Plug connectors in countries. Types of electrical sockets and plugs in different countries

This article lists all types of electrical plugs and sockets accepted for use in countries around the world.

This is the so-called American type and plugs. The plug has two flat contacts parallel to each other. Used in most countries of North and Central America, particularly in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Venezuela and Guatemala, and also in Japan. And also in countries where the mains voltage is 110 Volts.

Type B

Similar to type A connector, but with an additional round pin. Used in everyday life in the same regions of the world as Type A plugs and sockets.

Type C

This is our native European type of socket and plug. The plug has two round contacts parallel to each other. Its design does not have a third grounding contact. This is the most popular in European countries type and sockets except UK, Ireland, Malta and Cyprus. Used in everyday life where the mains voltage is 220 Volts.

Type D

This is the old British type with three round pins mounted in a triangle shape. In this case, one of the contacts is thicker than the other two. This type sockets and plugs are used to maximize current in electrical networks in countries such as India, Nepal, Namibia and the island of Sri Lanka.

Type E

This type has an electrical plug with two round pins and a hole for a grounding contact, which is located in the socket of the socket. This type of socket plugs is currently used in Poland, France and Belgium.

Type F

Models of this type are similar to models of Type E sockets and plugs. Only instead of a round ground pin, two metal clips are used here on both sides of the connector. This type of sockets and plugs is generally used in Germany, Austria, Holland, Norway and Sweden.

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Type G

This is a typical British socket and its friend the three-blade plug. Used in apartments and private houses in the UK, Ireland, Malta, Cyprus, Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong. Note - sockets of this type of design are often available with a built-in internal fuse. Therefore, if after connecting the device it does not work, then the first thing you need to do is check the condition of the fuse in the socket, perhaps this is the problem.

Type H

This design of socket and plug connectors is used only in the State of Israel and the Gaza Strip. The socket and plug have three flat pins, or in the earlier version, round pins arranged in a B shape. Not compatible with any other plug. It is intended for networks with a voltage of 220 V and a current of up to 16 A.

Type I

This is the so-called Australian outlet. It, like an electrical plug, has two flat contacts, like a connector American type A, but they are located at an angle to each other - in the shape of the letter B. There are such sockets and plugs with a grounding contact. These models are used in Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Argentina.

Type J

Swiss type electrical plugs and sockets. The plug is very similar to its Type C cousin, but has an additional ground pin in the middle and two round power pins. They are used not only in Switzerland, but also abroad - in Liechtenstein, Ethiopia, Rwanda and the Maldives.

Type K

Danish electrical sockets and plugs. The type is similar to the popular European Type C socket, but additionally has a ground pin located at the bottom of the connector. Is basic standard in the countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as in Bangladesh, Senegal and the Maldives.

Type L

Italian plug and socket. The model is similar to the popular European Type C, but has an additional round ground pin located in the center, the two round power pins are unusually arranged in a line. Such sockets and plugs are used in Italy, as well as Chile, Ethiopia, Tunisia and Cuba.

Type M

This is an African socket and plug with three round pins arranged in a triangle shape, with the ground pin being clearly thicker than the other two. It is similar to the D-type connector, but has much thicker pins. The socket is designed to power electrical devices with a current of up to 15 A. Widely used in South Africa, Swaziland and Lesotho.

To connect all kinds of household appliances, lighting equipment and other devices that use electricity in its various forms, there is a plug connection. One of the components was an electrical outlet, the second was a plug. Rapid market development household appliances and electronics caused increased stress on home power networks. For protection against electric shock there are various devices. Including grounding plug.

Types of plugs

The division is simple: collapsible or monolithic. Regardless of the form, the content and purpose are the same. Each plug connector is designed to connect the consumer to the supplier electric current- socket.

Non-separable devices are more popular due to their convenience and reliability. Elasticity allows you not to worry about breaking the wire in case of a jerk. The solidity of the structure prevents moisture from getting inside, and therefore from short circuit and oxidation. A common fault is kinking at the base of the connector. Unlike collapsible forks, such products cannot be repaired.

Main settings

Each device has its own individual characteristics. But there are features that distinguish one fork from another. There are several such details:

  • The number of contacts is two or three. For example, equipment intended for use in Europe has two pins, and American equipment has three.
  • They have a wide variety of shapes: from flat to polygonal.
  • Connection standard.

