What does a European plug look like? English outlet, or how to avoid getting into trouble in England

Most often, electrical appliances are supplied already with ready-made system connecting them to the network. However, there are situations when it is necessary to replace an element such as an electrical plug. Choose suitable option is very important, as well as connecting it correctly. In order to avoid unpleasant situations in the future, you should study the technology for repairing equipment.

Types of electrical plugs

There are only three types electrical plugs. These are collapsible and non-dismountable (cast) types of equipment.

Each of them performs the same function. An electrical plug of any type serves as a connection between the network and the current conductor.

Molded plugs have gained great popularity in the world of modern household appliances. They are reliable, aesthetic and also comfortable. The wire is attached to the pins by spot welding. The system in this case resembles a single wire. In this case there is no contact. This method of fastening ensures that there is no oxidation or weakening at the junction of the wire with the pins of the plug.

The cause of failure of a cast plug is a fracture of the conductor at the base. Typically, such devices are not repaired.

A removable plug will help bring the device back to life. The electrical cord and plug are connected very tightly. How better contact, the better the equipment works.

World fork markings

Depending on the state that produces the presented equipment, there are 13 types of gifts and plugs for them. They are marked in Latin letters.

Types A and B of electrical plugs are assigned to American plugs. Type A does not have a ground connection, and Type B already contains a place for its connection. Their pins are flat.

Type C belongs to European plugs with round pins without grounding. English sockets are marked D. The pins are round, two thin and one thick.

French electrical plugs with a grounding point have two round prongs. The third is in the socket.

An F type grounding plug is similar to a C. It only has two grounding plates.

English plugs include types M and G. Other European varieties include sockets J, K, L. Australian plugs for electrical cords are marked with the letter I, and Israeli ones - H.

Adapters are used to connect the plug to incompatible sockets.

Electric plugs in our country

In our country there are 4 types of trailed and cast forks.

Type C is a non-separable plug. They most often come with household appliances and connected to the cord.

Type C5 has round pins with a diameter of 4 mm, without ground contacts. The power of the equipment connected to such a plug does not exceed 1.3 kW (6 A).

Type C6 belongs to equipment such as an electrical plug, which may not have a grounding connection. In some versions they have a grounding pin. The diameter of the pins is 4.8 mm. The plug is designed for power up to 2 kW (10 A).

Type C1-b includes collapsible varieties designed for a power of 1.3 kW (6 A).

Which fork is better?

There is an opinion among professional electricians that a cast plug is still more reliable. This applies to quality products from well-known manufacturers.

The connection of the wire to the pins occurs in production by soldering or, in very rare cases, crimping. Subsequent hermetic casting of the housing reliably protects the connection point and also prevents oxidation processes in this section.

The only weak point of such a product is the connection between the conductor and the plug. If a break occurs, it is better not to try to disassemble the cast version of the product. If you decide to repair the device, you should connect a detachable plug to the wire.

Rules for connecting plug C1-b

Different types of electrical plugs will require certain installation rules to be followed for each one.

For collapsible plugs C1-b it is necessary to provide good contact wires with pins. The ends of the conductors should be tinned.

The insulation from the cable is removed by 20-25 mm without touching the cores. Rings should be formed around the crimp screws of the fork. The remaining overlap is wound around the cleaned base.

The finished ring is removed and carefully tinned so as not to put pressure on the insulation. Then they are put back on the screws and clamped until they stop. You need to be careful not to break the thread.

The pins with wires are inserted into the mounting recesses. The outgoing wire is pressed with an insulating strip without damaging the outer sheath of the cable. Next, the plug halves are tightened with a bolt and nut.

Connecting the wire to plug C5 and C6

Here the process of connecting the wire is even simpler. The electric plug of type C5 and C6 already includes special pads. There is no need to form rings. Wire with a cross section of 2.5 mm square. envy up to 10 mm, and from 1.5 mm sq. - up to 20 mm. This is due to the connection technology.

Thin wires will need to be folded in half before fastening. The core is twisted and inserted into the terminal.

From time to time it is better to tighten the pads in order to ensure good quality contact. IN similar devices ah he's good enough.

