There are 12 types of electrical plugs and sockets in the world.
Letter classification - from A to X.
Before traveling abroad, especially to less visited countries, I check the information below.
Type A: North America, Japan
Countries: Canada, USA, Mexico, part of South America, Japan
Two flat parallel contacts without grounding.
In addition to the USA, this standard has been adopted in 38 other countries. Most common in North America and the East Coast South America. In 1962, the use of Type A sockets was prohibited by law. A Type B standard was developed to replace it. However, many older homes still have similar sockets because they are compatible with the new Type B plugs.
The Japanese standard is identical to American sockets, but has stricter requirements for the size of plug and socket housings.
Type B: Same as Type A, except Japan
Countries: Canada, USA, Mexico, Central America, Caribbean Islands, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, part of Brazil, Taiwan, Saudi Arabia
Two flat parallel contacts and one round for grounding.
The additional contact is longer, so when connected, the device is grounded before it is connected to the network.
In the socket, the neutral contact is on the left side, the phase is on the right, and the ground is at the bottom. On this type of plug, the neutral pin is made wider to prevent reverse polarity when connected in a non-standard manner.
Type C: Europe
Countries: all of Europe, Russia and the CIS, the Middle East, part of South America, Indonesia, South Korea
Two round contacts.
This is the European socket we are used to. There is no ground connection and the plug can fit into any socket that accepts 4mm diameter pins with 19mm spacing between them.
Type C is used throughout continental Europe, the Middle East, many African countries, as well as Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Bangladesh, Indonesia. Well, and of course, in all the republics of the former Soviet Union.
German and French plugs (Type E) are very similar to this standard, but their contact diameter is increased to 4.8 mm, and the housing is made in such a way as to prevent connection to Euro sockets. The same forks are used in South Korea for all devices that do not require grounding and are found in Italy.
In the UK and Ireland, showers and bathrooms are sometimes fitted with special sockets compatible with type C plugs. They are designed to connect electric shavers. Therefore, the voltage in them is often reduced to 115 V.
Type D: India, Africa, Middle East
Three large round contacts arranged in a triangle.
This old English standard is supported mainly in India. Also found in Africa (Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria), the Middle East (Kuwait, Qatar) and parts of Asia and Far East, where the British were engaged in electrification.
Compatible sockets are used in Nepal, Sri Lanka and Namibia. In Israel, Singapore and Malaysia, this type of sockets is used to connect air conditioners and electric dryers clothes.
Type E: France
Two round prongs and a ground prong protruding from the top of the socket.
This type of connection is used in France, Belgium, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Denmark.
The diameter of the contacts is 4.8 mm, they are located at a distance of 19 mm from each other. The right contact is neutral, the left is phase.
Just like the German standard described below, sockets of this type allow the connection of type C plugs and some others. Sometimes the connection requires using force in such a way that you can damage the outlet.
Type F: Germany
Two round pins and two grounding clips at the top and bottom of the socket.
Often this type is called Schuko/Schuko, from the German schutzkontakt, which means “protected or grounded” contact. Sockets and plugs of this standard are symmetrical; the position of the contacts when connecting does not matter.
Despite the fact that the standard requires the use of contacts with a diameter of 4.8 mm, domestic plugs easily fit German sockets.
Many countries of Eastern Europe are gradually moving from the old Soviet standard to type F.
Often there are hybrid plugs that combine side clips of type F and a grounding contact of type E. Such plugs connect equally well to both “French” sockets and German Schuko.
Type G: Great Britain and former colonies
Countries: UK, Ireland, Malaysia, Singapore, Cyprus, Malta
Three large flat contacts arranged in a triangle.
The massiveness of this type of fork is surprising. The reason lies not only in the large contacts, but also in the fact that there is a fuse inside the plug. This is necessary because British standards allow higher current levels in household appliances. electrical circuit. Pay attention to this! The adapter for the Euro plug must also be equipped with a fuse.
In addition to Great Britain, plugs and sockets of this type are also common in a number of former British colonies.
Type H: Israel
Three contacts arranged in a Y shape.
This type of connection is unique, found only in Israel and is incompatible with all other sockets and plugs.
Until 1989, the contacts were flat, then they decided to replace them with round ones, 4 mm in diameter, located in the same way. All modern sockets support plugs with both old flat and new round contacts.
Type I: Australia
Countries: Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji
Two flat contacts arranged “housewise”, and the third is a ground contact.
Almost all sockets in Australia have a switch for added safety.
Similar connections are found in China, only in comparison with the Australian ones they are turned upside down.
Argentina and Uruguay use sockets that are Type I compatible in shape, but with reversed polarity.
Type J: Switzerland
Three round contacts.
Exclusive Swiss standard. Very similar to type C, only there is a third, grounding contact, which is located slightly to the side.
European plugs fit without adapters.
A similar connection is found in parts of Brazil.
Type K: Denmark and Greenland
Three round contacts.
The Danish standard is very similar to the French Type E, except that the protruding ground pin is in the plug rather than the socket.
From July 1, 2008, type E sockets will be installed in Denmark, but for now the most common European standard C plugs can be connected to existing sockets without any problems.
