|
|
Electrical
wall
outlets
around
the
world
differ
in
the
shape,
size, number,
and
arrangement
of
plug
holes.
In
addition,
some
countries use
more
than
one
type
of
outlet.
| Some Frequently Asked Questions: |
| Q. |
Why
do
I
need
an
adapter
plug? |
| A. |
Outlets vary around the world and your North American plug may not fit into the available outlets in other countries. Adapter
plugs
adapt your North American plug so it will fit into other kinds of outlets.
Adapter plugs
DO
NOT
convert
electricity, they simply modify American-style plugs to fit into foreign outlets. |
| Q |
What
is
a
polarized
plug? |
| A. |
A
polarized
plug
has
one
blade
wider
than
the
other,
which
is
a
requirement
for
many
ungrounded
appliances
in
North
America.
IMPORTANT
NOTE:
You
may
find
some
countries
(parts
of
Central
America,
Japan,
Mexico,
etc.)
that
use
the
North
American
style
plug
without
polarized
outlets.
The
"1" adaptor
plug
will
allow
your
polarized
appliance
to
operate
in
those
locations. |
| Q. |
What
is
the
difference
between
an
ungrounded
plug
and
grounded
plug? |
| A. |
If
the
plug
for
your
North
American
appliance
has
two
flat
blades
only,
then
your
appliance
has
an
ungrounded
plug.
If
your
appliance
has
two
flat
blades
and
a
prong,
it
is
a
grounded
plug. |
|
|
| UNGROUNDED |
GROUNDED |
Please note: there exist in the world many types of outlets and many types of adapters. Outlet configurations differ from country to country and most countries have both grounded and ungrounded connections. In addition, some countries have more than one configuration. These shown below are the most commonly used.
- You should take the plugs that are common in the countries you are visiting.
- It is usually wise to take both grounded and ungrounded plugs to accommodate whatever outlet situations you may encounter.
|
|
1 |
 |
 |
|
A |
 |
 |
| |
Outlet |
Plug |
|
Outlet |
Plug |
| Two flat pins – parallel |
Two flat pins - parallel - and a half-circle grounding pin |
| This plug
is
used
in North & South
America. It is the same as A but has no grounding pin. |
This plug is used in North & South America. It is the same as 1 but has a third pin that is a grounding pin. |
| Ungrounded |
$5.00
 |
Grounded |
$9.00
|
|
2 |
 |
 |
|
B |
 |
 |
| |
Outlet |
Plug |
|
Outlet |
Plug |
| Two flat pins - angled |
Three flat pins - two angled, one straight |
| This
plug
has
two
flat
prongs
that
form
a
V-shape. This
is
primarily
used
in Australia
&
New
Zealand. It is the same a B but has no grounding pin. |
This
plug
is the same as 2 but has a third pin that is a grounding pin. This
is
used
primarily
in Australia
&
New
Zealand. |
| Ungrounded |
$5.00
|
Grounded |
$9.00
|
|
3 |
 |
 |
|
C |
|
 |
| |
Outlet |
Plug |
|
Outlet |
Plug |
Three pins - rectangular |
Three pins - rectangular |
| This
plug
widely
used
in Great
Britain. It is
the
same
as
C
except
the
third
prong
is
non-conductive. |
This
plug
is
widely
used
in Great
Britain. It is the same as 3 but the third pin is a grounding pin. |
| Ungrounded |
$7.00
|
Grounded |
$9.00
|
|
4 |
 |
 |
|
D |
 |
 |
| |
Outlet |
Plug |
|
Outlet |
Plug |
Two round pins |
Two round pins, grounding clips and a female receptacle |
| This
plug
can
be
used in
most
of
the
countries
in
continental
Europe and is also widely
used
in
South
Africa. |
This
plug
is
similar
to
4
except
it
is
round
and
has
the
addition
of
two
grounding
clips
on
the
side
of
the
plug and a female receptable. It is designed for recessed outlets.
This
is
refered
to
as "Schuko" style
and
is
used in most of the countries in continental Europe and is also widely used in South Africa..
This plug DOES NOT fit Italian or Swiss sockets. |
| Ungrounded |
$5.00
|
Grounded |
$9.00
|
|
| |
|
E |
 |
 |
| |
Outlet |
Plug |
Three pins - round |
| This
plug
is
similar
to
C
except
it
has
the
addition
of
a
center
grounding
pin.
This is
primarily
used
in Italy. |
| Grounded |
$9.00
|
|
| |
|
F |
 |
 |
| |
Outlet |
Plug |
Three pins - round |
| This
plug
is
similar
to
C
except
it
is
round
and
has
the
addition
of
a
grounding
pin.
This
is
primarily
used
in Switzerland. |
| Grounded |
$9.00
|
|
| |
|
G |
 |
 |
| |
Outlet |
Plug |
Three pins - two round, one half-round |
| This
plug
is
similar
to
C
except
it
is
round
and
has
the
addition
of
a
half-round grounding
pin.
This
is
primarily
used
in Denmark. |
| Grounded |
$9.00
|
|
| |
|
H |
 |
 |
| |
Outlet |
Plug |
Three pins - round, thick |
| This plug is
used
in India and the Middle East. It is
the
old
British
Standard, is used amost
exclusively
in India, and at least somewhat in many former British colonies. |
| Grounded |
$9.00
|
|
| |
|
I |
|
 |
| |
Outlet |
Plug |
Three pins - round, thicker |
| This plug is widely
used
in
Southern
Africa. |
| Grounded |
$9.00
|
|
| |
|
J |
 |
 |
| |
Outlet |
Plug |
Three pins - two angled, one straight |
| This
plug
is
similar
to
B (Australia, New Zealand),
but
not
compatible.
It
is
used
exclusively
in Israel. |
| Grounded |
$9.00
|
|
E-mail: