Europlug

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Example of a 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.[1] It is a compromise design intended to connect low-power Class II appliances safely
to the many different forms of round-pin domestic power socket used across Europe. However, it is not
compatible with the rectangular-pin BS 1363 sockets found in Cyprus, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, Ireland,
Malta and the United Kingdom. Europlugs are non-rewirable and must be supplied attached to a power
cord.
Contents
• 1History
• 2Design considerations
• 3Details
• 4Compatibility
o 4.1Type D
o 4.2Types C, E, F, and K
o 4.3Type G
o 4.4Types H and N
o 4.5Type L
o 4.6SN 441011 (Switzerland), Type J
o 4.7BS 4573 (UK shaver)
• 5See also
• 6References
• 7External links

History[edit]
The Europlug design, intended for use with socket-outlets meeting other standards, appeared first in
1963 as Alternative II of Standard Sheet XVI in the second edition of CEE Publication 7 by the
contributing members of Austria, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Federal Republic of Germany,
Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland,
United Kingdom, and Yugoslavia.[2] The Europlug is therefore sometimes also referred to as the "CEE
7/16 Alternative II plug" or simply as the "CEE 7/16 plug". It was also described in 1975 as plug C5 in IEC
Technical Report 83.[citation needed] In 1990 it was defined by Cenelec standard EN 50075[1] which has national
equivalents in most European countries, as described in IEC 60083[3] which superseded IEC/TR 83 (and no
longer uses the C5 designation).[citation needed]
The Europlug is unusual as the standard specifies only a plug; there is no socket-outlet designed
specifically for use with it.[citation needed]

Design considerations[edit]
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The dimensions of the Europlug were chosen for compatibility and safe use, such that with continental
European domestic power sockets.

• reliable contact is established when the plug is fully inserted;

• no live conductive parts are accessible while the plug is inserted into each type of socket;
• it is not possible to establish a connection between one pin and a live socket contact while the
other pin is accessible.

Additionally, the design allows for a more compact and less bulky design of mobile phone chargers, than
the BS 1363 form factor in the UK.

Europlugs are only designed for low-power (less than 2.5 A) Class II (double-insulated) devices that
operate at normal room temperature and do not require a protective-earth connection.

Details[edit]

Diagram of the Europlug specifications

The pins of the Europlug are 19 mm long. They consist of a 9 mm long conductive tip of 4 mm diameter
with a rounded ending, followed by a 10 mm long flexible insulated shaft of not more than 3.8 mm
diameter. The two pins are not exactly parallel and converge slightly; their centres are 17.5 mm apart at
the tip and 18.6 mm apart at the base. The elasticity of the converging pins provides sufficient contact
force for the Europlug's current rating with a variety of socket-hole arrangements. The entire plug is
35.3 mm wide and 13.7 mm high, and must not exceed these dimensions within 18 mm behind its front
plane (this allows for the recesses on many European socket types). The left and right side of the plug
are formed by surfaces that are at 45° relative to the horizontal plane.[1]
Compatibility[edit]
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Type D[edit]
The Europlug is not compatible with type D sockets, used in e.g. India and South Africa. These sockets
have 5.1 mm holes with centres spaced 19.1 mm apart, which means a Europlug can be inserted if the
sockets do not have protective shutters. However, the socket design might not allow the plug to grip it.

Types C, E, F, and K[edit]

The Europlug is designed to be compatible with these sockets. They have 4.8 mm holes with centres
spaced 19 mm apart. The minimum distance between the holes is thus 14.2 mm, while the minimum
distance between the converged pins on the Europlug is 13.5 mm, allowing it to grip the socket despite
its smaller pin width.

Type G[edit]
The Europlug is physically not compatible with BS 1363 13 A sockets, used in e.g. the UK and Ireland. UK
law requires a suitable fuse to be fitted in each plug to protect the appliance flexible cord; Europlugs do
not contain such fuses. BS 1363 sockets contain a child-safety shutter; clause 13.7.2 of BS 1363-2
requires that Europlugs will not open the shutters.[4] In some types of BS 1363 socket (but not all) the
safety mechanism can be tampered with so that a Europlug may then be forced into the open line and
neutral ports. The UK Electrical Safety Council has drawn attention to the fire risk associated with forcing
Europlugs into BS 1363 sockets.[5] There is also a risk of damage to both the plug and socket.

UK Consumer Protection legislation requires that most domestic electrical goods sold must be provided
with fitted plugs to BS 1363-1.[6] The exception is that shavers, electric toothbrushes and similar personal
hygiene products may be supplied with a Europlug as an alternative to the BS 4573 plug (see below).

