Electrical plugs aren’t exactly something we give a lot of thought to. After all, practically everything has a plug attached to it or at least a plug attached to an associated charger. They are absolutely necessary in just about every facet of life.
Before you go buying mains plugs from a quality vendor like RS, you will be ready to tackle all of your technological needs. There are four types of mains plug that you need to know about for most things in your life.
Type C
A Type C electrical plug also called a Europlug, is thinner and has a pair of round pins. For the most part, your average Type C plug is going to run on 220v-240v. They are also pretty much only usable for devices that have no more than 2.5 Amps.
You are going to find Type C electrical plugs in a few different places, mostly in Europe. The only major exceptions in Europe are going to be Cyprus, Malta, Ireland, and the UK. As you will come to find out, certain electrical plug types are only good in select areas of the world.
Type D
For those in the United States, don’t get confused by the Type D plug. That’s because they have a triangular formation like the ones in the U.S., but with a major difference. Instead of two thin, flat prongs, the Type D plug has two round, small pins in addition to a large round one.
Type D plugs are meant to deliver far more amperage than Type C before you really get into the heavy-duty plugs. They are rated for up to 5 Amps and are generally found in countries like Namibia, Nepal, India, and Sri Lanka.
Type E
Now we’re getting into the more heavy-duty plugs. Type E plugs are rated to go up to 16 Amps and are distinct by their two-pin look. Those pins measure in at 4.8mm with 19mm between them, including a hole for a male earthing pin if needed.
What’s cool about the Type E plugs is that they have a side-swiping earth contact that can be used in conjunction with Type F sockets. That compatibility makes them even more valuable than some of the others. You are going to find Type E plugs in areas like Tunisia, Slovakia, Belgium, and France, among other European nations.
Type F
You might hear these called Schuko plugs. They’re actually really similar to the Type E plug since they also have side-swiping earth contacts that are compatible with one another. Type E sockets have a pin in place that makes them compatible with using Type F plugs.
Like the Type E plug, this one also has two round pins that measure in at 4.8mm and have 19mm spacing between them. They are also rated for 16 Amps max. You’ll find the Type F plug in major European nations like Austria, Spain, Germany, and the Netherlands.
Type G
Now we’re getting a little more unique. Type G plugs have a trio of rectangular blades, all of which are positioned into the triangular pattern of type C plugs. The cool feature here is that these Type G plugs also have fuses incorporated right into them.
Your average Type G plugs are rated for anywhere from 3 Amps to 13 Amps. The reason for the range is that it depends on what kind of socket outlet you are using them in. Another similarity to the Type C is where they are used. The UK, Ireland, Malta, and Cyprus as well as in Asian countries like Singapore and Malaysia feature Type G plugs.