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International standard IEC 60446 defines basic safety principles for identifying electrical conductors by colours or numerals, for example in electricity distribution wiring. ... International standard IEC 60446 defines basic safety principles for identifying electrical conductors by colours or numerals, for example in electricity distribution wiring. ... is the 90th day of the year (91st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The three contacts

In most countries, household power is single-phase electric power, in which a single live conductor brings alternating current into a house, and a neutral returns it to the power supply. Many plugs and sockets include a third contact used for a protective earth ground, which only carries current in case of a fault in the connected equipment. In electrical engineering, single-phase electric power refers to the distribution of electric power using a system in which all the voltages of the supply vary in unison. ... City lights viewed in a motion blurred exposure. ...

Live or Phase

The live contact (also known as phase, hot or active), along with the neutral contact, carries power from the power source to the equipment. The voltage between them varies by country, as set by national standards. In some installations, there may be two live conductors, either being two phases from a three-phase system or being both energized wires from a split-phase system. Some plug/socket combinations are designed in a way that a plug can be inserted only one possible way — this is referred to as a polarized plug (not to be confused with positive and negative polarity). Others allow the plug to be inserted with live and neutral either way round — this is referred to as an unpolarized plug. Furthermore, even if live and neutral can only connect one way, in some countries it is common to wire them without regard for which is which. Three-phase power transformer which is the sole transfer point for electricity to a suburban shopping mall in Canada. ... A split phase electricity distribution system is a 3-wire single-phase distribution system, commonly used in North America for single-family residential and light commercial (up to about 100 kVA) applications. ...

Neutral

The neutral contact, along with a live contact, completes the circuit between the power source and equipment. It is chosen as the zero voltage reference point, with the live contact's voltage measured with respect to it. In many cases, local electrical regulations require the neutral to be connected to earth ground. In such systems, even though the neutral conductor is at a very low voltage with respect to ground, it is insulated for the full supply voltage in case of a fault such as a break in the wiring between neutral and source. Another possibility is that the live and neutral may be reversed or crossed by improper installation.

Neutral and earth (ground) are closely related and are usually connected at some point; however, extra connections between the neutral and the earth should be avoided unless the relevant jurisdiction's regulations allow it. Connecting neutral and earth at more than one point can sometimes create a dangerous ground loop in the system. Ground or earth in a mains (AC power) electrical wiring system is a conductor that exists primarily to provide a low impedance path to the earth to prevent the buildup of voltages, static or transient (lightning), that may result in undue hazards to connected equipment or persons, and which in... In an electrical system, ground loop refers to an unwanted current that flows in a conductor connecting two points that are nominally at the same potential, ground, but are actually at different potentials. ...

Earth/Ground

For more details on this topic, see Earthing system.

The earth contact (known as ground in American English) is only intended to carry electric current when connected to equipment that has developed an insulation fault (except for EMI/RFI filters which do cause a small current down the earth). The earth connection was added to modern plugs because, if a live wire or other component in a device touches the metal casing, anybody touching the device may receive a dangerous electric shock. In many countries devices with metal cases must have the case connected to the earth contact. This reduces but does not eliminate the possibility of the case developing a high voltage relative to the earth and grounded metalwork. // In electricity supply systems, an earthing system defines the electrical potential of the conductors relative to that of the Earths conductive surface. ... For other uses, see American English (disambiguation). ... In electricity, current refers to electric current, which is the flow of electric charge. ... Electromagnetic interference (or EMI, also called radio frequency interference or RFI) is a (usually undesirable) disturbance caused in a radio receiver or other electrical circuit by electromagnetic radiation emitted from an external source. ... Sign warning of possible electric shock hazard An electric shock can occur upon contact of a humans body with any source of voltage high enough to cause sufficient current flow through the muscles or hair. ...

The primary purpose of the earthing system is to cut power when a device or cable develops a wiring fault. The secondary purpose is to hold all touchable metal in a house to the same voltage to prevent electrical shocks when touching two metal objects at the same time. Additionally, some equipment such as line filters and surge protectors bypass current to the earth. Further, an interconnected audio system that has a single powered component (say, an old amplifier) that is not adequately connected to ground (by its two-prong cord) gets some avoidable noise from that component's acting as an untuned antenna, picking up static. Surge and noise protector Most hV6 A surge protector is an appliance designed to protect electrical devices from power surges and voltage spikes. ...

There are two main approaches to the problem of how to disconnect power when a live wire comes into contact with metalwork attached to the earthing system: One way is to get the resistance through the fault path and back to the supply very low by having a metallic connection from the earth back to the supply transformer (a TN system). Then when a fault happens a very high current will flow rapidly blowing a fuse (or tripping a circuit breaker). // In electricity supply systems, an earthing system defines the electrical potential of the conductors relative to that of the Earths conductive surface. ... For other uses, see Circuit breaker (disambiguation). ...

The second approach, where such a direct connection is not used (a TT system), the resistance of the fault path back to the supply is too high for the branch circuit overcurrent protection to operate (blow a fuse or trip a circuit breaker). In such case a residual current detector is installed to detect the current leaking to ground and interrupt the circuit. // In electricity supply systems, an earthing system defines the electrical potential of the conductors relative to that of the Earths conductive surface. ... For other uses, see Circuit breaker (disambiguation). ... A residual current device (RCD) A residual current device (RCD), or residual current circuit breaker (RCCB), is an electrical wiring device that disconnects a circuit whenever it detects that the flow of current is not balanced between the phase (hot) conductor and the neutral conductor. ...

The neutral core could in theory be used as a ground, but this would be dangerous if the core broke, so this is not normally used in building wiring or portable appliances. It is, however, used in some other situations with special precautions. For instance, in Switzerland, sockets in houses with the old two wire installation have the ground and neutral contacts connected together, probably supposing that the professionally maintained house installation is much more reliable than a plugged-in device. Also using the neutral as a ground prevents the use of residual current detectors.

Differences in terminology

There are significant differences between American English and British English in talking about power plugs and sockets. For other uses, see American English (disambiguation). ... British English (BrE, BE, en-GB) is the broad term used to distinguish the forms of the English language used in the United Kingdom from forms used elsewhere in the Anglophone world. ...

