Why do different countries have different sockets? What sockets and voltages are used in different countries of the world
Sockets in the USA are so different from Russian sockets that without an adapter (adapter), you will not be able to use American sockets. When going, it is important to take into account the features of American outlets - you can ask the hotel in advance or ask what outlets they have. There is also a difference in voltage, so difficulties may arise when using household appliances and charging mobile devices. For example, some tourists note that due to electrical outlets in the US, their hair dryer does not work as powerfully or their phone charges more slowly.
What are the outlets in the USA?
The most important thing a tourist needs to know is that the outlets in the USA are different, not the same as in Russia. They are very different, and you won’t be able to insert a domestic plug into them. Many have seen in Hollywood films what electrical outlets look like in the USA, but let’s refresh our memory:
As you can see, the outlets in the USA are completely different, not the same as in Russia, Ukraine, or Europe. They differ in that it is impossible to insert a standard Russian plug into them. Instead of standard round slots, two rectangular holes are used. It’s already clear what sockets look like in the USA, but if the socket is different, then the plug is different? Yes, the plug in the US also looks different, look at the following photo:
Therefore, if you want to use the equipment that you took with you from Russia, then you will definitely need an adapter. Since the Russian socket plug will not fit American sockets.
How many volts are there in American outlets?
The standard voltage in the USA is 100 Volts, while in Russia, all equipment is designed for 220-240 V. This explains why Russian or Ukrainian equipment behaves so strangely in the USA. Volts, or voltage, in the American power grid are different from those in Russia. But the grounding principle is no different. There are sockets with grounding, and the ground looks the same as in European sockets. Pay attention to the 3rd hole in the socket, it is the ground:
Before using your hair dryer, laptop, charger, etc., it makes sense to study the technical characteristics of the device in detail - perhaps the existing devices will work. But there is also equipment that is highly dependent on voltage and can fail.
Is it possible to use equipment from Russia?
If you are traveling as a tourist, then yes, in 99% of cases you can use equipment from Russia in the USA. The main thing is to buy an adapter. If you plan to move to the USA for a long period of time, then it is better to buy all household appliances immediately upon arrival. The total may turn out to be expensive, but you can always find budget models. Another plus is that you don’t have to drag a heavy load from your home country.
Those who want to use equipment from Russia/Ukraine/Europe in the USA need to prepare. For example, if you are interested in charging a laptop in the USA, then simply study the characteristics of your adapter:
This way you will know all the requirements for the electrical network and will be able to understand whether the equipment will burn out or deteriorate. It is important to understand that in 99% of cases domestic equipment will not burn out if there is insufficient voltage, but it will not function normally. But American equipment in Russia, on the contrary, will probably burn out, since American equipment, not designed for the international market, is designed for low voltage.
For example, you can only use a hairdryer from Russia at full speed, and the device will blow as if it were turned on in the weakest mode. The same applies to ironing and other equipment. Imagine if your equipment was supplied with 2 times less energy than necessary.
As for mobile phones, there will be no serious problems with recharging. But the process will take a lot of time, because charging the device will take several times longer than in Russia. In the case of a mobile phone, we recommend purchasing a new charger. The charging speed depends on it, and not on your smartphone.
Adapter and adapter for American socket
Using a special adapter, you can easily connect any devices. But you need to take care of purchasing it in advance - you are unlikely to want to walk the streets of an unfamiliar city looking for a suitable adapter for an outlet. The adapter for an American outlet looks something like this and can be used:
Many hotels provide guests with such devices, but this feature is not available in all hotels. And most importantly, there is often a need to simultaneously charge your phone, dry your hair and connect a video camera to the network - in this case, one adapter will not be enough. For those who travel frequently, we recommend for 3-5 dollars, for example this:
Suitable for Russia, Europe, USA, England, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico. When assembled, it takes up minimal space.
Here are all supported connectors:
Costs 3-5 dollars, delivered to Russia for free, arrived to me in 19 days after payment. You can buy it at.
In addition, if you want to charge your phone, it is better to buy not an adapter for an outlet, but a USB adapter with which you will charge the phone. For example, you can buy something like this:
You can buy an adapter at home by ordering it online. On AliExpress or Gearbest you can find adapters and adapters for just a couple of dollars. You can also buy an adapter in duty free right before your trip. Adapters can also be purchased at an in-flight store when you fly.