Grounded plug and its design

The safety factor is decisive in the production of electrical equipment. All developments and improvements are aimed at this. One such introduction was the grounding plug. IN Soviet years residential buildings did not have grounding loops, so a common person I had no idea about this voltage protection system. It was enough to disassemble the socket or plug and connect two wires.

Now all new equipment is equipped with connectors of the new standard with a third, grounding connector. New buildings are delivered in accordance with the requirements, with the arrangement of separately connected land. The main part of any plug is the contacts. They come in steel or copper, and are also plated with zinc, tin or nickel.

There are three of them in an electrical plug with grounding:

Main standards

Since there is no single standard for powering electrical appliances on the planet, there are also many types of plug connections . All states use two different types of food:

  • A voltage of 110-127 V and a frequency of 60 hertz are used in American countries.
  • 220-240 V, 50 hertz - European model.

In most countries, one type of voltage is accepted, but there are exceptions when both are used. There are 14 in total standard types connections plus special plugs for some equipment to prevent household voltage from entering it, for example, a wired radio connector.

Type A connector

Similar compounds are used in North and Central American countries and in Japan. The opposing pins in the Japanese plug are identical, in the American one - one is thicker, to maintain polarity. The second name of the US standard Class II. It is interesting that an Asian plug will fit into an American socket without any problems, but doing the opposite without a special groove will not work.

Class B standard

Powerful home devices that consume current up to 15 amperes in the same countries have this type of connection. It is sometimes called Class I, and the international classifier gives the label NEMA 5-15. This is the same as the previous view, only with a ground pin. In the American wilderness, type A connectors are still found, but in most cases the entire territory switches to standard B.

You won’t be able to find a device on sale that plugs the plug into a socket using the outdated method. In old buildings, new devices with a sawed-off grounding contact are not uncommon.

Connector class C

Most of Europe used connectors of this standard. International name CEE 7 / 16. In the republics Soviet Union They used plugs that are still called Soviet to this day. In accordance with the latest requirements in the field of electrical safety, Europeans have mastered new standards. For ease of use of the old household appliances, its plugs fit into new sockets, but modern plugs do not fit into old ones.

Plugs of other standards

The following connection systems are divided into smaller groups. They are subject to their own regional methodology, but many of them are partially compatible. Depending on nationality, there is the following breakdown:

In order to avoid confusion in combinations, it is necessary to develop a unified standard and requirements for voltage and frequency of electric current. This is a matter of huge financial costs, because it will have to be redrawn energy systems most states.

Domestic devices

All devices manufactured in our country and officially imported must be equipped with standard C plugs in accordance with GOST 7396. 1-89. All data is applied to its body. These are the current, frequency and voltage limits. At the moment, such plugs are divided into two groups:

  • Fork by international classification CEE 7 / 16, or C 5. Contact diameter 4 millimeters. They are isolated from the housing and are designed for currents up to 6 amperes (total load 1.3 kilowatts). No grounding is provided.
  • Corresponding to category CEE 7/17, the plug belongs to class C 6. Its pins are thicker (4.8 millimeters) and the current it can withstand is higher - 10 amperes, which corresponds to 2.2 kilowatts of load. There is a ground contact.

You can take into account the devices in use with old, standard C1 - b, plugs. They are not equipped with ground and are equipped with pins 6 mm thick.

Such important element electrical circuit cannot be connected without taking into account the characteristics of the device being connected and the capabilities of the plug itself. In order to protect yourself and your loved ones, it is better to choose a product with the ability to connect grounding, since in our country there are more and more objects with a ready-made circuit and a three-pole socket.

DA Info Pro - March 6. Connecting any household appliance to electrical network we don't think about what types of electrical outlets there might be. However, you can get into some confusion when repairing electrical wiring in a house abroad or in an apartment in which foreigners lived before you. In addition, you may encounter some problems when traveling to another country when trying to insert an electrical plug into the network.

Electrical plugs vary in different countries. Therefore, the US Department of Commerce (ITA) adopted a standard in 1998 according to which different types of electrical outlets and plugs were assigned their own designation. We will write in detail about each type of electrical outlets.