In the United States, the live contact may be called live or hot. The neutral contact may be called cold, neutral, return, the grounded conductor, or (in the National Electrical Code), the identified conductor. The earth contact is called ground or the grounding conductor. The National Electric Code Handbook, 2005 edition The National Electrical Code (NEC), or NFPA 70, is a standard for the safe installation of electrical wiring and equipment. ...

In the United Kingdom the word "line" is occasionally used to denote the live terminal or wire. This terminology derives from its being at the line voltage relative to neutral and ground, as distinct from the "phase" voltage, between lines on different phases of the supply.

Live conductors are called phases when there is more than a single phase in use. Pins are also known as prongs, contacts or terminals.

In Australia, the live contact is called active.

History of plugs and sockets

Light fitting plug with toaster

When electricity was first introduced into the household, it was primarily used for lighting. At that time, many electricity companies operated a split-tariff system where the cost of electricity for lighting was lower than that for other purposes. This led to portable appliances (such as vacuum cleaners, electric fans, and hair driers) being connected to the light fitting. The picture to the right shows a 1909 electric toaster with a light bulb socket plug. Copyright info See Talk:Mains power plug for copyright information. ... Copyright info See Talk:Mains power plug for copyright information. ... Electricity (from New Latin Ä“lectricus, amberlike) is a general term for a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. ... For the English town, see Towcester. ... The light bulb is one of the most significant inventions in the history of the human race, illuminating the darkness of the evening and bringing light indoors at all times in order focus on the task at hand. ...

U.S. Patent 774,250 . The first electric power plug and receptacle.

However, as electricity became a common method of lighting houses and operating labour-saving appliances, a means of connection to the electric system other than using a light socket was needed. The original two blade electrical plug and socket were invented by Harvey Hubbell and patented in 1904. Other manufacturers adopted the Hubbell pattern and by 1915 they were widespread, although even by the early 1920's in the United States, household and light commercial equipment was still powered through cables connected with Edison screw-base adapters to lampholders. ^{[1] [2]} Download high resolution version (1660x1018, 65 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Download high resolution version (1660x1018, 65 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Harvey Hubbell II (1857 - December 17, 1927), was a U.S. inventor, entrepreneur and industrialist. ... For other uses, see Patent (disambiguation). ...

^[3]

The three prong plug was invented by Philip F. Labre, while he was attending the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE). It is said that his landlady had a cat which would knock over her fan when it came in the window. When she plugged the fan back in, she would get an electric shock. Labre figured out that if the plug were grounded, the electricity would go to earth through the plug rather than his landlady. He applied for and was issued a patent for grounding receptacle and plug on June 5, 1928.^[4] As the need for safer installations became apparent, earthed three-contact systems were made mandatory in most industrial countries. MSOE redirects here. ... Sign warning of possible electric shock hazard An electric shock can occur upon contact of a humans body with any source of voltage high enough to cause sufficient current flow through the muscles or hair. ...

Proliferation of standards

During the first fifty years of commercial use of electric power, standards developed rapidly based on growing experience. Technical, safety, and economic factors influenced the development of all wiring devices and a number of different varieties were invented. Gradually, original concepts were dropped and the desire for trade between countries eliminated some standards that had been used only in a few countries. Former colonies of countries may retain the standards of the colonizing country, occasionally (as with the UK and a number of its former colonies) after the colonizing country has changed its standard. Sometimes offshore industrial plants or overseas military bases use the wiring practices of their controlling country instead of the surrounding country. In some countries there is no single national standard and multiple voltages, frequencies and plug designs are in use, creating extra complexity and potential safety problems for users.

In recent years many countries have settled on one of a few de facto standards, although there are legacy installations of obsolete wiring in most countries of the world. Some buildings have wiring that has been in use for almost a century and which pre-dates all modern standards.

IEC power cord with CEE 7/7 plug at left end.

To minimize the difficulty of designing for different national standards, many manufacturers of electrical devices like personal computers have adopted the practice of putting a single world-standard IEC connector on the device, and supplying for each country a power cord equipped with a standard IEC connector on one end and a national power plug at the other. The device itself is designed to adapt to a wide range of voltage and frequency standards. This has the practical benefit of reducing the amount of testing required for approval, and reduces the number of different product variations that must be produced to serve world markets. This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... IEC connector is the common name for the set of thirteen line sockets (called the connector in the specification) and thirteen panel plugs (called the inlet) defined by International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) specification IEC 60320. ... A power cord or mains cable is a cable that temporarily connects an electrical appliance to an electrical power source. ...

World maps by plug/socket and voltage/frequency

See also: List of countries with mains power plugs, voltages and frequencies

Voltage/Frequency. Click for larger version.

Plugs. Click for larger version.

There are two basic standards for voltage and frequency in the world. One is the North American standard of 110-120 volts at 60 Hz, which uses plugs A and B, and the other is the European standard of 220-240 volts at 50 Hz, which uses plugs C through M. The differences arose for historical reasons as discussed in the article Mains electricity. The terms line voltage/frequency or mains voltage/frequency commonly refer to the electrical voltage and frequency used in the low voltage parts (in particular wall sockets) of an alternating current electricity supply network. ... Type F mains power plug & socket The term mains usually refers to the general purpose alternating current (AC) electrical power supply (as in “Ive connected the appliance to the mains”). The term is not usually used in the United States and Canada. ...

Countries on other continents have adopted one of these two voltage standards, although some countries use variations or a mixture of standards. The outline maps show the different plug types, voltages and frequencies used around the world,^[5] colour-coded for easy reference.

Types of plug and sockets

Electrical plugs and their sockets differ by country in shape, size and type of connectors. The type used in each country is set by national standards legislation.^[6] In this article each type is designated by a letter designation from a U.S. government publication [1], plus a short comment in parentheses giving its country of origin and number of contacts. Subsections then detail the subtypes of each type as used in different parts of the world.

Note that IEC Class I refers to earthed equipment. IEC Class II refers to unearthed equipment protected by double insulation. See Appliance classes. In the electrical appliance manufacturing industry, the following IEC protection classes are used to differentiate between the protective-earth connection requirements of devices. ...