If the electrical network does not provide grounding, you should not connect extra contact anywhere. The third conductor is left unstripped as a reserve. It can be useful if one of the wires breaks.

If you install a plug with a high power rating on an electrical appliance, this will increase its safety margin. However, if you install a fork with a smaller load-bearing power on your equipment, you should expect it to overheat, fail, and create an emergency situation. Be sure to pay attention to the marking of the plug and the power of the household appliance.

Having familiarized yourself with the varieties of such an element of the electrical circuit as an electrical plug, you can choose the right option to replace the old plug. There are several types of such devices. Each is selected in accordance with the required load of the household appliance to which the wire and plug are connected. By making the connection in accordance with all the rules, you can have no doubt about the durability and safety of operation of the electrical plug.

If you order various electrical appliances and devices through foreign online stores like Aliexpress or Ebay, then in the order parameters you will often find a selection option - US plug, UK plug, EU plug or AU plug. What is this and what does this designation mean?!

You probably know what is used in the world different types electrical outlets. So, to indicate the type of connector used on the device for connecting to electrical network special notations are used. What is their difference? Here are the four main types of plugs:

1. UK Plug- English or British socket, type G (three flat pins). Used in the UK, Singapore, Malta and Cyprus. Operating voltage 220-240 Volts.

2.AU Plug- Australian socket, type I. Used in Australia, New Guinea, New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa, China. Operating voltage 220-240 Volts.

3. EU Plug- the so-called “Euro” connector of the socket, type C and F (additionally 2 ground contacts). A regular European socket used in Russia, CIS countries, the European Union, as well as in many other countries (Turkey, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, etc.). The voltage used is 220-240 Volts at a frequency of 50 Hz.

4.US Plug— American socket, Type A (two vertical flat pins) and B (with a third hole for grounding). Used in the USA, as well as in the countries of South America and Japan. The voltage used is 100-127 Volts at a frequency of 60 Hz.

In addition, there are a number of less common types of electrical outlet plugs:

There are a total of 12 types of sockets in the world. Among them are Italian, Thai, African, Swiss, Israeli, etc. They are used much less frequently, but nevertheless they also have a place.

Try to imagine homo modernus without mobile phones, cameras, laptops, navigation systems and other gadgets? The answer is simple: it is impossible. Well, all these benefits of civilization cannot exist without “food”; they need recharging.
Therefore, beaches, parks, museums fade into the background, and the first thing a traveler should think about is what kind of sockets and what kind of voltage there will be in the country where he is going.
In most cases, the issue is resolved with the help of an adapter. But it can become useless if the voltage in the network is very different from the native, domestic one. For example, in Europe the voltage varies from 220 to 240 V; in the USA and Japan - from 100 to 127 V. If you don’t guess, you’ll burn your device.
Let's try to understand the intricacies of electrical engineering.

Voltage and frequency

By and large, only two levels of electrical voltage are used in the household network in the world:
European - 220 - 240 V and American - 100 - 127 V, and two frequency values AC- 50 and 60 Hz.

Voltage 220 - 240 V with a frequency of 50 Hz is used by most countries of the world.
Voltage 100 -127 V at a frequency of 60 Hz - in the USA, countries of North, Central and, partially, South America, Japan, etc.
However, there are variations, for example, in the Philippines, 220 V and 60 Hz, and in Madagascar, on the contrary, 100 V and 50 Hz, even within the same country, depending on the region, there may exist different standards, for example, in different parts Brazil, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the Maldives.

Therefore, before you set off, collect as much information as possible about circuits and signals, the types of sockets used in the country and the voltage in the network.