Type L: Italy and Chile
Three round contacts in a row.
European standard C plugs (ours) fit Italian sockets without any problems.
If you really want, you can plug E/F type plugs (France-Germany), which we have in chargers for MacBooks, into Italian sockets. In 50% of cases, Italian sockets break during the process of pulling out such a plug: the plug is removed from the wall along with the Italian socket strung on it.
Type X: Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia
A hybrid of type A and C sockets. Both American and European plugs are suitable for sockets of this type.
It’s not easy to charge electrical appliances you bring with you. The sockets in England are different!
Without knowing this little secret It will be very problematic - even if necessary, you won’t be able to charge your mobile phone.
First, a little about sockets in England:
The modern English socket has a three-pin design with safety valve. And in very ancient buildings you can still find old English sockets. They have two thin and one thick round pins. But this is in Victorian houses and old hotels. It is unlikely that you will get there. Although, if forewarned, then forearmed!
Also, most electrical plugs in England have a fuse built into them. If you bring electrical equipment from England, do not forget to also purchase an adapter from an English to a European socket. If the outlet is Soviet, then you need another adapter :)
By the way, if you are planning to purchase a used one. equipment in England, we recommend reading
Where can I get an adapter?
In our countries, you can usually buy an adapter from a European to an English socket at Duty Free at the airport, order it online, or purchase it at your nearest electrical goods store.
In England, go to any nearest Tesco, Asda, or any other supermarket. Adapters are also sold in Boots pharmacies.
Cheap at just £1, the adapter can be bought from Poundland or 99p.
Also, first ask the hotel staff or the owners of the house where you are going to live. Perhaps they will have a couple of adapters for an English socket.
The adapter from European to English socket is called "European to UK Plug Adapter", or "Travel adapter European to UK".
Be careful - the inquisitive Russian mind! Do not repeat!
Ours have invented a universal Russian adapter here too. ;)
You need to insert a stick into the upper middle hole of the socket (cotton swabs, matches, disposable forks, etc.), then the remaining holes will open and you can push the plug into them!
You should not do this, as you can spend the evening without electricity!
We wish you successful connection to the English socket!
System of measures
The system of weights and measures is imperial, inch. A characteristic feature of the country for a long time was the almost complete rejection of metric units of measurement and the SI system - in almost none point of sale or in a pub, no one will still be able to offer goods in kilograms, or beer in liters. However metric system little by little it finds its way to the local market, so in popular tourist areas it can be much easier to navigate the weight or size than in the north of the country.
For orientation in very complex system British measures, you can use many “third-party tips” - most products have a barcode that is easily read by vending machines in any units of measurement, packaging in pounds (0.45 kg) differs little from the half-kilogram bags we are used to, and a pint at a bar is traditionally equal to about half a liter (the size of the mugs is also similar).
However, it should be borne in mind that British, American and Irish units of length, volume or weight are sometimes noticeably different from each other, but there is only one pint of beer - the English one (0.56826125 l).
Tips
Tips are 10-15% of the bill (unless a service charge is already included). It is customary to leave small coins in hotel bars and cafes. It is not necessary to tip a taxi driver, but it is usually considered “good form” to leave up to 10% of the meter. For a hotel maid - 10-20 pounds per week, for a porter - 50-75 pence (in a prestigious hotel - from 1 pound per suitcase). In pubs they don't give tips.Prices
The UK is one of those countries where travel needs to be planned in advance and carefully to avoid high costs, because this country cannot be called cheap. The rule always works - the earlier you buy a ticket (or book a hotel), the cheaper it is. For example, train travel from London to Edinburgh can cost £20 if purchased a month in advance, rising to £80 if purchased on the day of departure. The situation is similar with hotels, when when booking a room 2-3 months before the trip, accommodation in central London can cost from 50 pounds, while the regular price exceeds 100 pounds.
The UK has very expensive restaurants, but if you eat away from the tourist centers of cities, for example in Chinatown (which are found in London, Liverpool, Manchester and other cities), then the cost of food will be minimal. Also, small emigrant cafes serving Polish cuisine are very cheap, where you can have a hearty lunch for no more than 7-10 pounds.
Hotel accommodation
Breakfast
In UK hotels you can find two types of breakfast: continental and full English. Continental is cheese, sausage, jam and tea and coffee. Full English - the same, fruit and "hot dishes" (scrambled eggs, fried tomatoes, sausages, bacon). In luxury hotels, you can sometimes choose what type of breakfast you want to pay for.
Deposit
Many hotels will ask guests to make a deposit upon check-in. For example, in 4 star hotels in London the standard deposit is £50, with this amount blocked for credit card or £100 cash. Cash will be returned to you immediately upon check-out from the hotel; The money on the card will be unblocked within one to two weeks.
Electricity
In Great Britain different from Russia electrical plugs and sockets. It is supposed to be possible to rent an adapter at the reception, but in practice this is not always possible. The adapter can be bought in stores - from 2 to 6 pounds sterling. However, in most hotels you should first try to carefully inspect the bathroom, where there may well be a “European” socket for an electric razor.
mefatgg | autumn 2016
Alexander | June 2016