If you put this question off until you travel to New York or another US city, you will be unpleasantly surprised. Such adapters and adapters cost $20-40, which is quite expensive. In this video you will learn more about American socket adapters:
Adapter for English socket– the most necessary thing in England! Money, reservations, documents - it's all clear. This is necessary on any trip. As for the UK, you will definitely need English socket adapter. Their sockets are absolutely incompatible with ours and with the so-called “euro” ones too.
Of course you can buy this adapter in England. But, firstly, it still needs to be found there, and secondly, it costs a lot of money there. For example, at Manchester airport I saw adapter for 14 pounds. In Russia, in any radio store you can find a whole set adapters, neatly packed in a beautiful, convenient box at a price of 150 rubles. If suddenly you don’t have them in your store - adapter for English socket easy to find in Chinese online stores.
Without this adapter, you won't be able to charge your phone, camera, or shave.
UK grid voltage compatible with our electrical appliances and complies with 230 Volts at 50 Hertz.
Adapter for English socket in a convenient box
This is what the adapter itself looks like
The whole set
This is how it works
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There are more than a hundred ways to connect electrical appliances to the network in the world. There are a huge number of plugs and sockets. It is also necessary to take into account that each country has a specific voltage, frequency and current strength. This can turn into a serious problem for tourists. But this question is relevant today not only for those who love to travel. Some people, when renovating an apartment or house, deliberately install sockets of the standard of other countries. One of these is the American outlet. It has its own characteristics, disadvantages and advantages. Today there are only 13 socket and plug standards that are used in different countries of the world. Let's look at some of them.
Two frequency and voltage standards
It would seem, why do we need so many standards and types of electrical elements? But it should be taken into account that there are different network voltage standards. Many people do not know that the household electrical network in North America uses not traditional 220 V, as in Russia and the CIS, but 120 V. But this was not always the case. Until the 60s, throughout the Soviet Union, household voltage was 127 volts. Many will ask why this is so. As you know, the amount of electrical energy consumed is constantly growing. Previously, apart from light bulbs in apartments and houses, there were simply no other consumers.
Everything that each of us plugs in every day - computers, televisions, microwaves, boilers - did not exist then and appeared much later. When the power increases, the voltage must be increased. Higher current entails overheating of the wires, and with them certain losses due to this heating. This is serious. In order to avoid this unnecessary loss of precious energy, it was necessary to increase the cross-section of the wire. But it is very difficult, time-consuming and expensive. Therefore, it was decided to increase the voltage in the networks.
The times of Edison and Tesla
Edison was a proponent of direct current. He believed that this particular current was convenient for work. Tesla believed in the advantages of variable frequency. Eventually the two scientists began to practically fight each other. By the way, this war ended only in 2007, when the United States switched to alternating current in household networks. But let's return to Edison. He created the production of incandescent light bulbs with carbon-based filaments. The voltage for optimal operation of these lamps was 100 V. He added another 10 V for losses in the conductors and at his power plants he accepted 110 V as the operating voltage. That is why the American outlet was designed for 110 V for a long time. Further in the States, and then in other countries that worked closely with the United States adopted 120 V as the standard voltage. The current frequency was 60 Hz. But electrical networks were created in such a way that two phases and a “neutral” were connected to houses. This made it possible to obtain 120 V when using phase voltages or 240 in the case of
Why two phases?
It's all about the generators that created electricity for all of America.
Until the end of the 20th century, they were two-phase. Weak consumers were connected to them, and more powerful ones were transferred to linear voltages.
60 Hz
This is entirely due to Tesla. This happened back in 1888. He worked closely with J. Westinghouse, including on the development of generators. They argued a lot and for a long time about the optimal frequency - the opponent insisted on choosing one of the frequencies in the range from 25 to 133 Hz, but Tesla stood firm on his idea and the figure of 60 Hz fit into the system as much as possible.
Advantages
Among the advantages of this frequency are lower costs in the manufacturing process of the electromagnetic system for transformers and generators. Therefore, equipment for this frequency is significantly smaller in size and weight. By the way, the lamps practically do not flicker. An American outlet in the States is much better suited for powering computers and other equipment that requires good power.
Sockets and standards
There are two main standards in frequency and voltage in the world.
