![Electricity Plug Types In Each Country Explained [Infographic]](https://www.lifehacker.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/03/jkyn97eh2szt88olghlq-scaled.jpg?quality=75&w=479&h=360&crop=1)
When you travel internationally, you should always throw a plug adaptor into your bag. This graphic is a quick reference to common plug types and the countries in which they’re used. This way you’ll know which type of adaptor to pack for your trip.
In the below infographic, you can each type of plug, the countries the countries they’re used in, and which types are compatible, so you know if you need a single adaptor or not. The only thing the graphic doesn’t account for is voltage, which you should still take time to check. Just because you have an adaptor won’t mean you can use the plug with your devices if they use a different voltage than your home country.
The Ultimate Guide to Travel Plugs [Citybase Apartments]
![Electricity Plug Types In Each Country Explained [Infographic]](https://www.lifehacker.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/03/jkyn97eh2szt88olghlq-scaled.jpg?quality=75?quality=75)
Comments
14 responses to “Electricity Plug Types In Each Country Explained [Infographic]”
Would be better if it specified voltages and frequencies as well as plug type.
“Although the American and Japanese plugs appear identical, the neutral pin on the American plug is wider than the live pin, whereas on the Japanese plug both pins are the same size. As a result, Japanese plugs can be used in the US but often not the other way around.”
http://www.iec.ch/worldplugs/typeA.htm
“The wonderful thing about standards is that there are so many of them to choose from.”
Admiral Grace Hopper.
Type I has a lot of different plugs. (AS/NZS 3112) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AS/NZS_3112
Type A plugs (USA) can be used in type G (Oz) sockets if you have pliers to bend the blades and a hammer to panel beat the one slightly wider spade tipped blade down to a size that will fit in the socket. They can usually be forced into the socket far enough so that no bare metal is touchable. If bare metal is visible it should be wrapped in insulating tape. I just checked my USA purchased extension cord leading to my USA purchased iPad power supply and 240V AC to 100V AC transformer for USA appliances and none of the blades are visible.
Warning
* the pins of the Chinese and Argentinian plug are longer (21mm for earth and 18mm for active and neutral vs 20mm and 17.35mm) so bare metal may be exposed when they are plugged into an Oz socket unless they have the top half of the blades insulated or there is a safety cowl on the socket.
* the polarity of Argentinian plugs is the reverse of Oz ones.
https://www.wikiwand.com/en/AC_power_plugs_and_sockets
In Argentina at the moment and so far the polarity thing hasn’t affected the laptop, electric toothbrush or phone charger. (interestingly there was one plug in the kitchen where the toothbrush didn’t charge and i thought the socket was dead but the local microwave worked fine)
I did want to bring a polarity checker as i came here but…i am not an electrician and well i figured i will either have blown up appliances or working ones and that would be a reasonable guide 🙂
so far so good. all of those plugs on the devices i am using are the 2 pin non earth pin plug so i don’t know if that matters or not.
The interesting thing about AC is that there’s no polarity.
There is still an active and a neutral.
Correct, but no polarity.
Suggestion: before you twist the blades/pins heat them up a bit with a soldering iron. The plug will remain sealed (no gap where they enter the plastic) and you don’t have to bend the metal.
Yeah, pretty much nobody should ever be bending mains voltage pins. Forcing anything into a socket is plain stupid.
Type K looks so happy 😀
Is this written by Americans by any chance? – it is pretty low on details
The type G can be found in Hong Kong, The UAE and Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belize, Bhutan, Channel Islands, China, Cyprus, Dominica, Falkland Islands, Gambia, Ghana, Gibraltar, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Isle of Man, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Macau, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Myanmar, Nigeria, Oman, Qatar, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Tanzania, Uganda, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Type J and N are the same?
Or wrong pic?