Electrical sockets

There are a lot of sockets, plugs and options for connecting to the electrical network. But don’t be alarmed, there is no need to deal with everyone and look for an adapter for each.
You need to remember (save, sketch, photograph) the 13 most used types of sockets, which are designated in Latin letters from A to M:

Type A - American electrical socket and plug: two flat parallel contacts. Used in most countries of North and Central America (USA, Canada, Mexico, Venezuela, Guatemala), in Japan, and almost everywhere where the mains voltage is 110 V.
Type B is a variation of the Type A connector, with an additional round ground pin. Typically used in the same countries as the Type A connector.
Type C - European socket and plug. It has two round parallel contacts (without grounding). This is the most popular socket in Europe, excluding England, Ireland, Malta and Cyprus. Used where the voltage is 220V.
Type D is the old British standard with three round contacts arranged in a triangle shape, with one of the contacts thicker than the other two, rated for maximum current. Used in India, Nepal, Namibia, Sri Lanka.
Type E is a plug with two round pins and a hole for the grounding pin, which is located in the socket of the socket. This type is now almost universally used in Poland, France and Belgium.
Type F - The standard is similar to Type E, but instead of a round ground pin there are two metal clamps on both sides of the connector. You will find such sockets in Germany, Austria, Holland, Norway, and Sweden.
Type G - British socket with three flat contacts. Used in England, Ireland, Malta and Cyprus, Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong.
Note. This type of outlet often comes with a built-in internal fuse. Therefore, if after connecting the device it does not work, then the first thing to do is check the condition of the fuse in the outlet.
Type H - has three flat contacts or, in more early version, round contacts are arranged in a V shape. Used only in Israel and the Gaza Strip. Not compatible with any other plug, designed for voltage values ​​of 220 V and current up to 16 A.
Type I - Australian socket: two flat contacts, as in a socket American type Ah, but they are located at an angle to each other - in the shape of the letter V. There is also a version with a grounding contact. Used in Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Argentina.
Type J - Swiss plug and socket. It is similar to the Type C plug, but has an additional grounding pin in the middle and two round power pins. Used in Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Ethiopia, Rwanda and the Maldives.
Type K is a Danish socket and plug, similar to the European Type C, but with a ground pin located at the bottom of the connector. Used in Denmark, Greenland, Bangladesh, Senegal and the Maldives.
Type L - Italian plug and socket, similar European socket Type C, but with a round ground pin that is in the center, the two round power pins are placed unusually in line. Used in Italy, Chile, Ethiopia, Tunisia and Cuba.
Type M 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 devices with a current of up to 15 A. Used in South Africa, Swaziland and Lesotho.

A few words about various types of adapters.

The easiest way to be ready to put the plug into the socket is to purchase an adapter, converter or transformer in advance (it depends on what your needs are). In most hotels, if you contact them, they will select the device you need at the reception.

Adapters - combine your plug with someone else's socket without affecting the voltage, the most versatile device.
Converters - provide conversion of local power grid parameters, but for a short time, up to 2 hours. Suitable for small (hiking) household appliances: hairdryer, razor, kettle, iron. Convenient on the road due to its small size and weight.
Transformers are more powerful, larger and more expensive voltage converters designed for continuous operation. Used for complex electrical appliances: computers, TVs, etc.

And at the end, an easy life hack on how to use an English socket without an adapter

Happy travels!

Sources: wikimedia.org, travel.ru, enovator.ru, personal experience.

If there are several mains voltage standards in the world, then accordingly there is also a wide variety of socket and plug standards for them.

As we already know from the previous article on globe Two main standards for voltage and frequency have become widespread. One of the standards, the so-called American with a voltage of 110 - 127 V and a frequency of 60 Hz, is distributed together with the standards for plugs and sockets of type A and B. The second standard, the so-called European with a voltage of 220 - 240 V and a frequency of 50 Hz, is widespread with sockets and plugs C – M.

Some countries strictly adhere to one standard, but there are a number of countries where plugs and sockets of different standards are used.

There are only 14 standardized types of plugs and sockets on Earth. There are also various specialized designs used in specific industries. This was done specifically so that it would not be possible to connect specialized devices to a household network whose parameters they are not designed for.

Type A

Type A sockets and plugs have become widespread in North and Central America, as well as in Japan. But the American and Japanese standard are slightly different. In the Japanese version, two parallel flat pins of the plug are exactly the same size, but in the American version, one pin is slightly wider than the second. This was done so that polarity was strictly observed when switching on. The first networks on the American continent were DC. This type is also called Class II. Japanese plugs to Canadian and american sockets turn on without problems, but American fork You won't be able to use it with a Japanese socket. Well, maybe file down the wide pin a little.