Type A (North American/Japanese 2-pin)

Main article: NEMA connector

NEMA 1-15 (North American 15 A/125 V ungrounded)

Standardized by the U.S. National Electrical Manufacturers Association^[7] and adopted by 38 other countries, this simple plug with two flat parallel pins, or blades, is used in most of North America and on the east coast of South America on devices not requiring a ground connection, such as lamps and "double-insulated" small appliances. NEMA 1-15 sockets have been prohibited in new construction in the United States and Canada since 1962, but remain in many older homes and are still sold "for replacement use only". Type A plugs are still very common because they are compatible with type B sockets. A NEMA 5-15 plug and socket plug. ... This article is about the standards association NEMA. For other uses, see Nema. ... North American redirects here. ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ...

Early designs could be inserted either way, but some modern ones prevent the neutral pin from being inserted into the live socket by making it wider than the live one, referred to as a polarized plug. (Note that this is not the same as positive/negative polarization in a direct current system.) New polarized plugs will not fit in old type A sockets, but both old and new type A plugs will fit in new type A and type B sockets. Some devices that do not distinguish between neutral and live, such as sealed electronic power supplies, are still sold with both pins narrow. When attaching a new polarized plug to a cord, it is useful to remember that the most common type of two-conductor cord for low-power use in North America has smooth insulation on the "hot" side and ribbed insulation on the "neutral" side. Direct current (DC or continuous current) is the continuous flow of electricity through a conductor such as a wire from high to low potential. ... An electronic power supply, often referred to somewhat incorrectly as an AC adaptor, is an electronic device that produces direct current of a particular voltage and current from a source of electricity such as a battery or wall-socket power. ...

JIS C 8303, Class II (Japanese 15 A/100 V ungrounded)

The Japanese plug and socket are identical to NEMA 1-15. However, the Japanese system incorporates stricter dimensional requirements for the plug housing, different marking requirements, and mandatory testing and approval by MITI or JIS.^[8] The Ministry of International Trade and Industry (通商産業省 Tsūsho-sangyō-shō or MITI) was the single most powerful agency in the Japanese government during the 1950s and 1960s. ... Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS) specifies the standards used for industrial activities in Japan. ...

Some older Japanese outlets and multiplug adapters are non-polarized -- the slots in the sockets are the same size - and will only accept non-polarized plugs. Japanese plugs should be able to fit into modern North American outlets without trouble, but North American appliances with polarized plugs may require adapters or replacement non-polarized plugs to connect to older Japanese outlets; or even replacement of the wall socket itself.

Japanese standard wire sizes and the resulting current ratings are somewhat different from those used elsewhere in the world. Japanese voltage is only 100 volts - lower than American voltage - and the frequency in eastern Japan is only 50 hertz instead of 60, so even if a North American plug can be inserted into a Japanese socket, it does not always mean the device will work properly.

Type B (American 3-pin or U-ground)

Main article: NEMA connector

A North American grounded (earthed) plug. Note that the socket will also accept an ungrounded (two prong) plug whether polarized or unpolarized.

NEMA 5-15 (North American 15 A/125 V grounded)

A more common style of NEMA 5-15 duplex outlet, with metal wallplate.

The type B plug has two flat parallel blades like type A, but has a round ground or earthing pin (American standard NEMA 5-15/Canadian standard CSA 22.2, N°42).^[7] It is rated for 15 amperes at 125 volts. The ground pin is longer than the live and neutral blades, so the device is grounded before the power is connected. The neutral blade in the type B socket is wider than the live one to prevent polarized type A plugs being inserted upside-down. Type B plugs often have both pins narrow since the ground pin enforces polarity. A NEMA 5-15 plug and socket plug. ... Image File history File links Domestic_AC_Type_B_USA.jpg Summary Description: A 3-prong type B AC plug and receptacle (U.S. and Canada) Source: self-made Date: created 19. ... Image File history File links Domestic_AC_Type_B_USA.jpg Summary Description: A 3-prong type B AC plug and receptacle (U.S. and Canada) Source: self-made Date: created 19. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (480x641, 121 KB) NEMA 5-15 Outlet 120V/15A I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (480x641, 121 KB) NEMA 5-15 Outlet 120V/15A I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... For uses of the term ground or earth in electricity but outside of mains wiring please see Ground (electricity) Ground or earth in a mains (AC power) electrical wiring system is a core that exists primarily to help protect against faults. ...

The 5-15 socket is standard in all of North America (Canada, the United States and Mexico). It is also used in Central America, the Caribbean, northern South America (Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela and part of Brazil), Japan, Taiwan and Saudi Arabia.

With type B outlets, if you look directly at the outlet with the ground at the bottom, the neutral slot is on the left, and the live slot is on the right. They may also be installed with the ground at the top or on either side, but the pinout going clockwise, starting with the ground, are always ground, neutral, live. If the plug is polarized, the widest pin is the neutral connector.

In the theater, this connector is sometimes known as PBG for "Parallel Blade with Ground", or Hubbell the name of a common manufacturer.

JIS C 8303, Class I (Japanese 15 A/100 V grounded)

Japan also uses a Type B plug similar to the North American one.^[8] However it is less common than its Type A equivalent.

CEE 7/16 plug and socket

Copyright This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Copyright This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ...

Type C (European 2-pin)

(Not to be confused with the 3-blade C13 and C14 IEC connectors) IEC connector is the common name for the set of thirteen line sockets (called the connector in the specification) and thirteen panel plugs (called the inlet) defined by International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) specification IEC 60320. ...

CEE 7/16 (Europlug 2.5 A/250 V unearthed)

For more details on this topic, see Europlug.

This two-pin plug is probably the single most widely used international plug, popularly known as the Europlug. The plug is unearthed and has two round, 4 mm pins, which usually converge slightly. It can be inserted into any socket that accepts 4 mm round contacts spaced 19 mm apart. It is described in CEE 7/16.^[9] and is also defined in Italian standard CEI 23-5 and Russian standard GOST 7396 The europlug is a flat, two-pole domestic AC power plug that is generally supplied moulded on the end of an appliances flex or a power cord, designed for voltages up to 250 V and currents up to 2. ... The europlug is a flat, two-pole domestic AC power plug that is generally supplied moulded on the end of an appliances flex or a power cord, designed for voltages up to 250 V and currents up to 2. ... GOST 7396 is a series of Soviet and later Russian standards that specify basic dimensions and safety requirements for power plugs and sockets used in Russia and other former Soviet Republics. ...