Classification principle and main types

Total exists 15 types electrical outlets. The differences are in shape, size, maximum current, and the presence of a ground connection. All types of sockets are legally established in countries within the framework of standards and norms. Although the sockets in the image above may be similar in shape, they differ in the size of the sockets and prongs (plugs).

All types according to the American classification are designated as Type X.

Name Voltage Current Grounding Countries of distribution
Type A 127V 15A No USA, Canada, Mexico, Japan
Type B 127V 15A Yes USA, Canada, Mexico, Japan
Type C 220V 2.5A No Europe
Type D 220V 5A Yes India, Nepal
Type E 220V 16A Yes Belgium, France, Czech Republic, Slovakia
Type F 220V 16A Yes Russia, Europe
Type G 220V 13A Yes UK, Ireland, Malta, Malaysia, Singapore
Type H 220V 16A Yes Israel
Type I 220V 10A Not really Australia, China, Argentina
Type J 220V 10A Yes Switzerland, Luxembourg
Type K 220V 10A Yes Denmark, Greenland
Type L 220V 10A, 16A Yes Italy, Chile
Type M 220V 15A Yes South Africa
Type N 220V 10A, 20A Yes Brazil
Type O 220V 16A Yes Thailand

In most countries, standards are determined by their history. For example, India, being a British colony until 1947, adopted its standard. The old standard can still be found in some hotels in the UK. Type D.

The image shows the types of electrical outlets in various countries peace

Although when single-phase connection current polarity is not important, type A and B sockets are polarized. This manifests itself in the fact that the plugs have different thickness- the position of the fork is important. In addition, in the USA, where they are widely used, alternating current with a frequency of 60 Hz and a voltage of 127 V is used.

Development of different types of sockets and plugs

The widespread use of electricity in everyday life required the introduction of standards in the field of connecting electrical appliances. This would make electricity safer, devices more reliable and more versatile.

And many manufacturers of electrical equipment and devices in practice provide replacement cords for their devices. different kinds and countries.

Electrical sockets and plugs have evolved, including due to stricter safety requirements. So from Type D Type G appeared - the maximum current increased, additional protective insulating coatings appeared at the base of the plugs.

Some connector types are already obsolete. This is how the American Type I, the Soviet Type I, the old Spanish sockets, and plugs with cut plugs went out of everyday use. In fact, many countries standardize sizes among themselves. And standardization committees are trying to make interstate standards official. The main such organization is the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).

It turns out interesting when connecting electric stoves - the maximum power can reach 10 kW. Various countries have introduced rules and regulations to use a separate type of electrical outlet for such powerful devices. And in some places they are generally required to connect without an outlet in a fixed way.

To connect plugs of one type to a socket of another, adapters are usually sold. They are found both from one type of electrical outlet to another, and universal - from any to a specific one.

An electrical plug is a special plug invention that is required to quickly and easily connect/disconnect goods from the power supply. It is worth clarifying that each device is connected directly to the network through an outlet, and this occurs through the use of a cord with a plug located at its end. As a rule, a special marking is applied to the body of each plug without exception; technical characteristics are indicated on it.

It is important to pay attention to the fact that the plugs are designed quite simply, and if the cord is connected correctly and strict rules are followed, they will perform their function efficiently and in the manner required.

If there is a need to urgently replace the plug on the wire, then you need to decide, first of all, on the specific type of device. It is important to understand the accuracy of the power consumption of an electrical appliance, as well as the need for grounding. In order for everything to go well and no problem situations arise, you need to take care of the serviceability and quality of the product.

Selecting quality electrical plugs

In the online store you can choose a socket of any color, an electrical plug, or a switch. Characteristics of modern products:

  • reliability;
  • quality;
  • ease of use.

You can look at the direct option electrical plug, and corner model products. It is important to pay attention to the fact that plugs and sockets are the main part of the connection, which guarantees a reliable connection of electrical appliances directly to the outlet. The choice of a specific type of product depends on the preferences of each interested customer. Technical specifications products: grounding; mains voltage; maximum load; rated current. All this suggests that these devices differ not only in quality, but also for a long time services. Rest assured that tested products are safe to use.

A large selection of modern and proven products attracts the attention of customers. Take a look at the company's catalogue, we have everything you need. You can take advantage of great offers now. You can buy products wholesale and retail, at your request. If you have any questions, please contact the experienced specialists of our company.