Type B

This type, like the previous one, is used in Canada and the USA, as well as in Japan. It is these sockets and plugs that are used to connect powerful household appliances with current consumption up to 15 A. This type, in addition to the designation B, in some catalogs is also designated Class I or international code NEMA 5-15. We can say that in Canada and the USA, type B has replaced type A. In old houses, of course, the old type A is still common, without a “grounding” contact in the middle, and in new buildings you are unlikely to find anything other than type B. The industry has long produced electrical appliances only with a modern type B plug, so it is not uncommon to see a modern electrical appliance in an old house, but with the third terminal cut off so that it can be connected to an old electrical outlet.

Type C

Type C, or according to the international designation type CEE 7/16, plugs and sockets have become widespread throughout almost all of Europe, with minor exceptions, which we will consider further. Such electrical sockets And power plugs were standard, including throughout the entire territory of the USSR. Many of our compatriots still call them “Soviet”. Type C has been replaced in European countries by new designs of sockets and plugs that meet modern requirements for grounding electrical appliances. These are types such as E, F, J, K and L. When moving to the new standard, the possibility of using type C plugs was taken into account for inclusion in new versions of sockets, but, to the great regret of the majority of residents of old houses, not vice versa.

Type D

D-type plugs are still common in the former British colonies of India, Nepal, Namibia and Sri Lanka, although they are actually an outdated British-made design used in Great Britain until the middle of the last century. This type is also designated BS 546.

Type E

In France, Belgium, Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Tunisia and Morocco, type E or CEE 7/7 plugs and sockets have become widespread international standard. Connecting an outdated type C plug to such an outlet, as already mentioned, is not difficult.

Type F

F-type plugs and plugs (CEE 7/4 or GOST 7396 in the USSR) have become widespread mainly in Austria, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Finland and Eastern European countries. IN lately, this type is becoming increasingly widespread in all countries of the former USSR. You can freely plug a “Soviet” C-type plug into an F-type socket. But since the diameter of the pins of a type C plug is 0.8 mm smaller than that of a type F, this compatibility must be used with extreme caution. Since the contact may not be sufficient, and as a result, heating at the point of contact and ignition is possible.

Type G

This type is used in the UK, Hong Kong, Ireland, Malaysia, Singapore, Cyprus and Malta. The international designation for type G plugs and sockets is BS 1363. According to appearance plugs of this type, it is immediately clear that these are power connectors, because they are capable of passing current up to 32 A. If, when traveling to Cyprus, you come across this type of plug at the hotel, then they will offer you an adapter so that you can connect your phone charger or laptop.

Type H

You will find plugs and sockets of type H (SI 32) only in Israel. But the developers of this standard took care of tourists in advance and provided for the possibility of including “Soviet” plugs, type C, in this type of sockets.

Type I

In Australia, Argentina, China, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, I-type plugs and sockets are common, which are also designated according to the international standard AS 3112. Visually quite similar, types I and H are in fact completely incompatible.

Type J

Switzerland and Liechtenstein have their own special standard - this is type J or SEC 1011 according to the international standard. If you find yourself in one of these countries, you can freely charge your mobile phone type C into local sockets.

Type K

In Denmark and Greenland, type K plugs and sockets (international designation 107-2-D1) have become widespread. In this socket you can plug in type E and F plugs, as well as type C without much difficulty.

Type L

Type L is found exclusively in Italy. But it should be noted that the likelihood of meeting them in some North African countries is also very high. Type C plugs are compatible with type L or CEI 23-16/BII sockets, as designated by international standards.

Type M

The penultimate type in our review is M. These plugs with sockets are widespread in Lesotho, Swaziland and South Africa. The similarity between type M and type D is clearly visible. Type D plugs can be freely plugged into an M-type socket.

Type N

And finally, the last of the types under consideration is N. Used in Brazil and South Africa. Type N plugs actually come in two versions with 4mm pins rated up to 10A and 4.8mm pins rated up to 20A. The middle pin is designed for grounding electrical appliances. Type N sockets completely freely accept type C plugs. But with type J, despite the visual similarity, they are completely incompatible, since the middle contact is located closer to the central axis.

It so happened historically that in different countries They mainly use their own specific sockets and plugs that meet their own standards, although some types are still compatible with each other.