The Europlug is used in Class II applications throughout continental Europe (Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey). It is also used in Middle East, most of Africa, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Bangladesh, Indonesia as well as the former Soviet republics, and many developing nations.

This plug is intended for use with devices that require 2.5 A or less. Because it can be inserted in either direction into the socket, live and neutral are connected at random.

The separation and length of the pins allow its safe insertion in most CEE 7/17, French type E, Type H (Israeli 3-pin), CEE 7/4 (Schuko), CEE 7/7 and Type L (Italian 3-pin) outlets.

CEE 7/17 plug

CEE 7/17 (German/French 16 A/250 V unearthed)

This plug also has two round pins but the pins are 4.8 mm in diameter like types E and F and the plug has a round plastic or rubber base that stops it being inserted into small sockets intended for the Europlug. Instead, it fits only into large round sockets intended for types E and F. The base has holes in it to accommodate both side contacts and socket earth pins. It is used for large Class II appliances. Used in South Korea for all domestic non-earthed appliances, it is also defined in Italian standard CEI 23-5.
This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ...

BS 4573 socket

BS 4573 (UK shaver)

In the United Kingdom and Ireland, there is a special version of the type C plug for use with shavers (electric razors) in bath or shower rooms.^[10] It has 5 mm diameter pins 16.6 mm apart, and the sockets for this plug can often take unearthed CEE 7/16, US and/or Australian plugs as well. Sockets are often able to supply either 230 V or 115 V. In wet zones, they must contain an isolation transformer compliant with BS 3535.
Thumbnail of uncropped version Cropped version of Image:UKShaverSocket. ... Thumbnail of uncropped version Cropped version of Image:UKShaverSocket. ... Collection of Modern Safety Razors - Gillette Fusion Power, Gillette M3Power, Mach3 Turbo Champion, Schick Quattro Chrome, Schick Quattro Power, Gillette Mach3, Gillette Sensor, Schick Xtreme3, Schick Xtreme SubZero, and Schick Xtreme3 Disposables A razor is an edge tool primarily used in shaving. ... An isolation transformer is a transformer, often with symmetrical windings, which is used to decouple two circuits. ...

Unearthed socket compatible with both Schuko and French plugs

Variations in sockets

Some Type C sockets can only take 4 mm pins or have plastic barriers in place to prevent Schuko or French plugs from entering. However, many can take 4.8 mm pins and have enough room for a 4.8 mm pin round Schuko or French plug to be inserted, with an unsafe result.
Download high resolution version (1294x650, 87 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Download high resolution version (1294x650, 87 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Double Schuko socket with one plug inserted CEE 7/7 hybrid Schuko/French plug Schuko (IPA: ) is the common colloquial name for a system of domestic AC power plugs and sockets that is defined as CEE 7/4 or known unofficially as Type F . A Schuko plug features two round...

Type D (Old British 3-pin)

For more details on this topic, see BS 546.

BS 546 (Indian 5 A/250 V earthed)

D Plug

India has standardised on a plug which was originally defined in British standard BS 546. It has three large round pins in a triangular pattern. The BS 546 standard is also used in parts of Africa (Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria), the Middle East (Kuwait, Qatar), and parts of Asia and the Far East that were electrified by the British. This type was also previously used in South Africa, but has been phased out in favour of the 15 A version there. This 5 A plug, along with its 2 A cousin, is sometimes used in the UK for centrally switched domestic lighting circuits, in order to distinguish them from normal power circuits. rtyertyerytertyerytery This page meets Wikipedias criteria for speedy deletion. ... This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... rtyertyerytertyerytery This page meets Wikipedias criteria for speedy deletion. ...

BS 546 (South African 15 A/250 V earthed)

M Plug

This plug is sometimes referred to as type M, but it is in fact merely the 15 A version of the plug above, though its pins are much larger at 7.05 mm × 21.1 mm. Live and neutral are spaced 25.4 mm apart, and earth is 28.6 mm away from each of them. Although the 5 A version is standard in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Namibia, the 15 A version is also used in these countries for larger appliances. Some countries like South Africa use it as the main domestic plug and socket type, where sockets always have an on–off switch built into them. The Type M is almost universally used in the UK for indoor dimmable theatre and architectural lighting installations. It is also often used for non-dimmed but centrally controlled sockets within such installations. The main reason for doing this is that fused plugs, while convenient for domestic wiring (as they allow 32 A socket circuits to be used safely), are not convenient if the plugs and sockets are in hard-to-access locations (like lighting bars) or if using chains of extension leads (since it is hard to figure out which fuse has blown). Both of these situations are common in theatre wiring. This plug is also widely used in Israel, Singapore, and Malaysia for air conditioners and clothes dryers.
This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Note: in the broadest sense, air conditioning can refer to any form of heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning. ... An electric clothes dryer A clothes dryer or tumble dryer is a household appliance that is used to remove the residual moisture from a load of clothing and other textiles, generally shortly after they are cleaned in a washing machine. ...

Type E (French 2-pin, female earth)

French type E

France, Belgium, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia (after 1 July 2008 also Denmark) and some other countries have standardised on a socket which is not compatible with the CEE 7/4 socket (type F) that is standard in Germany and other continental European countries. The reason for incompatibility is that earthing in the E socket is done by a round male pin permanently mounted in the socket. Sockets are installed with the earth pin upwards and wired with left as live and right as neutral. The plug itself is round with two round pins measuring 4.8 × 19 mm, spaced 19 mm apart and a hole for the socket's earth pin. It will accept Europlug and CEE 7/17 plugs. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1600x1200, 343 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Domestic AC power plugs and sockets Talk:Domestic AC power plugs and sockets Metadata This file contains additional... Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 680 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ...

As with the German plug below this plug will fit some other types of socket either easily or with force. However, there is no earth connection with such sockets. Also in some cases forcing the plug in may damage the socket.

Type F (German 2-pin, side clip earth)

CEE 7/4 (German "Schuko" 16 A/250 V earthed)

For more details on this topic, see Schuko.

