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There are currently 15 types of electrical outlet plugs in use today,each of which has been assigned a letter by the US Department of CommerceInternational Trade Administration (ITA).

* Flat hot and neutral prongs, round grounding pin (if present):

Type A: US/Japan/North-Central-America NEMA 1-15 2pin ungrounded polarized 15AType B: US/Japan/North-Central-America NEMA 5-15 3pin grounded 15A

* Round pins:

Type C: Europe/South-America/Central-Asia 2pin Europlug ungrndd unpolarzd 2.5AType E: France/Europe 2pin + 1 female grounding receptacle 16AType F: Germany/Europe Schuko 2pin + 2 grounding clips unpolarzd 16AType E/F CEE 7/7: Works with both E and F type sockets groundedType J: Switzerland/Liechtenstein/Rwanda 3pin grndd 10AType N: Brazil 3pin grndd 10A/20A (most compact/robust and safest type)Type O: Thailand 3pin grounded 16AType K: Denmark/Greenland 3pin grndd 16AType L: Italy/Chile, some North Africa 3pin grndd unpolarzd 10A/16A

Note: Type J = Type C + grounding pin in triangle formation Type N = Type C + grounding pin in triangle formation Type O = Type C + grounding pin in triangle formation Type L 10A = Type C + grounding pin at center in a straight line

Type D: India/Nepal 3-pin grounded 5AType M (large type D): SouthAfrica/India/Nepal/Swaziland/Lesotho 3pin grndd 15A

Type H: Israel/Palestine 3pin grounded 16A

* Rectangular pins:

Type G: UK/Ireland/Malaysia/Singapore/Hong Kong 3pin grounded 13A

* Angled flat pins, live and neutral pins at 30 deg angles:

Type I: China/Australia/NZ 2pin/3pin 10A

--------------------------------------------------------------------------http://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plugs-and-sockets/d/

Type D plug (and socket)

Type D is used almost exclusively in India and Nepal.

India has standardized on a plug which was originally defined in BritishStandard 546 (the standard in Great Britain before 1947). This 5 ampplug has three round prongs that form a triangle. The central earthpin is 20.6 mm long and has a diameter of 7.1 mm. The 5.1 mm line andneutral pins are 14.9 mm long, on centres spaced 19.1 mm apart. Thecentre-to-centre distance between the grounding pin and the middle ofthe imaginary line connecting the two power pins is 22.2 mm. Type M,which has larger pins and is rated at 15 amps, is used alongside typeD for larger appliances in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Pakistan. Somesockets can take both type M and type D plugs.

Incidentally, there is an unintended compatibility between type D socketsand various European plugs. Although the centres of the prongs of a

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Europlug (type C) are closer together (17.5-18.6 mm vs 19.1 mm) thanthose of a type D plug, a Europlug fits into a type D outlet withoutmuch effort, largely thanks to the elasticity of its pins. However, theplug cannot be fully inserted into a D receptacle, because the prongsare inelastic at the base of the plug and they are longer than the pinsof type D plugs (19 mm vs 14.9 mm). This is the reason why type C plugsdo not always make proper contact and may cause the socket to spark,which, in some cases, might result in a short-circuit.

Whereas type C plugs and type D sockets could be considered an imperfect,but relatively workable combination, the same does not apply to E/F plugsbeing used with D outlets. The centres of the pins of type E & F plugsare slightly closer together (19 mm vs 19.1 mm) than those of type D, butunlike Europlugs (type C), they do not have flexible prongs. This meansthey literally have to be forced into the receptacle. Obviously, this kindof improper use poses a safety hazard for a number of reasons. Firstly– unlike type C – E & F plugs are supposed to be grounded, butwhen they are used with type D outlets, this won’t be the case. So,be prepared for a sparking receptacle and a regularly tripping circuitbreaker. Moreover, type E and F plugs cannot be fully inserted into a Dsocket, because the pins are longer than the pins of type D plugs (19 mmvs 14.9 mm). This means that 4.1 mm of the pins of plug types E & F willstill be exposed when plugged in and if you were to touch the live prong,you most certainly will get an electric shock. This risk does not existwith type C plugs, since their pins are coated in insulation.

Although type D is now almost exclusively used in India and Nepal,it can still occasionally be found in hotels in the UK. It should benoted that tourists should not attempt to connect anything to a BS 546round-pin outlet found in the UK as it is likely to be on a circuitthat has a special purpose: e.g. for providing direct current (DC) orfor plugging in lamps that are controlled by a light switch or a dimmer.

Type D plugs are among the most dangerous ones in the world: the prongsare not insulated (i.e. the pin shanks do not have a black coveringtowards the plug body like type C, G, I, L or N plugs), which means thatif a type D plug is pulled halfway out, its prongs are still connectedto the socket! Little children run the risk of electrocuting themselveswhen pulling such a plug out and putting their fingers around it. TypeD outlets are not recessed into the wall, so they do not provide anyprotection from touching the live pins either.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------http://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plugs-and-sockets/c/

TYPE C

Type C is used in all countries of Europe except the United Kingdom,Ireland, Cyprus and Malta.

