Currently there are 15 types of different plugs and sockets being used all around the world. The US department of Commerce International Trade Administration has appointed each of these electrical outlets an alphabet; starting with A. Below we have listed each plug type along with the countries they are most commonly used in for domestic appliances. The list shows that most of the plugs supply 220-240 volts.
Types Of Plugs And Sockets Used All Around The World
Contents
Type: A
Volts: 100- 120 V
This two flat pins plug type is an ungrounded plug, and is compatible only with Type A socket. Type A plugs can be inserted only one way because the blades have different widths. The neutral blade is 7.9 mm wide and hot blade is 6.3 mm wide.This plug type is also known NEMA 1-15 and was invented in 1904.
Countries used: Canada, USA, Mexico and Japan
Type: B
Volts: 100-120 V
This electrical plug has one round grounding pin and two flat parallel pins. The round earth pin is longer than the other two flat pins so that the device is grounded first before it is connected to power. This socket type is compatible with plug Type A and B.
Countries used: Japan, Canada, Thailand and Taiwan
Type: C
Volts: 220-240 V
This two-rounded pins plug type is an ungrounded plug. It is the most used international plug. Type C plugs are very commonly used but that’s not the case for Type C sockets because they are ungrounded. Almost all around the world Type C sockets are becoming illegal and are being replaced by socket Type E, F, J, K and N because most countries demand to install sockets that are grounded.
Countries used: South America, Europe and Asia
Type: D
Volts: 220-240 V
This three point grounded plug has three large pins forming a triangular pattern. The earth pin is in the center and is 20.6 mm in length. The neutral and line pins are 14.9 mm long. For larger appliances type D plugs are often used along side type M plugs, as a result type D sockets works both with type M and type D plugs. Type D plugs are the most dangerous ones because the pins are not insulated.
Countries used: India
Type: E
Volts: 220- 240 V
Type e plug has two-rounded pin placed 19 mm apart from each other and a hole for the sockets earthing pin. Type E socket has two rounded recess. Plug type e is very similar to plug type C except for that it has two rounded pins and an additional female contact to accept the socket’s grounding pin. Type e socket is compatible with C, E and F plug types.
Countries used: Belgium, France, Czech Republic and Slovakia
Type: F
Volts: 220-240 V
This plug type is also called Schutzkontakt, which is a German word meaning safety contact. This plug type was designed in Germany after the First World War. This plug type has two rounded pins that are 4.8 mm long and placed 189 mm apart from each other. It is very similar to type e plug, the only difference being that it has two earth clips on sides.
Countries used: Russia and Europe
Type: G
Volts: 220-240 V
This electrical plug has three rectangular blades placed in a triangular pattern, and comes with an incorporated fuse. The central pin is the earth pin and is 22.7 mm long. One of the other two pins is a neutral pin and the other one is line pin and are both 17.7 mm long. The type G sockets have shutterson the live and neutral contacts in order to prevent the entry of any foreign object, and are hence compatible with only type G plugs.
Countries used: Malta, Ireland, United Kingdom and Malaysia
Type: H
Volts: 220-240 V
This type of electrical plug is unique to Israel and has three round pins 19 mm long, placed to form a triangular pattern. Before 1989, these plugs had flat prongs. But type H electrical sockets made after 1989 accepted both flat prong and round pins. Now the original three flat bladed plugs have become very rare. The new type H sockets accept type C plugs as well.
Countries used: Israel, Gaza strip and West Bank
Type: I
Volts: 220-240 V
This electrical plug has two flat pins placed to form an upside down V. It also has a grounding pin which longer than the other two pins. The two prongs are 17.3 mm long and the grounding pin is 20 mm long. A version of type I plugs with only two blades also exists. The socket type I is only compatible with plug type I.
Countries used: New Zealand, Australia, Argentina and China
Type: J
Volts: 220-240 V
This electrical plus has two round pins and a grounding pin. This plug is very similar to plug Type C except for it has a grounding pin and looks a lot like Type N but is not compatible with socket Type N because the grounding pin is further away as compared to Type N. Type J sockets are compatible with Type C and J plugs.
Countries used: Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Rwanda
Type: K
Volts: 220-240 V
Type K plug has two round pins and a grounding pin. It is very similar to Type F plug, the only difference being that Type K has a grounding pin instead of grounding clip. The earthing pin in Type K plugs is U-shaped and 14 mm long. The other two pins that are the line and neutral pins are both round and 19 mm long. Type K sockets are compatible with Type K and Type C plugs.
Countries used: Greenland and Denmark.
Type: L
Volts: 220-240 V
This electrical plug comes in two types rated at 10 and 16 amps respectively. Both plugs have two round pins and one grounding pin and all three pins are laced in a straight line. They differ only in terms of the distance and thickness of these pins. In the 10-amp version, the two round pins are 4 mm thick and are placed 5.5 mm apart from each other, with the grounding pin in the middle. In the 16-amp version, the round pins are 5 mm thick and placed 8 mm apart from each with the grounding pin in the middle. Therefore, they are not compatible with each other.
Countries used: Chile and Italy
Type: M
Volts: 220-240 V
This electrical plug has three round pins placed in triangular pattern. The central earth pin measures 28.6 mm in length. It is 15-amp plug. It looks similar to type D Indian plug, but the pins of Type M plug are larger. Type M sockets are only compatible with Type M plugs, and are usually used for big appliances such as air conditioning units and washing machines.
Countries used: South Africa
Type: N
Volts: 100-240 V
This electrical plug has two variations, one rated at 10 amps and other at 20 amps. Both the versions have two round pins and a grounding pin; they differ on the thickness of the pins. The pins of 10-amp version are 4 mm thick and the pins of 20 amps version are 4.8 mm and are usually used for heavier appliances.
Countries used: Brazil
Type: O
Volt: 220-240
This electrical plug has two round pins and one grounding pin. Type O sockets are compatible with Type C and O plugs. These were designed in 2006 and thus there use is not widespread. The two power pins are 19 mm long and the earth pin is 21.4 mm long.
Countries used: Thailand
So now you know the 15 different types for of Plugs And Sockets used all around the World.
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