Will unification be achieved throughout the world and one common standard be adopted? Most likely, yes, but not as soon as many would like. Initially, it is necessary to come to one voltage standard, and this means enormous costs for the re-equipment and re-equipment of transformer substations, not to mention the adaptation of household electrical appliances.

In the 60s of the last century, on the territory of the Soviet Union they switched from the 127 V standard to 220 V. Specially all new household appliances was equipped with switches that made it possible to select the operating voltage of the electrical appliance, which essentially turned off part of the primary winding of the power supply transformer when the switch was moved to the 127 V position. And how many electric shavers were burned when, for example, a person came on a business trip to another city, where the sockets already had 220 V, and forgot to switch the razor switch from 127 V to 220 V. But that, as they say, is a completely different story...

Just 20 years ago we could travel almost light. Now our suitcase is filled with a bunch of electronics, which a modern tourist simply cannot do without. But when going to another country, you need to understand that not always and not everywhere you will be able to find a native electrical connector for recharging your gadget. Knowledge about electrical networks and accepted electrical standards will certainly be useful to you on the other side.

So. There are two types of voltage and frequency most often found in the world. The first one is American standard 100-127 Volt/60 Hertz, together with plugs A and B. Another standard is European, 220*240 Volt/50 Hertz, plugs types C - M.

There are a great variety of ways to connect to the electrical network, a huge number of types of plugs and sockets, as well as different voltages and frequencies. All this becomes a serious problem for tourists.
To connect electrical appliances to networks with sockets of inappropriate format, various adapters are used. Some of them can be purchased here in Russia, at the nearest electrical appliance store, or already locally, in the host country. When purchasing an adapter from Russian store you need to know the network voltage, frequency and type of socket of the country where you are traveling. We will talk about the types of sockets and voltage in the most popular tourist countries below.

In Russia, the network voltage is 220 volts, frequency 50 hertz. Socket types C and F are used

United Kingdom

Mains voltage 230 volts, frequency 50 hertz. Sockets are type G, less often D and M. Russian electrical appliances require an adapter for all types of English sockets.

Greece

Mains voltage 220 volts, frequency 50 hertz. The type of sockets is European standard (or type C). That is, it would seem that you can safely forget the adapter at home. But in Crete you will still need an adapter, which can be bought at any local supermarket for only 2 euros. The fact is that sometimes there are sockets with three inputs (type D), so you won’t be able to use your electrical appliance directly.

Israel

Mains voltage 230 volts, frequency 50 hertz. Types of sockets C, H, M. Accordingly, an adapter for sockets of type H and M may be required.

India

Mains voltage 230 volts, frequency 50 hertz. The sockets are the same as in Greece, type C and D. That is, if you are lucky and find yourself in a hotel with European standard sockets (type C), then you won’t have to look for an adapter. But if the socket is type D, you will have to run to the reception or the nearest store.

Spain

Mains voltage 230 volts, frequency 50 hertz. Socket types are C and F. No adapter is needed.

Italy

Mains voltage 230 volts, frequency 50 hertz. Most often, European sockets are installed (type C and F), but you may also find a type L socket; an adapter will be needed for it.

Egypt

Mains voltage 230 volts, frequency 50 hertz. Socket types C (as in Russia) and D. An adapter is required.

Cuba

Mains voltage 110/220 volts, frequency 60 hertz. Types of sockets A, B, C, L, F. It is better to purchase the adapter on site, everything will depend on what type of socket will be installed in your hotel.

Mexico

Voltage 127 volts, frequency 60 hertz. Socket types A, B. Adapter required.

Voltage 120 volts, frequency 60 hertz. Socket types A, B. You can't do without an adapter.

Switzerland

Voltage 230 volts, frequency 50 hertz. Types of sockets C and J. And here - depending on your luck. The adapter may not be useful if the hotel has type C sockets, but be careful: the second type of socket (J) is very similar to our Russian one, however, it will require an adapter.

Japan

Voltage 100 volts, frequency 50/60 hertz. Socket types A, B. You can't do without an adapter.

Türkiye, Tunisia, Finland, France, Germany- no adapter required.