The type F plug, defined in CEE 7/4 and commonly called a "Schuko plug", is like type E except that it has two earthing clips on the sides of the plug instead of a female earth contact. The Schuko connection system is symmetrical and allows live and neutral to be reversed. The socket also accepts Europlugs and CEE 7/17 plugs. It supplies up to 16 amperes. Above that, equipment must either be wired permanently to the mains or connected via another higher power connector such as the IEC 309 system. It's also used in Spain and Portugal. Download high resolution version (1043x435, 244 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Double Schuko socket with one plug inserted CEE 7/7 hybrid Schuko/French plug Schuko (IPA: ) is the common colloquial name for a system of domestic AC power plugs and sockets that is defined as CEE 7/4 or known unofficially as Type F . A Schuko plug features two round... Double Schuko socket with one plug inserted CEE 7/7 hybrid Schuko/French plug Schuko (IPA: ) is the common colloquial name for a system of domestic AC power plugs and sockets that is defined as CEE 7/4 or known unofficially as Type F . A Schuko plug features two round... Industrial power plug is used here to refer to those power connectors that, unlike ordinary mains power plugs, are not used for the average domestic appliance but rather for more heavy-duty applications such as arc welders, cranes, cinemas, large cooking ranges, etc. ...

"Schuko" is an abbreviation for the German word Schutzkontakt, which means "Protective (that is, earthed) contact".

Although Schuko sockets are unpolarized, it is recommended to wire them the same way French sockets are wired (live on left and neutral on right, when looking at the socket), but unfortunately, phase wiring is not yet officially standardised in most of the countries that use this socket type (please see the main Schuko article for details). Double Schuko socket with one plug inserted CEE 7/7 hybrid Schuko/French plug Schuko (IPA: ) is the common colloquial name for a system of domestic AC power plugs and sockets that is defined as CEE 7/4 or known unofficially as Type F . A Schuko plug features two round...

Gost 7396 (Russian 10 A/250 V earthed)

For more details on this topic, see GOST 7396.

The countries of the CIS use a standard plug and socket similar to the Schuko standard, defined in Russian Standard Gost 7396. The contacts are also 19 mm apart, but the diameter of the pins is 4.0 mm instead of 4.8 mm. And hence the connectors are rated at 10 rather than 16 amps. It is possible to insert Russian plugs into Schuko outlets, but Russian sockets will not accept type E or F plugs because the holes are too small. This socket also accepts Europlugs, but does not accept CEE 7/17 plugs because they use the larger pin size. GOST 7396 is a series of Soviet and later Russian standards that specify basic dimensions and safety requirements for power plugs and sockets used in Russia and other former Soviet Republics. ...  Member state  Associate member Headquarters Minsk, Belarus Working language Russian Type Commonwealth Membership 11 member states 1 associate member Leaders  -  Executive Secretary Sergei Lebedev Establishment December 21, 1991 Website http://cis. ...

Many official standards in Eastern Europe are virtually identical to the Schuko standard. One of the protocols governing the reunification of Germany required that the DIN and VDE standards would prevail without exception, so the former East Germany had to conform to the Schuko standard. Most other Eastern European countries use the Schuko standard internally but, prior to its collapse, they exported large volumes of appliances to the Soviet Union with the Soviet standard plug installed. Because of that, many of the Russian plugs found their way into other Eastern European countries. Statistical regions of Europe as delineated by the United Nations (UN definition of Eastern Europe marked red):  Northern Europe  Western Europe  Eastern Europe  Southern Europe Pre-1989 division between the West (grey) and Eastern Bloc (orange) superimposed on current borders: Russia (dark orange), other countries formerly part of the USSR... This article is about the state which existed from 1949 to 1990. ...

Type E and F hybrid

CEE 7/7 (French/German 16 A/250 V earthed)

CEE 7/7 plug

In order to bridge the differences between sockets E and F, the CEE 7/7 plug was developed. It has earthing clips on both sides to connect with the CEE 7/4 socket and a female contact to accept the earthing pin of the type E socket. It's also used in Spain and Portugal. Nowadays, when appliances are sold with type E/F plugs attached, the plugs are CEE 7/7 and non-rewirable. This means that the plugs are now identical between countries like France and Germany; only the sockets are different. This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ...

Type E and F plugs that are not compatible with both types of socket are only found if a cheap replacement plug has been attached to a cord that originally had another plug. Better-quality replacements are standard CEE 7/7 and are compatible with both Schuko and French standard sockets.

Note that the CEE 7/7 plug is polarized to prevent the live and neutral connections from being reversed when used with a type E outlet, but allows polarity reversal when inserted into a type F socket. The plug is rated at 16 A. Above that, equipment must either be wired permanently to the mains or connected via another higher power connector such as the IEC 309 system. Industrial power plug is used here to refer to those power connectors that, unlike ordinary mains power plugs, are not used for the average domestic appliance but rather for more heavy-duty applications such as arc welders, cranes, cinemas, large cooking ranges, etc. ...

Type G (British 3-pin)

BS 1363 (British 13 A/230-240 V 50 Hz earthed and fused)

BS 1363

For more details on this topic, see BS 1363.

The British Standards 1363 plug,^[11] commonly known as a "13-amp plug", is a large plug that has three rectangular prongs forming a triangle. Live and neutral are 4 × 6 × 18 mm spaced 22 mm apart. 9 mm of insulation over the base of the pins prevents people from touching a bare connector while the plug is partly inserted. Earth is 4 × 8 × 23 mm. Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... BS1363 type electrical socket. ... BSI Kite Mark Logo - Made up of the letters B & S British Standards are the national standards of the UK. The standards body which produces them is BSI British Standards, a division of BSI Group. ...

The plug is unusual in that it has a fuse inside, for protection, in addition to a circuit breaker in the distribution panel. The fuse is required to protect the cord, as British wiring standards allow very high-current circuits to the socket. Accepted practice is to choose the smallest standard fuse (3 A, 5 A, or 13 A) that will allow the appliance to function. Using a 13 A fuse on an appliance with thin cord is considered bad practice. The fuse is 1 inch long, conforming to standard BS 1362. An inch (plural: inches; symbol or abbreviation: in or, sometimes, ″ - a double prime) is the name of a unit of length in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ...