One of them is American. This network voltage is 110-127 V at a frequency of 60 Hz. And standard A and B are used as plugs and sockets. The second type is European. Here the voltage is 220-240 V, frequency is 50 Hz. The European socket is predominantly S-M.
Type A
These species are widespread only in Northern and Central America. They can also be found in Japan. However, there are some differences between them. The Japanese have two pins parallel to each other and flat with the same dimensions. The American outlet is a little different. And the fork for it, accordingly, too. Here one pin is wider than the second. This is done to ensure that the correct polarity is always maintained when connecting electrical appliances. After all, previously the current in American networks was constant. These sockets were also called Class II. Tourists say that plugs from Japanese technology work without problems with American and Canadian sockets. But connecting these elements in reverse (if the plug is American) will not work. A suitable adapter for the socket is required. But usually people just file down the wide pin.
Type B
These types of devices are only used in Canada, the USA and Japan. And if type “A” devices were intended for low-power equipment, then such sockets are used mainly for powerful household appliances with consumption currents of up to 15 amperes.
In some catalogs, such an American plug or socket may be designated as Class I or NEMA 5-15 (this is already an international designation). Now they have almost completely replaced type “A”. In the USA, only "B" is used. But in old buildings you can still find the old American outlet. It does not have a contact responsible for connecting the ground. In addition, the US industry has long been producing appliances with modern plugs. But this does not prevent the use of new electrical appliances in old houses. In this case, resourceful Americans simply cut off or destroy the grounding contact so that it does not interfere and can be connected to an old-style outlet.
About appearance and differences
Anyone who purchased an iPhone from the USA knows very well what an American outlet looks like. It has its own characteristics. The socket consists of two flat holes or slits. New type devices have an additional grounding contact at the bottom.
Also, to avoid errors, one pin of the plug is made wider than the other. The Americans decided not to change this approach, and left everything the same in the new outlets. The contacts on the plug are not pins like a European socket. These are more like plates. There may be holes at their ends.
How to operate American equipment in the CIS countries
It happens that people bring equipment from the States and want to use it in Europe or Russia. And they encounter a problem - the socket does not fit the plug. So what should we do? You can replace the cord with a standard European one, but this is not an option for everyone. For those who are not technically savvy and have never held a soldering iron in their hands, it is recommended to purchase an adapter for a socket. There are quite a lot of them - they are all different in quality and price. If you are planning a trip to the USA, then you should stock up on adapters in advance. There they can cost five or more dollars. If you order from an online store, you can save up to half the cost. It should also be taken into account that even in US hotels, all sockets meet the American standard - and it doesn’t matter that most of the people who stay are foreign tourists.
In this case, an adapter from an American outlet to a European one could help him. The same applies to equipment purchased in the USA. If you don’t want to solder, you can buy an inexpensive Chinese-made adapter and fully use electrical appliances, charge your phone or tablet on a non-standard socket. There are no other options here.
Resume
They say that you can’t understand Russia with your mind, but in the USA everything is not so simple either. You can't just show up and use American style sockets with European or any other plugs. Therefore, you should take adapters on the road, and you need to order them in advance. This saves a lot of time and money.
Electrical voltage, sockets, plugs, adapters and adapters - this is what every tourist who goes to an unfamiliar country should think about. This is especially true in the modern world, when the vast majority of people travel with their personal electronic devices that require constant recharging - from cameras and mobile phones to laptops and navigation systems. In many countries, the issue is resolved simply - with the help of an adapter. However, plugs and sockets are only half the story. The voltage in the network may also be different from what is usual at home - and this is worth knowing and remembering, otherwise you can damage the device or charger. For example, in Europe and most Asian countries the voltage ranges from 220 to 240 volts. In America and Japan it is half as much - from 100 to 127 volts. If a device designed for American or Japanese voltage is inserted into a socket in Europe, it will burn out.
SOCKETS AND PLUGS
There are at least 13 different plugs and sockets in the world.
Type A
This type is designated Class II. The plug consists of two parallel contacts. In the Japanese version, the contacts are the same size. In American, one end is slightly wider than the other. Devices with a Japanese plug can be used in American outlets, but vice versa will not work.
Type B
for North and Central America and Japan
This type is designated as Class I. The international designation of the American type B is NEMA 5-15, the Canadian type B is CS22.2, n°42 (CS = Canadian Standard). The maximum current is 15 A. In America, type B is very popular; in Japan it is much less common. Often, residents of old houses with type A sockets, when purchasing new modern electrical appliances with type B plugs, simply “bite off” the third grounding contact.
