Talk:AC power plugs and sockets

Rating for Swiss plugs

The ratio between phase voltage (phase to neutral) and line voltage (phase to phase) is fixed. It cannot be any ratio other than the square root of three (1.732 to four significant figures). For a 250 volt phase voltage, the line voltage is 433 volts. For a 230 volt phase voltage, the line voltage is 398 volts. If a plug is rated at 250 volts phase voltage, then it must be rated at 440 volts for line voltage. If the plug is only rated at 400 volts line voltage, then application of the rated phase voltage will over stress the plug which is hazardous. Swiss documentation often refers to the three phase plugs and electrical system as being 250/400 volts. However, that documentation does not state that that is the rating for the plugs (or even the actual voltages) and therefore cannot be used to support any claim otherwise. The given voltages are merely their way of [incorrectly] stating the nominal voltages of the Swiss electrical system. The correct stated nominal voltages should be 230/400 volts but the plug's ratings should be 250/440 volts (ratings usually being rounded up to a standardised number). Even the Swiss "... canna change the laws of physics". 86.188.36.150 (talk) 18:12, 5 December 2021 (UTC)

As far as I know, no plug is anywhere close to dielectric breakdown. The ratings are all for political/legal purposes. This is especially true in Europe, where the voltage standardization tends to use 230V, when they mean somewhere between 220V and 240V. The answer to this question depends on Swiss law, not the laws of physics. Gah4 (talk) 21:50, 5 December 2021 (UTC)

Breakdown is often a long way from the specified working voltage and often the voltage at which plugs and sockets are tested. The US NEMA plugs (type A and B) are specified for 125 volts or thereabouts) but in practice they will usually operate without problem at 240 volts (and they often are on older installations in Thailand). Nevertheless, proper electrical practice dictates that a plug and socket should never be used at any voltage above its specified voltage (also true for current). If the Swiss three phase plug were really specified for a maximum of 400 volts line voltage, then such a plug would be marginally rated as the line voltage is less than two volts lower, which means that if the voltage deviates within its specified tolerance then the plug will become underrated. I know the Swiss well enough to know that they do not practise this sort of shoddy indulgence. The Swiss plug and socket designs are probably the best in the world and highly unlikely to be poorly rated.

Three phase (red) Commando plugs and sockets (to IEC/EN 60 309) are described as 400 volt plugs and sockets in most, if not all, catalogues. However, the specified line voltage for the plugs is 440 volts not 400 volts (though the test voltage is a lot higher). Just as well as they would otherwise be barred from use in the UK where the line voltage is 415 volts in most places and 433 in the suburbs of some cities (very notably London). Unfortunately: I cannot access the Swiss standard, but I would be very surprised indeed if it did not specify the line voltage for the three phase plugs as less than 440 volts as 440/250 volts seems to be standard for non North American plugs and sockets. 86.188.36.150 (talk) 11:26, 6 December 2021 (UTC)

Not being in Europe, I haven't followed it quite that close, but there is: Low Voltage Directive, otherwise called voltage harmonization, which is used to make things easier for all of Europe. As well as I know it, they use 230/400 with a large enough tolerance to cover the range from 220/380 to 240/416. In all cases, there is a tolerance on the voltage given. Voltages given are nominal voltages, not maximums, and this is all legal and not physics. Gah4 (talk) 15:12, 6 December 2021 (UTC)

The Low Voltage Directive does not apply to plugs and sockets because there is no unified design of plug and socket combination in Europe. As you say, there is the nominal voltage of the various electrical distribution systems. But it is not the plug (or socket) specified ratings just as in the example that I gave above. The so called voltage harmonisation was not a real harmonisation. All that happened is that Europe became nominally 230 volts plus or minus ten percent. The UK remained 240 volts (with pockets of resistance at 250 volts) and most of the rest of Europe remained at 220 volts. All encountered voltages are within the ten percent band which most modern appliances can tolerate without problems. The only exception is filament lamps which still remain available in some designs and these are still 240 volt in the UK and 220 volt in most of Europe. 86.188.36.150 (talk) 17:43, 6 December 2021 (UTC)

Yes. So a plug should be rated 230/400 which can be used +/- 10%. Plugs and outlets have a nominal voltage rating, not a maximum. Current ratings might be maximum, though still with a reasonable tolerance. Gah4 (talk) 19:24, 6 December 2021 (UTC)

No. The rating of a plug is the maximum voltage at which it should be used. This is why the IEC/EN 60 309 plugs are described as 400 volt plugs but are rated at 440 volts. If they were rated at 400 volts they could not legally be used in the UK.