UK wiring regulations (BS 7671) require sockets in homes to have shutters over the live and neutral connections for safety reasons (e.g. to prevent children from inserting metal objects into them). These are incorporated into all BS 1363 sockets and are opened by the insertion of the (longer) earth pin. The shutters also help prevent the use of plugs made to other standards. On plugs for Class II appliances that do not require an earth, the pin is often plastic and serves only to open the shutters and to enforce the correct orientation of live and neutral. It is sometimes possible to open the shutters with a screwdriver to insert other plug types but this should be avoided as such plugs will not have a fuse. BS 7671 is a publication from the IET (Formerly known as The IEE) in agreement with the BSI British Standards Institute (UK). ... ... For other uses, see Plastic (disambiguation). ...

Recently the UK standard specification has been altered from the old 240V AC to a nominal 230V AC to come into line with the rest of Europe. The permitted variation in the new specification is large enough that the supply has not actually had to be changed.^[12]

BS 1363 plugs and sockets started appearing in 1946 and BS 1363 was first published in 1947. By the end of the 1950s, it had replaced the earlier standard (type D) (BS 546) in new installations, and by the end of the 1960s, most earlier type D installations had been rewired to BS 1363 standards. Socket-outlets usually include switches on them for convenience. BS 1363 is considered a very safe system^{[citation needed]}, but the plugs are much larger and heavier than corresponding Euro plugs. rtyertyerytertyerytery This page meets Wikipedias criteria for speedy deletion. ...

Type H (Israeli 3-pin)

Two Israeli plugs and one socket. The left plug is the old standard, the one on the right is the 1989 revision.

SI 32 (Israeli 16 A/250 V earthed)

This plug, defined in SI 32 (IS16A-R), is unique to Israel and is incompatible with all other sockets. It has three flat pins to form a Y-shape. "Live" and "Neutral" are spaced 19 mm apart. The Type H plug is rated at 16 A but in practice the thin flat pins cause the plug to overheat when connecting large appliances. In 1989, the SI 32 was revised to use three round 4 mm pins in the same locations as the older standard. Sockets made since 1989 accept both flat and round pins in order to be compatible with both old and new plugs. This also allows the Type H socket to accommodate type C plugs which are used in Israel for non-grounded appliances. Older sockets, from about the 1970s, have both flat and round holes for "Live" and "Neutral" in order to accept both Type C and Type H plugs. As of 2008, "pure" Type H sockets (which accept only old standard Type H plugs) are very rare in Israel. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2560x1920, 324 KB) Summary Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Domestic AC power plugs and sockets Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2560x1920, 324 KB) Summary Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Domestic AC power plugs and sockets Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the...

This plug is also used in the areas controlled by the Palestinian National Authority in the West Bank and all of the Gaza Strip. “Palestinian government” redirects here. ...

Type I (Australian/New Zealand & Chinese/Argentine 2/3-pin)

Australian switched 3-pin dual power point (socket)

AS 3112 (Australian 10 A/240 V)

For more details on this topic, see AS 3112.

This plug, used in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Papua New Guinea, has an earthing pin, and two flat pins forming an upside down V-shape.^[13] The flat blades measure 6.5 × 1.6 mm and are set at 30° to the vertical at a nominal pitch of 13.7 mm. Australasian wall sockets almost always have switches on them for extra safety, as in the UK. An unearthed version of this plug with two angled power pins but no earthing pin is used with small double-insulated appliances, but the power (wall) outlets always have three pins, including an earth pin. Image File history File links Australian_dual_switched_power_point. ... Image File history File links Australian_dual_switched_power_point. ... AS 3112 is an Australian standard for mains power plug. ...

There are several AS/NZS 3112 plug variants,^[14] including one with a wider earth pin used for devices drawing up to 15 A; sockets supporting this pin will also accept 10 A plugs. There is also a 20 A variant, with all three pins oversized, and 25 and 32 A variants, with the 20 A larger pins and the earthing pin forming an inverted "L" for the 25 A and a horizontal "U" for the 32 A (the 5 variants {10; 15; 20; 25 & 32 ampere sockets} will accommodate all the plugs that are equal or of a lesser current carrying capacity, but not a higher value; i.e. a 10 A plug will be accommodated by all sockets but a 20 A plug will fit only 20, 25 and 32 A outlets).

Australia's standard plug/socket system was originally codified as standard C112 (floated provisionally in 1937, and adopted as a formal standard in 1938), which was superseded by AS 3112 in 1990. As of 2005, the latest major update is AS/NZS 3112:2004, which mandated insulated pins^[15] by 2005. However, equipment and cords made before 2003 can still be used. AS 3112 is an Australian standard for mains power plug. ...

CPCS-CCC (Chinese 10 A/250 V)

CCC Mark

Although the pins on the Chinese plug are 1 mm longer, the Australasian plug can be used with mainland Chinese socket. The standard for Chinese plugs and sockets is set out in GB 2099.1–1996 and GB 1002–1996. As part of China's commitment for entry into the WTO, the new CPCS (Compulsory Product Certification System) has been introduced, and compliant Chinese plugs have been awarded the CCC (China Compulsory Certification) Mark by this system. The plug is three wire, grounded, rated at 10 A, 250 V and used for Class 1 applications. This is the official CCC (China Compulsory Certification) Mark. ... This is the official CCC (China Compulsory Certification) Mark. ... For the Chinese civilization, see China. ... For other uses of the initials WTO, see WTO (disambiguation). ...

In China, the sockets are installed upside down relative to the Australian one shown in the picture.

China also uses American/Japanese "Type A" sockets and plugs for Class-II appliances. However, the voltage across the pins of a Chinese socket will always be 220, no matter what the plug type.

IRAM 2073 (Argentine 10 A/250 V)

The Argentine plug is a three-wire earthed plug rated at 10 A, 250 V defined by IRAM and used in Class 1 applications in Argentina and Uruguay. The Instituto Argentino de Normalización y Certificación - IRAM (Argentine Institute of Normalization and CErtification), is the International Organization for Standardization (or ISO) member body for the Republic of Argentina. ...

This plug is similar in appearance to the Australasian and Chinese plugs. The pin length is same as the Chinese version. The most important difference from the Australasian plug is that the Argentine plug is wired with the live and neutral contacts reversed.

Type J (Swiss 3-pin)

SEV 1011 (Swiss 10 A/250 V)

Switzerland has its own standard which is described in SEV 1011. (ASE1011/1959 SW10A-R) This plug is similar to the type C europlug (CEE 7/16), except that it has an earth pin off to one side. Swiss sockets can take Swiss plugs or europlugs (CEE 7/16). This connector system is rated for up to 10 amperes. There is also a less common variant with 3 square pins rated for 16 A. Above 16 A, equipment must either be wired permanently to the electrical supply system with appropriate branch circuit protection, or connected to the mains with an appropriate high power industrial connector. This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ...