Type C is probably the single most widely used international plug. Thistwo-wire plug is ungrounded and has two round prongs. It is popularlyknown as the Europlug which is described in CEE 7/16. The plug has two4 mm round pins, measuring 19 mm in length on centres spaced 18.6 mmapart at the base and 17.5 mm apart at the tip. The two pins have 10 mmlong insulated sleeves. They converge slightly, but they are relativelyflexible which allows the plug to mate with any socket that accepts4.0 – 4.8 mm round contacts on 17.5 – 19 mm centres. The plug isgenerally limited for use in class II applications that require 2.5amps or less. It is, of course, unpolarised. It is commonly used in all

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countries of Europe except in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus andMalta. It is also used in various parts of the developing world. Whereastype C plugs are very commonly used, this is not the case for type Csockets. This kind of socket is the older and ungrounded variant of sockettypes E, F, J, K or N. Nowadays most countries demand grounded socketsto be installed in new buildings. Since type C sockets are ungrounded,they have become illegal almost everywhere and they are being replacedby type E, F, J, K or N (depending on the country). So as to leave nodoubt: only the sockets have become illegal, the plugs remain in use ofcourse. A type C plug fits perfectly into a type E, F, J, K or N socket.

Websites:

http://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plugs-and-sockets/http://www.iec.ch/worldplugs/http://www.iec.ch/worldplugs/list_bylocation.htm

http://gizmodo.com/5391271/giz-explains-why-every-country-has-a-different-fing-plug"Giz Explains: Why Every Country Has a Different F#$%ing Plug"

==============================================================================SPECS AND ASCII PICTURES

USA, Japan + North and Central America including Canada and Mexico==================================================================

Type A (15A, polarized) Type B (15A, grounded) .-----------. .-----------. | . | | | | | | | | | | | | ' | | | `-----------' \ O / `---------'

Type A = NEMA 1-15 : Two flat 1.5 mm thick blades, measuring15.9--18.3 mm in length and spaced 12.7 mm apart. Usuallypolarised (can only be inserted one way), with the neutral blade(7.9 mm width) wider than the hot/live blade (6.3 mm width).

Type B = NEMA 5-15 : Two flat 1.5 mm thick blades, spaced 12.7 mmapart, measuring 15.9--18.3 mm in length and 6.3 mm in width, plusone 4.8 mm diameter round or U-shaped earth pin, which is 3.2 mmlonger than the flat blades (so device gets grounded before gettingpower). The centre-to-centre distance between the grounding pinand the middle of the imaginary line connecting the two power bladesis 11.9 mm.

The ungrounded unpolarized Europlug (widely used in Europe and elsewhere)========================================================================

Type C (2.5A "Europlug") _________ / \ ( o o ) \_________/

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Type C = Europlug = CEE 7/16 : Two 4 mm round pins, measuring 19 mmin length on centres spaced 18.6 mm apart at the base and 17.5 mmapart at the tip, with 10 mm long insulated sleeves. The pins convergeslightly, but they are relatively flexible which allows the plugto mate with any socket that accepts 4.0--4.8 mm round contacts on17.5--19 mm centres. The plug is generally limited for use in class IIapplications (so unpolarized) that require 2.5 amps or less. Usedwidely in all countries of Europe except UK, Ireland, Cyprus and Malta.

India, Pakistan, Nepal======================

Type D (5A; the 15A Type M is bigger but has similar shape) .---. / O \ / \ | o o | `-------'

Type D = BS 546 (old British Standard) : 5 amp plug with three round prongsthat form a triangle. Central earth pin is 20.6 mm long, diameter 7.1 mm.Live and neutral pins are 14.9 mm long, 5.1 mm diameter, on centres spaced19.1 mm apart. The centre-to-centre distance between the grounding pinand the middle of the imaginary line connecting the two power pins is22.2 mm. Type C plugs (because of their flexibility) can be partiallyinserted in to type D sockets with sloppy/risky contact, and type E/Frigid plugs can be forced (partially) in to type D sockets.

Type M: Larger pins rated at 15A, used alongside type D for largerappliances in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Pakistan. The centralearth pin is 28.6 mm long and has a diameter of 8.7 mm. The 7.1 mmlive and neutral pins are 18.6 mm long, on centres spaced 25.4 mm apart.The centre-to-centre distance between the grounding pin and the middleof the imaginary line connecting the two power pins is 28.6 mm. TheSouth African version of the M plug often has insulated sleeves on pins.

Europe (16A grounded)=====================

Types E, F (Schuko), and CEE 7/7 : 16A

. ** . * * * . . * * * * * ` ** '

Type E (France, Belgium, Poland, Slovakia, Czech Republic, etc) : The plug is similar to C, but it is round and has a female contact to accept an on-socket grounding pin. The plug has two 4.8 mm round pins measuring 19 mm in length on centers spaced 19 mm apart, plus female earth contact for accepting the on-socket earth pin which is 14 mm long and has 4.8 mm diameter. The center-to-center distance between the female contact and the middle of the imaginary line connecting the two power pins is 10 mm.

Type F = CEE 7/4 = "Schuko plug" (Germany, Austria, Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Eastern Europe, etc):

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This is like E, but has two grounding receptacle clips.

Type CEE 7/7 : A plug which combines E and F, and works perfectly with both E and F sockets. This has now become the standard, and the original E and F plugs are obsolete.

Both the E and F sockets also accept C plugs perfectly.

UK, Ireland, Malayasia, Singapore=================================

Type G (13A) .---. / | \ / \ | - - | `-------'

China, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina========================================

Type I (10A) . * . * * * / \ * * * * | * ` * '

Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Rwanda==================================

Type J (10A; Type N, used in Brazil, has similar shape) _________ / o \ ( o o ) \_________/

The Type J socket accepts C plugs perfectly.

Italy, Chile============

Type L (10A and 16A) _________ / \ ( o o o ) \_________/

The 10A Type L socket accepts C plugs perfectly.