Mains electricity by country includes a list of countries and territories, with the
plug
Plug, PLUG, plugs, or plugged may refer to:
* Plug (accounting), an unsupported adjustment to an accounting record
* Plug (fishing), a family of fishing lures
* Plug (horticulture), a planting technique
* Plug (jewellery), a type of jewellery wor ...
s,
voltage
Voltage, also known as electric pressure, electric tension, or (electric) potential difference, is the difference in electric potential between two points. In a static electric field, it corresponds to the work needed per unit of charge to m ...
s and
frequencies
Frequency is the number of occurrences of a repeating event per unit of time. It is also occasionally referred to as ''temporal frequency'' for clarity, and is distinct from ''angular frequency''. Frequency is measured in hertz (Hz) which is eq ...
they commonly use for providing electrical power to low voltage appliances, equipment, and lighting typically found in homes and offices. (For industrial machinery, see
industrial and multiphase power plugs and sockets
Industrial and multiphase plugs and sockets provide a connection to the electrical mains rated at higher voltages and currents than household plugs and sockets. They are generally used in polyphase systems, with high currents, or when protection f ...
.) Some countries have more than one voltage available. For example, in North America the supply to most premises is 2 phase plus neutral, with 240 volts between the phases and 120 volts between either of the phases and neutral. Most sockets are attached to the latter 120 V and neutral. By connecting across the phases, 240 V is available for large appliances. Often different sockets are mandated for different voltage or current levels.
Voltage, frequency, and plug type vary, but large regions may use common standards. Physical compatibility of receptacles may not ensure compatibility of voltage, frequency, or connection to earth (ground), including plugs and cords. In some areas, older standards may still exist. Foreign enclaves, extraterritorial government installations, or buildings frequented by tourists may support plugs not otherwise used in a country, for the convenience of travellers.
Main reference sourceIEC World Plugs
The
International Electrotechnical Commission
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC; in French: ''Commission électrotechnique internationale'') is an international standards organization that prepares and publishes international standards for all electrical, electronic and r ...
(IEC) publishes a web microsite ''World Plugs''World Plugs International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). Retrieved on 2018-06-05. which provides the main source for this page, except where other sources are indicated. ''World Plugs'' includes some history, a description of plug types, and a list of countries giving the type(s) used and the mains voltage and frequency.
Although useful for quick reference, especially for travellers, ''IEC World Plugs'' may not be regarded as totally accurate, as illustrated by the examples in the plugs section below, and errors may exist, such as Indonesia being listed as using both 220 V and 110 V when the Indonesian Standard ''SPLN 1'' clearly states the voltage as 230 V, and the official travel website says "electric power supply is 220 volts in all regions."
Voltages
Voltages in this article are the nominal single-phase supply voltages, or split-phase supply voltages. Three-phase and industrial loads may have other voltages.
All voltages are
root mean square
In mathematics and its applications, the root mean square of a set of numbers x_i (abbreviated as RMS, or rms and denoted in formulas as either x_\mathrm or \mathrm_x) is defined as the square root of the mean square (the arithmetic mean of the ...
voltage; the peak AC voltage is greater by a factor of , and the
peak-to-peak
The amplitude of a periodic variable is a measure of its change in a single period (such as time or spatial period). The amplitude of a non-periodic signal is its magnitude compared with a reference value. There are various definitions of ampl ...
voltage greater by a factor of .
Plugs
The system of plug types using a single letter (from A to N) used here is from ''World Plugs'', which defines the plug type letters in terms of a general description, without making reference to specific standards. Where a plug does not have a specific letter code assigned to it, then it may be defined by the style sheet number listed in IEC TR 60083. Not all plugs are included in the letter system; for example, there is no designation for the plugs defined by the Thai National Standard ''TIS 116-2549'', though some web sites refer to the three-pin plug described in that standard as "Type O".