I have discovered that the new SN 441011 specification revision due to become valid on 1st March 2022 specifies the phase to phase voltage rating for the type 15 and type 25 plugs and sockets as 440 volts (though it does describe them as 400 volt plugs). Since this new revision only changes certain aspects of checking the mechanical aspects of the pins of the plug, it can be safely assumed that the existing standard specifies 440 volts as the electrical characteristics are unaffected (I cannot access the current revision as money is required to change hands). 86.188.36.150 (talk) 13:39, 7 December 2021 (UTC)

Soviet adaptor plugs

This section looks very OR-ish to to me and lacks any sources. I can confirm that those plugs existed in the USSR and also were unreliable and dangerous. However this style of plug is in no way unique to the Soviet Union. It is called piggyback plug. This style of plug was much more common in the yesteryear when power outlets were often in scarce around average household(1). Such plugs still exist today - see this Type E version can is sold in Poland(2). It appears that these days they are most prominent in New Zealand where they are often featured on extension cords and power strips among other things(3). Google image search also indicates that USA Type B version of such plugs does at least exist. 1. https://www.plugsocketmuseum.nl/ContEUR_multiPlugs.html 2. https://www.plugsocketmuseum.nl/French1.html 3. https://www.mattmillman.com/omg-its-a-uk-bs1363-piggyback-plug/ schmalter // 92.124.22.95 (talk) 02:54, 8 September 2022 (UTC)

ratings for aus/nz plugs

Technically the standard allows 10/15/20/25 and 32A connections. 10 is by far the most common, especially domestically, but 15 is reasonably common with most households having one of these for a stove or pool or larger aircon. 20A is also not hard to find, though less common domestically. 115.64.232.253 (talk) 11:03, 1 February 2023 (UTC)

Request: plug-socket cross-compatibility table

For the benefit of people looking at this page to assess what travel adapters they may need, I suggest adding a full cross compatibility table.

The current table at AC power plugs and sockets#Comparison of standard types only mentions whether the socket accepts Type C Europlug, but not vice versa — and doesn't address any other physical cross compatibility.

I'd make it if I knew the answers, but I don't, hence raising it for those of you with more knowledge.

• grid
  • Columns: socket names
  • Rows: plug names
  • include variants if a cell would differ by this, e.g. Type A/B unpolarised vs polarised (unequal prong width)
  • lowlight if no country uses it commonly (think "would a traveler need to use it"), e.g.
    • not a normal consumer plug/socket — e.g. only for shavers, large appliances (e.g. Type D & Type M), specialty equipment, or the like
    • not yet adopted by any country
    • functionally deprecated by all countries
• cells: whether that plug physically fits in that socket
  • highlight yellow if not vice versa (e.g. Type A plug fits in Type B socket, but Type B plug doesn't fit in Type A socket)
  • highlight orange if it physically fits, but likelihood for major issue if used, or if used in the wrong country (e.g. for Type I, some countries have opposite polarity; for BS 4573, Type A & C plugs will fit but likely to not have enough wattage)
  • highlight red if it almost physically fits, such that it would be likely to confuse or cause damage trying to shove the plug in
  • otherwise highlight grey if no, blue if yes (not green vs red as that's the most common colour-blindness)

Sai ¿?✍ 11:43, 15 August 2023 (UTC)

"The current table at AC power plugs and sockets#Comparison of standard types only mentions whether the socket accepts Type C Europlug, but not vice versa — and doesn't address any other physical cross compatibility."

There is no vice versa, since there is no Type C socket!!

And the main purpose of the different types is that they are intentionally physically not compatible, since every type has its own different (national) backgrounds (security norms, standards, legislation, building norms etc) except for Europlug and the possible intermix of German and French types. Anything else is outside of the intention by any standard.

So I do not support a comparison table that indicates non-official compatibilities. Such a table would probably raise WP:NOR issues as well.

-- ZH8000 (talk) 20:23, 15 August 2023 (UTC)

Peruvian Outlets

hi, I didn't see anything about how peruvian Outlets combine type a and c plugs, see articles and pictures. https://howtoperu.com/electricity-and-plugs-in-peru/ Is there any way to add this? 184.148.163.85 (talk) 04:00, 8 October 2023 (UTC)