Fused conversion plugs to BS 1363-5 are available for Europlugs, and equipment fitted with these may
be legally sold in the UK.[7]

Types H and N[edit]

These sockets are designed to be compatible with the Europlug. They have 4.5 mm holes with centres
spaced 19 mm apart. The minimum distance between the holes is thus 14.5 mm, while the minimum
distance between the converged pins on the Europlug is 13.5 mm, allowing it to grip the socket despite
its smaller pin width.

The 10 A variant of type N used in Brazil has 4.0 mm holes and also allows the Europlug to be used; see
Types J and L.

The 20 A variant of type N used in Brazil has 4.8 mm holes and also allows the Europlug to be used; see
Types E, F and K.
Type L[edit]
The Europlug is designed to be compatible with Type L sockets. They have 4.0 mm holes with centres
spaced 19 mm apart.

SN 441011 (Switzerland), Type J[edit]

The Europlug is designed to be compatible with Type 11 & 12 (outdated single-phase sockets, 10 A) and
Type 13 (recessed single-phase socket, 10 A; Type J) and is consequently compatible with all by SN
441011 currently supported sockets.[2] This includes Type 15 (three-phase, 10 A), Type 21 & 23 (single-
phase, 16 A) and Type 25 (three-phase, 16 A).[8] The diameter of the openings of the 10 A sockets is 4.5
mm and the openings of the 16 A sockets are 4.5 x 5.5 mm wide. The norm space between L (one-phase)
or L1 (three-phase) and N is 19 mm.

BS 4573 (UK shaver)[edit]

The Europlug is not designed to be compatible with BS 4573 sockets. These sockets have 5.1 mm holes
with centres spaced 16.7 mm apart, meaning a reliable contact might not be possible.

Most 2-pin UK shaver sockets will accept either BS 4573 plugs or Europlugs, but are rated for a
maximum of 0.2 A. UK Consumer Protection legislation allows for shavers, electric toothbrushes and
similar personal hygiene products to be supplied with a Europlug as an alternative to the BS 4573 plug.

See also[edit]
• AC power plugs and sockets
• IEC 60906-1 – the international standard for 230 V plugs and sockets
• Schuko – the system of CEE 7/3 sockets and CEE 7/4 plugs
• CEE 7 standard AC plugs and sockets#CEE 7/7 plug (compatible with E and F), a hybrid between
the Schuko (Type F) and French (Type E) plug, the earthed version power plug used throughout
most of Europe

References[edit]
1. ^ Jump up to:a b c European Standard EN 50075: Flat non-wirable two-pole plugs, 2.5 A 250 V, with cord, for the
connection of class II-equipment for household and similar purposes. CENELEC, Brussels, 1990.
2. ^ Jump up to:a b IECEE CEE-7:1963, Specification for plugs and socket-outlets for domestic and similar purpose (PDF,
CD) (commercial PDF download or CD) (in French and English) (2.0 ed.). Geneva, Switzerland: CEE. 30 April 1963. ISBN
2-8318-1032-0. Retrieved 2020-12-14 – via IEC Webstore. {{cite techreport}}: Check |isbn= value: checksum
(help)
3. ^ IEC/TR 60083: Plugs and socket-outlets for domestic and similar general use standardized in member countries of IEC
(PDF, CD) (commercial PDF download or CD) (in French and English) (6.0 ed.). Geneva, Switzerland: IEC. 23 February
2009. Retrieved 2020-12-14 – via IEC Webstore.
4. ^ Extract from BS 1363-2:2012: Specification for 13 A switched and unswitched socket-outlets, May 2012. It shall not
be possible to operate a shutter by inserting a 2-pin plug into a 3-pin socket-outlet. Compliance shall be checked by the
tests of 13.7.2. 13.7.2 Earth pin operated shutters and 3-pin operated shutters shall be deemed to comply with this
requirement without testing. For other shutter designs, compliance shall be checked by the following test. A 2-pin plug
complying with BS EN 50075 shall be applied to the socket line and neutral apertures with a force of 30 newton. The
plug pins, when applied in any direction, shall not make contact with live parts.
5. ^ "Conversion Plugs for Foreign Appliances", Switched On, Issue 9, Summer 2008, p17
6. ^ "The Plugs and Sockets etc. (Safety) Regulations 1994". Opsi.gov.uk. 1994. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
7. ^ "United Kingdom: Check power plugs and outlets | World-Power-Plugs.com". world-power-plugs.com. Retrieved
2019-05-30.
8. ^ "System SEV 1011" (PDF). Retrieved 19 February 2022.