Forewarned is forearmed! Types of sockets in different countries of the world

In order to avoid unpleasant surprises, it is advisable to find out in advance about the standards of power supply networks and sockets in the intended host countries. Two types of mains voltage have become the most widespread on the planet: European and American.

Voltage and frequency

The European type with a voltage of 220-240 V / 50 Hz is a generally accepted standard for the countries of the Eurasian continent, Africa, Australia and a number of South American states.

In the American way, the voltage value is 100-127 V at a frequency of 60 Hz. It is believed that lower voltage and higher frequency are not so dangerous in case of electric shock to health and life. Similar power grids are deployed in the countries of North and Latin America, partly in the South American continent, in Saudi Arabia and Japan. In the eastern regions of the Land of the Rising Sun, electrification with a frequency of 50 Hz prevails, while in the western provinces — 60 Hz.

A couple more exceptions to the generally accepted rules are Madagascar with an American voltage of 100-127 V and a European frequency of 50 Hz, as well as the Philippines and South Korea, where everything is exactly the opposite (220-240 V / 60 Hz).

A visual picture of the distribution of power grids around the world with different voltage and current frequency.

The vast majority of power supplies for electronic devices are omnivorous to various types of electrification. But this moment must be checked before mindlessly inserting the charging plug into the outlet. Some gadgets can easily fail due to inappropriate voltage and frequency values in the power supply networks. Moreover, with a characteristic firework of sparks. Where the plug can be inserted is usually indicated in small print directly on the charging block.

Much more problems are caused by the lack of a unified approach to the standards of performance of sockets in different countries of the world. In total, today there are 15 common types of sockets and plugs to match them.

Types of sockets and plugs

The differences between the sockets are in shape, size, and the availability of a hole for grounding. Similar sockets often differ in the caliber of sockets and the center distance for plugs. Fortunately, all types of sockets are legally fixed in the countries by standards and norms, so it will not be difficult to study the issue on the eve of a visit abroad. Moreover, it is desirable not only to study the topic, but also to acquire suitable adapters. Buying them at the destination airport at exorbitant prices is not a pleasant task.

There are 15 different types of sockets and plugs in the world

Of the 15 varieties of sockets and plugs to match them , 5 key types have become the most widespread:

American Type A American socket without grounding for a plug with two flat pins. It is used in regions with a voltage of 100-127 V — most of the countries of North and Central America, Japan, Saudi Arabia.
American Type B The same American type with an additional round grounding plug. It is used by analogy with type A sockets.
European Type C A traditional European socket with two round holes without grounding, which we are used to seeing at home. Sockets and plugs of type C have become widespread all over the world, including many European countries (with the exception of Great Britain, Ireland, Malta and Cyprus). In this region, type C is adjacent to sockets E (in France, Belgium, Poland), J (in Switzerland), K (in Denmark), L (in Italy). Usually, a plug for C-type sockets is used on board low-power electronic devices or devices with a completely plastic case.

European Type F An analogue of the European type C with two round holes and metal grounding clips on both sides along the edges of the socket socket. It is found in many European countries.
Australian Type I Structurally, type I sockets are made for a plug with three flat pins at an angle to each other. The standard has become widespread in Australia, New Zealand, the island States of Oceania and Argentina.

The world is dominated by 5 main types of sockets and plugs to them.

In some regions of the planet to this day there are other types of sockets. Somewhere they are used along with the aforementioned sockets A, B, C, F and I, and in a number of states they rule the ball alone.

Old British Type D One of the standards of the countries of the United Kingdom, called the "old British" type of sockets. It is found in old houses and hotels in England, Ireland, former British colonies (India, Nepal, etc.). The plug for sockets of this order has three round contacts in the shape of a triangle, and one of them is thicker than the other two.
British Type G English socket of a new sample. The plug for it consists of two flat horizontal pins and one vertical pin. Often this type of outlet is available with a built-in fuse. A similar standard is popular in the UK, Malta, Cyprus, Singapore and Hong Kong.
French Type E French type of sockets. The plug for them has two round pins and a hole for the ground contact, which is built directly into the outlet. The standard is found along with types C and F in France, Belgium and Poland.
Israeli Type H An Israeli socket with three flat or round contacts located at an angle relative to each other. It has absolutely no compatibility with any other types of forks.
Swiss Type J Swiss type for a specific plug with two round power contacts and a central grounding pin slightly below the axis of the aforementioned plugs. In format, it has a close resemblance to popular type C sockets, but differs from them in the location of the grounding contact. As the name suggests, it is used in Switzerland and nearby countries, as well as in Ethiopia and the Maldives. Adjacent to type C.
Danish Type K Another shower mate of Type C sockets, modified in the Danish manner. A distinctive feature of K-sockets is a ground contact of a special shape with a flat face and a semicircular rest of the pin. It is most often found in Denmark and Greenland (along with European type C sockets).
Italian type L An Italian socket for a plug with three contacts in one slender row. The side plugs in it are the power contacts, the middle one is responsible for grounding. In addition to the Apennine Peninsula, it is used in Cuba, Chile, Libya and Ethiopia. Note that directly in Italy, L-sockets are everywhere adjacent to traditional types C and F. When using chargers without grounding, Type L compatibility with standard European C plugs is claimed.
South African Type M A socket from the African continent with three round contacts in the shape of a triangle. The grounding pin at the plugs for such sockets is much thicker than the other two contacts. This type is found alone in South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Swaziland and other nearby countries.
Brazilian Type N Type N is very similar to the Swiss J-standard — it also assumes the availability of two power contacts and a grounding pin slightly below the central axis. However, there is no compatibility between it, since the grounding is closer to the imaginary line connecting the two power contacts. Type N sockets can be seen in Brazil. Their razem is compatible with C plugs.
Thai Type O Type O sockets are used exclusively in Thailand. Three-pin plugs with two power plugs and a grounding pin are suitable for them. According to the location of the holes in the socket, the O-type sockets are compatible with group C.

It is often possible to connect electrical appliances in other mills through adapters. But only if the voltage and frequency match. Gadgets with switching power supplies (for example, laptops, cameras and chargers for smartphones) can most often be connected to different power grids, but it is better to make sure of this in the instructions for a specific device or read what is written in small print on the case of the power supply. Input voltage ranges and current frequencies are often indicated there.