Switzerland also has a two-pin plug, with the same pin shape, size and spacing as the SEV 1011's live and neutral pins, but with a more flattened hexagonal form. It fits into both Swiss sockets (round and hexagonal) and CEE 7/16 sockets, and is rated for up to 10 A.

IEC 60906-1 (Brazilian 16 A/250 V)

For more details on this topic, see IEC 60906-1.

In 1986, the International Electrotechnical Commission published IEC 60906-1, the specification for a plug that looks similar but is not identical to the Swiss plug. This plug was intended to become one day the common standard for all of Europe and other regions with 230 V mains but the effort to adopt it as a European Union standard was put on hold in the mid 1990s.^[16] Brazil — which uses a mix of Europlug and NEMA plugs — later adopted it as national standard NBR 14136 in 2001^[17] and it will be the only plug permitted to be sold with domestic appliances in Brazil from 2009. The factual accuracy of this article is disputed. ... The factual accuracy of this article is disputed. ...

Type K (Danish 3-pin)

Danish 107-2-D1, standard DK 2-1a, with round power pins and half round ground pin

Outlet for Danish computer equipment plug's tilted flattened pins and half round ground pin (mainly used in professional environment), standard DK 2-5a

Section 107-2-D1 (Danish 10 A/250 V earthed)

This Danish standard plug is described in the Danish Plug Equipment Section 107-2-D1 Standard sheet (SRAF1962/DB 16/87 DN10A-R). The plug is similar to the French type E except that it has an earthing pin instead of an earthing hole (and vice versa on the socket). This makes the Danish socket more unobtrusive than the French socket which is a cavity into the wall to protect the earthing pin from mechanical damage (and to protect from touching the live pins).

The Danish socket will also accept the type C CEE 7/16 Europlug or type E/F CEE 7/17 Schuko-French hybrid plug. Type F CEE 7/4 (Schuko), type E/F CEE 7/7 (Schuko-French hybrid), and earthed type E French plugs will also fit into the socket but should not be used for appliances that need earth contact. The current rating on both plugs is 10 A.

A variation (standard DK 2-5a) of the Danish plug for use only on surge protected computer circuits exists. It fits into the corresponding computer socket and the normal type K socket, but normal type K plugs deliberately don't fit into the special computer socket.

There is a variation for hospital equipment with a rectangular left pin, it is used for life support equipment.

Traditionally all Danish sockets were equipped with a switch to prevent touching live pins when connecting/disconnecting the plug. Today, sockets without switch are allowed, but then it is a requirement that the sockets have a cavity to prevent touching the live pins. However, the shape of the plugs generally makes it difficult to touch the pins when connecting/disconnecting.

Since the early 1990s grounded outlets have been required in all new electric installations in Denmark. Older outlets need not be grounded, but all outlets - including old installations - are required to be protected by RCD/GFCI (HFI in Danish) no later than 1 July 2008. A residual current device (RCD) A residual current device (RCD), or residual current circuit breaker (RCCB), is an electrical wiring device that disconnects a circuit whenever it detects that the flow of current is not balanced between the phase (hot) conductor and the neutral conductor. ...

After 1 July 2008 Wall outlets for type E (French 2-pin, female earth) will be permitted for installations in Denmark. is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ...

Sockets for the Schuko F type will not be permitted. The reason is that a large number of currently used Danish plugs will jam when inserted into a Schuko socket. This may cause damage to the socket. It may also result in a bad connection of the pins, which implies the risk of overheating and fire.

• Adapter plugs exist to allow connection of other plugs (British, American etc.) to Danish (non-computer) outlets. These usually are not sold at the local Danish supermarket so visitors wishing to be safe may contact an electrician. However, many international travel adapter sets sold outside Denmark match type C CEE 7/16 (Europlug) and type E/F CEE 7/7 (Schuko-French hybrid) plugs which can readily be used in Denmark as explained above.

23-16/VII with socket

23-16/VII rewirable

Italian power strip showing both types of hybrid socket

This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (421x614, 49 KB) rearranged version of en:image:Italian power strip. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (421x614, 49 KB) rearranged version of en:image:Italian power strip. ...

Type L (Italian 3-pin)

The Italian earthed plug/socket standard, CEI 23-16/VII, includes two models rated at 10 A and 16 A that differ in contact diameter and spacing. Both are symmetrical, allowing the live and neutral contacts to be inserted in either direction. CEE 7/16 (type C) unearthed Europlugs are also in common use, and standardized in Italy as CEI 23-5. Appliances with CEE 7/7 Schuko-French plugs are often sold in Italy, but not every socket will accept them, since the pins of the CEE 7/7 Schuko-French plugs are slightly thicker than the italian ones. Adapters are cheap and commonly used to connect CEE 7/7 plugs to CEI 23-16/VII sockets. It is also possible o fit CEE 7/7 Schuko-French plugs to a common italian flat-face sockets, by firmly pushing the plug into the socket. However, this practice is not strongly reccomended, since it can cause damage to the socket by expnding its holes, and the plug may get stuck inside the socket.

CEI 23-16/VII (Italian 10 A/250 V)

The 10 ampere style extends CEE 7/16 by adding a central earthing pin. Thus, CEI 23-16-VII 10 A sockets can accept CEE 7/16 Europlugs. This is the plug shown in the illustrations. Outside of Italy, this plug is found in Syria, Libya, Ethiopia, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, various countries in North Africa, and occasionally in older buildings in Spain.  Northern Africa (UN subregion)  geographic, including above North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, separated by the Sahara from Sub-Saharan Africa. ...

CEI 23-16/VII (Italian 16 A/250 V)

The 16 ampere style looks like a bigger version of the 10 A style. The pins are a couple of millimetres further apart, and all three are slightly thicker. The packaging on these plugs in Italy may claim they are a "North European" type. They were also referred to as industriale ("industrial") although this is not a correct definition. A millimetre (American spelling: millimeter, symbol mm) is an SI unit of length that is equal to one thousandth of a metre. ...

