps that are controlled by a light switch or a dimmer.
Type D plugs are among the most dangerous ones in the world: the prongs
are not insulated (i.e. the pin shanks do not have a black covering
towards the plug body like type C, G, I, L or N plugs), which means that
if a type D plug is pulled halfway out, its prongs are still connected
to the socket! Little children run the risk of electrocuting themselves
when pulling such a plug out and putting their fingers around it. Type
D outlets are not recessed into the wall, so they do not provide any
protection from touching the live pins either.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------http://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plugs-and-sockets/c/
TYPE C
Type C is used in all countries of Europe except the United Kingdom,
Ireland, Cyprus and Malta.
Type C is probably the single most widely used international plug. This
two-wire plug is ungrounded and has two round prongs. It is popularly
known as the Europlug which is described in CEE 7/16. The plug has two
4 mm round pins, measuring 19 mm in length on centres spaced 18.6 mm
apart at the base and 17.5 mm apart at the tip. The two pins have 10 mm
long insulated sleeves. They converge slightly, but they are relatively
flexible which allows the plug to mate with any socket that accepts
4.0 4.8 mm round contacts on 17.5 19 mm centres. The plug is
generally limited for use in class II applications that require 2.5
amps or less. It is, of course, unpolarised. It is commonly used in all

Page 2 of 5

File: /tmp/world-mains-plugs-sockets-types
countries of Europe except in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus and
Malta. It is also used in various parts of the developing world. Whereas
type C plugs are very commonly used, this is not the case for type C
sockets. This kind of socket is the older and ungrounded variant of socket
types E, F, J, K or N. Nowadays most countries demand grounded sockets
to be installed in new buildings. Since type C sockets are ungrounded,
they have become illegal almost everywhere and they are being replaced
by type E, F, J, K or N (depending on the country). So as to leave no
doubt: only the sockets have become illegal, the plugs remain in use of
course. A type C plug fits perfectly into a type E, F, J, K or N socket.

Websites:
http://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plugs-and-sockets/
http://www.iec.ch/worldplugs/
http://www.iec.ch/worldplugs/list_bylocation.htm
http://gizmodo.com/5391271/giz-explains-why-every-country-has-a-different-fing-plug
"Giz Explains: Why Every Country Has a Different F#$%ing Plug"
==============================================================================
SPECS AND ASCII PICTURES
USA, Japan + North and Central America including Canada and Mexico
==================================================================
Type A (15A, polarized)
.-----------.
|
.
|
|
|
|
|
|
'
|
`-----------'

Type B (15A, grounded)

.-----------.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
\
O
/
`---------'

Type A = NEMA 1-15 : Two flat 1.5 mm thick blades, measuring

15.9--18.3 mm in length and spaced 12.7 mm apart. Usually
polarised (can only be inserted one way), with the neutral blade
(7.9 mm width) wider than the hot/live blade (6.3 mm width).
Type B = NEMA 5-15 : Two flat 1.5 mm thick blades, spaced 12.7 mm
apart, measuring 15.9--18.3 mm in length and 6.3 mm in width, plus
one 4.8 mm diameter round or U-shaped earth pin, which is 3.2 mm
longer than the flat blades (so device gets grounded before getting
power). The centre-to-centre distance between the grounding pin
and the middle of the imaginary line connecting the two power blades
is 11.9 mm.
The ungrounded unpolarized Europlug (widely used in Europe and elsewhere)
========================================================================
Type C (2.5A "Europlug")
_________
/
\
( o
o )
\_________/

Page 3 of 5

File: /tmp/world-mains-plugs-sockets-types
Type C = Europlug = CEE 7/16 : Two 4 mm round pins, measuring 19 mm
in length on centres spaced 18.6 mm apart at the base and 17.5 mm
apart at the tip, with 10 mm long insulated sleeves. The pins converge
slightly, but they are relatively flexible which allows the plug
to mate with any socket that accepts 4.0--4.8 mm round contacts on
17.5--19 mm centres. The plug is generally limited for use in class II
applications (so unpolarized) that require 2.5 amps or less. Used
widely in all countries of Europe except UK, Ireland, Cyprus and Malta.
India, Pakistan, Nepal
======================
Type D (5A; the 15A Type M is bigger but has similar shape)
.---.
/ O \
/
\
| o
o |
`-------'
Type D = BS 546 (old British Standard) : 5 amp plug with three round prongs
that form a triangle.
Central earth pin is 20.6 mm long, diameter 7.1 mm.
Live and neutral pins are 14.9 mm long, 5.1 mm diameter, on centres spaced
19.1 mm apart. The centre-to-centre distance between the grounding pin
and the middle of the imaginary line connecting the two power pins is
22.2 mm. Type C plugs (because of their flexibility) can be partially
inserted in to type D sockets with sloppy/risky contact, and type E/F
rigid plugs can be forced (partially) in to type D sockets.
Type M:
Larger pins rated at 15A, used alongside type D for larger
appliances in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Pakistan. The central
earth pin is 28.6 mm long and has a diameter of 8.7 mm. The 7.1 mm
live and neutral pins are 18.6 mm long, on centres spaced 25.4 mm apart.
The centre-to-centre distance between the grounding pin and the middle
of the imaginary line connecting the two power pins is 28.6 mm. The
South African version of the M plug often has insulated sleeves on pins.
Europe (16A grounded)
=====================
Types E, F (Schuko), and CEE 7/7 : 16A
. ** .
*
*
*

*
.

*
*
*

` ** '
Type E (France, Belgium, Poland, Slovakia, Czech Republic, etc) :
The plug is similar to C, but it is round and has a female contact
to accept an on-socket grounding pin. The plug has two 4.8 mm
round pins measuring 19 mm in length on centers spaced 19 mm
apart, plus female earth contact for accepting the on-socket
earth pin which is 14 mm long and has 4.8 mm diameter. The
center-to-center distance between the female contact and the
middle of the imaginary line connecting the two power pins is 10 mm.
Type F = CEE 7/4 = "Schuko plug" (Germany, Austria, Netherlands,
Sweden, Finland, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Eastern Europe, etc):

Page 4 of 5

File: /tmp/world-mains-plugs-sockets-types
This is like E, but has two grounding receptacle clips.
Type CEE 7/7 : A plug which combines E and F, and works perfectly
with both E and F sockets. This has now become the standard,
and the original E and F plugs are obsolete.
Both the E and F sockets also accept C plugs perfectly.
UK, Ireland, Malayasia, Singapore
=================================
Type G (13A)
.---.
/ | \
/
\
| - |
`-------'
China, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina
========================================
Type I (10A)
. * .
*
*
* /
\ *
*
*
*
|
*
` * '
Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Rwanda
==================================
Type J (10A; Type N, used in Brazil, has similar shape)
_________
/
o
\
( o
o )
\_________/
The Type J socket accepts C plugs perfectly.
Italy, Chile
============
Type L (10A and 16A)
_________
/
\
( o o o )
\_________/
The 10A Type L socket accepts C plugs perfectly.

Page 5 of 5