Identification guide
File:A plug.jpg, Type A (NEMA 1–15 U.S. 2 pin) max 125 V AC, max rating 15A, (GB1002 Chinese 2 pin) max 250V AC, max rating 6A or 10A
File:B plug.jpg, Type B (NEMA 5–15 U.S. 3 pin) max 125 V AC, max rating 15 A and IEC standard 60906-2
File:Euro-Flachstecker 2.jpg, Type C (CEE 7/16
Europlug
The Europlug is a flat, two-pole, round-pin domestic AC power plug, rated for voltages up to 250 V and currents up to 2.5 A.CEE 7/17 2-pin plug
File:D plug.jpg,
Type D Type D or D-Type may refer to:
* D-type asteroid
* Jaguar D-Type, a sports racing car
* Honda D-Type, a motorcycle
* Type D personality, a concept used in the field of medical psychology
* Type D plug, a type of electrical power plug
* ''Type-D ...
(BS 546 5 A)
File:E plug and socket.jpg, Type E (French) CEE 7/6 plug & CEE 7/5 socket, 16A
File:Schuko plug and socket.png, Type F ("Schuko") CEE 7/4 plug & CEE 7/3 socket, 16A
File:CEE 7-7.jpg, CEE 7/7 plug, (combines earthing methods of Type E & Type F)
File:UK BS 1363 plug and socket (IEC Type G).png, Type G (
BS 1363
Plugs and sockets for electrical appliances not hardwired to mains electricity originated in the United Kingdom in the 1870s and were initially two-pin designs. These were usually sold as a mating pair, but gradually de facto and then offici ...
UK)
File:Israeli-type-H-plugs-and-socket.jpg, Type H (SI 32 Israel)
File:I plug.jpg, Type I (Australian AS/NZS 3112); Argentinian version has reversed polarity compared to Chinese and Australian versions
File:J plug - 1.jpg, Type J (SEV-1011 Switzerland), 10A
File:K plug typical.jpg, Type K (SRAF 1962/DB Denmark)
File:L plug.jpg, Type L (CEI 23-50)
File:M plug.jpg, Type M (15 A BS 546)
File:NBR 14136 plugs and outlet.jpg, Type N (NBR 14136, Brazil and SANS 164-2, South Africa)
File:Thai TIS 166-2549 mains plug.jpg, Thai TIS 166-2549 mains plug, often known as Type O
File:Multi plug.jpg, So-called "universal socket" which meets no standard but accepts a number of different plug types )
Table of mains voltages, frequencies, and plugs
See also
*
Delta-wye transformer
A delta-wye transformer is a type of three-phase electric power transformer design that employs delta-connected windings on its primary and wye/star connected windings on its secondary. A neutral wire can be provided on wye output side. It can ...
*
Electrical wiring
Electrical wiring is an electrical installation of cabling and associated devices such as switches, distribution boards, sockets, and light fittings in a structure.
Wiring is subject to safety standards for design and installation. Allowable ...
*
Electric power transmission
Electric power transmission is the bulk movement of electrical energy from a generating site, such as a power plant, to an electrical substation. The interconnected lines that facilitate this movement form a ''transmission network''. This is ...
*
Electrification
Electrification is the process of powering by electricity and, in many contexts, the introduction of such power by changing over from an earlier power source.
The broad meaning of the term, such as in the history of technology, economic histor ...
*
Electrical grid
An electrical grid is an interconnected network for electricity delivery from producers to consumers. Electrical grids vary in size and can cover whole countries or continents. It consists of:Kaplan, S. M. (2009). Smart Grid. Electrical Power ...
*
List of railway electrification systems
This is a list of the power supply systems that are, or have been, used for tramway and railway electrification systems.
Note that the voltages are nominal and vary depending on load and distance from the substation.
Many modern trams and trains ...
*
Mains electricity
Mains electricity or utility power, power grid, domestic power, and wall power, or in some parts of Canada as hydro, is a general-purpose alternating-current (AC) electric power supply. It is the form of electrical power that is delivered to h ...
Elect
An election is a formal group decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual or multiple individuals to hold public office.
Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy has operated ...