Type C
used in all European countries except UK, Ireland, Cyprus and Malta
International designation - CEE 7/16. The plug consists of two contacts with a diameter of 4.0-4.8 mm at a distance of 19 mm from the center. The maximum current is 3.5 A. Type C is an outdated version of the newer types E, F, J, K and L now used in Europe. All Type C plugs fit perfectly into the new sockets.
Type D
used in India, Nepal, Namibia and Sri Lanka
The international designation is BS 546 (BS = British Standard). Represents an obsolete British style plug, which was used in the mother country until 1962. The maximum current is 5 A. Some Type D sockets are compatible with Type D and M plugs. Type D sockets can still be found in older homes in Great Britain and Ireland.
Type E
used mainly in France, Belgium, Poland, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Tunisia and Morocco
International designation - CEE 7/7. The maximum current is 16 A. Type E is slightly different from CEE 7/4 (type F), which is common in Germany and other central European countries. All Type C plugs fit perfectly into Type E sockets.
Type F
used in Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Portugal, Spain and Eastern European countries.
International designation CEE 7/4. This type is also known as "Schuko". The maximum current is 16 A. All type C plugs are ideally suited to type F sockets. The same type is used in Russia (in the USSR it was designated as GOST 7396), the only difference is that the diameter of the contacts adopted in Russia is 4 mm, in while in Europe, contacts with a diameter of 4.8 mm are most often used. Thus, Russian plugs easily fit into wider European sockets. But the plugs of electronic devices made for Europe do not fit into Russian sockets.
Type G
used in the UK, Ireland, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Cyprus and Malta.
The international designation is BS 1363 (BS = British Standard). The maximum current is 32 A. Tourists from Europe visiting the UK use regular adapters.
Type H
used in Israel
This socket is identified by SI 32 symbols. The Type C plug is easily compatible with the Type H socket.
Type I
used in Australia, China, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Argentina.
International designation - AS 3112. Maximum current - 10 A. Sockets and plugs of types H and I do not fit together. The sockets and plugs used by people in Australia and China fit together well.
Type J
Only used in Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
The international designation is SEC 1011. The maximum current is 10 A. Regarding type C, the type J plug has one more contact, and the socket has one more hole. However, Type C plugs will fit into Type J sockets.
Type K
used only in Denmark and Greenland.
International designation - 107-2-D1. The Danish socket is suitable for CEE 7/4 and CEE 7/7 plugs, as well as type C sockets.
Type L
used only in Italy and very rarely in North African countries.
International designation - CEI 23-16/BII. Maximum current - 10 A or 16 A. All type C plugs fit into L type sockets.
Type M
used in South Africa, Swaziland and Lesotho.
Type M is very similar to Type D. Most Type M sockets are compatible with Type D plugs.
ADAPTERS, CONVERTERS, TRANSFORMERS
In order for the plug from your device to be inserted into a socket in a particular country in the world, an adapter or adapter is often necessary. There are universal adapters on sale. In addition, in good hotels you can usually ask for an adapter at the hotel reception.
- Adapters do not affect the voltage and flow of electricity. They only help to match a plug of one type with a socket of another. Universal adapters are most often sold in duty-free shops. Also in hotels you can often ask the maids for an adapter for temporary use.
- Converters are capable of providing short-term conversion of local power grid parameters. For example, they are convenient on the road, where they allow you to use a hairdryer, iron, electric razor, kettle or small fan exactly as much as needed. However, they are small in size, and due to their weak hardware, it is not recommended to use them for more than one and a half to two hours at a time, since overheating of the converter can lead to breakdown of the electrical appliance using it.
- Transformers are more powerful, larger and more expensive voltage converters capable of maintaining long-term operation. Transformers can be used without restrictions for such “serious” electrical appliances as radios, audio players, chargers, computers, televisions, etc.
Most modern equipment, including laptops and chargers, are suitable for use in both networks - both 110 and 220 V - without the use of a transformer. Only the appropriate adapters for plugs and sockets are required.
VOLTAGE AND FREQUENCY
Of the 214 countries in the world, 165 countries use 220-240 V (50 or 60 Hz), and 39 countries use 100-127 V.