Variations in sockets

Two types of sockets are in common use in modern installations in Italy. One type has a central round hole and two 8-shaped holes above and below. This design allows the connection of both styles of type L plugs (CEI 23-16/VII 10 A and 16 A) and the type C CEE 7/16 Europlug. The advantage of this socket type is its small face.

The other type looks like a type F socket, but adds a central grounding hole. This design accepts CEE 7/7 (type E/F) plugs, in addition to type C and type L 10 A plugs; its disadvantage is that it is twice as large as a normal type L socket. Some of these sockets also have extra holes to accept type L 16 A plugs. Another disadvantage of this kind of socket is the impossibility to accept most of the AC/DC wall-mounted power supplies without an adapter or an extension cord, because of its pit-shaped design.

Older installations often have sockets that are limited to either the 10 A or the 16 A style plug, requiring the use of an adapter if the other style needs to be connected.

Type M (see D)

BS 546 (South African 15 A/250 V)

Type M is sometimes used to describe the 15 A version of the old British type D, used in South Africa and elsewhere. See type D for details. This article is about plugs and sockets only intended for common domestic (residential) use. ...

A standard grounded Thai outlet supporting European 2-pin plugs and earthed and unearthed American plugs

Image File history File links Thai_plug. ... Image File history File links Thai_plug. ...

Multi standard sockets

Sockets that take a variety of incompatible plug types are often seen in developing countries where electrical standards are either lacking or unenforced. These sockets may accept both 120 V and 240 V plugs raising a significant risk of devices being damaged by the wrong voltage. Sometimes they have one or more earth holes to allow 3-pin plugs, but there is a good chance that the ground contact may not actually be connected to earth and the ground contact certainly will not mate with Schuko or French plugs. Great care should be taken to avoid incompatible voltage and grounding connections when using such outlets. Multi-standard devices designed to auto-adapt to different voltage and frequency standards, and devices which do not require a ground contact are best used with these sockets.

Safety notes

Improvised connections between plugs and sockets of different systems can be hazardous. Manufactured adapters exist to allow interconnections. However, even if an adapter allows a secure and protected connection between portable equipment and a socket, it may not adjust voltage, frequency, grounding, or overcurrent protection to allow safe use of "foreign" equipment with any particular wall socket.

A type M (15 A version of type D) travel adapter

Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (920x460, 25 KB) Summary Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Domestic AC power plugs and sockets Domestic AC power safety notes Metadata This file contains additional... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (920x460, 25 KB) Summary Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Domestic AC power plugs and sockets Domestic AC power safety notes Metadata This file contains additional...

See also

Electronics Portal

• DC connector
• Double insulated
• IEC connector
• Electricity
• Electric power
• Extension cable
• Ground and neutral
• Industrial and multiphase power plugs and sockets
• List of countries with mains power plugs, voltages and frequencies
• Power connector
• Power cord
• Power strip
• Telephone plugs

Image File history File links Nuvola_apps_ksim. ... Connectors for supplying direct current (DC) power are poorly standardized compared to domestic AC power plugs and sockets. ... In the electrical appliance manufacturing industry, the following classes are used to differentiate between the power connection requirements of devices. ... IEC connector is the common name for the set of thirteen line sockets (called the connector in the specification) and thirteen panel plugs (called the inlet) defined by International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) specification IEC 60320. ... Electricity (from New Latin ēlectricus, amberlike) is a general term for a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. ... For delivered electrical power, see Electrical power industry. ... An extension cord (also known as a power extender or an extension lead) is a length of flexible electrical cable (flex) with a plug on one end and one or more sockets on the other end (usually of the same type as the plug). ... Ground or earth in a mains (AC power) electrical wiring system is a conductor that exists primarily to provide a low impedance path to the earth to prevent the buildup of voltages, static or transient (lightning), that may result in undue hazards to connected equipment or persons, and which in... -1... The terms line voltage/frequency or mains voltage/frequency commonly refer to the electrical voltage and frequency used in the low voltage parts (in particular wall sockets) of an alternating current electricity supply network. ... A power connector is an electrical connector designed to carry a significant amount of electrical power, usually as DC or low-frequency AC. Some types of RF connector may also carry large amounts of power, but are considered as a separate category. ... A power cord or mains cable is a cable that temporarily connects an electrical appliance to an electrical power source. ... French/Belgian power strip — top A power strip (also known as a plug board, power board, power bar, distribution board, gangplug, plugbar, multibox, or relocatable power tap) is a strip of sockets that attaches to the end of a flexible cable and allows multiple devices to be plugged in. ... A telephone plug is a plug which allows a telephone to connect to the local telephone network. ...

References

Notes

Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 283rd day of the year (284th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 257th day of the year (258th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 257th day of the year (258th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 109th day of the year (110th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 109th day of the year (110th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is an international standards organization dealing with electrical, electronic and related technologies. ...

General

The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is an international standards organization dealing with electrical, electronic and related technologies. ... A technical report (also: scientific report) is a document that describes the progress or results of technical or scientific research, or the state of a technical or scientific research problem. ... The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is an international standards organization dealing with electrical, electronic and related technologies. ... Standards are produced by many organizations, some for internal usage only, others for use by a groups of people, groups of companies, or a subsection of an industry. ... The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is an international standards organization dealing with electrical, electronic and related technologies. ... Standards are produced by many organizations, some for internal usage only, others for use by a groups of people, groups of companies, or a subsection of an industry. ... The factual accuracy of this article is disputed. ...

External links

Wikibooks' Guide to electrical equipment for travellers has more about this subject:

[[wikibooks:Guide to electrical equipment for travellers/{{{2}}}|{{{2}}}]]

• Hubbell History - Invention of the power plug and outlet.
• IEC Zone: Plugs and sockets
• AC Power Cords
• Glossary of standards terms
• Steve Kropla's World Electric Guide
• Change to UK electrical wire colours 2004
• Household electrical safety handbook, Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government
• IEEE history of Australian power connectors (in MS Word format)
• Information on the electrical systems in use in most countries of the world
• Pictures and dimensions of various plug types
  • Ungrounded plugs
  • Grounded plugs
• IEC High temperature plugs
• South Africa Eskom - Wiring a Plug
• Diagrams of Adapter Plugs

Image File history File links Wikibooks-logo-en. ...