One of the most unexpected situations is when you come on vacation, you want to charge your mobile or camera, and the plug does not fit into the outlet.
This problem can be solved quite quickly, adapters are sometimes sold directly in hotels or in souvenir shops. But it is better to prepare for such a turn of events in advance.
Today we will talk about the sockets that are found in different countries the world.
Socket types that do not need an adapter
To begin with, consider the standard that we are accustomed to, which is adopted in Russia and in Europe - this is type C and F... These types of sockets are also common in all CIS countries, Asia and South America. They support voltage 220 - 240 V.
Type G
Those who have traveled to the UK already know that the sockets there are very different from what we are used to. This is type G.
It is also found in Ireland, Malta, Malaysia and Singapore.
Type I
You will definitely need an adapter if you decide to travel to Australia, New Zealand, China and Argentina.
In these countries, type I sockets are used. They can be either two or three (grounded) plugs.
In Australia, sockets are often equipped with a switch.
Type M
South Africa also has its own unique sockets, type M.
At least holes in this type sockets and round, the plug we are accustomed to include in it still does not work. The distance between the holes is different.
In addition, since This type of socket is found in only a few African countries, universal adapters are often not suitable for it.
It is not necessary to have many adapters for different outlets. At airports, you can find shops selling various travel items, including a universal adapter.
In some countries, universal plugs are available that fit European and North American plugs. These sockets can often be found in Thailand:
October 30th, 2017, 06:58 am
In Europe, the tension in electrical network varies from 220 to 240 V, in the USA and Japan from 100 to 120 V - why? Is it really just to create problems for tourists who are forced to carry adapters with them or look for it already upon arrival, so as not to let the phone "die"?
When it comes to electricity, you can forget about globalization. Even in the European Union, where one currency circulates, electrical outlets are different. The reason for this is the historical factor.
In the era of electrification, inventors from different countries proposed their own versions of the optimal sockets; built around the world different types electric generators. And the national companies involved in the installation of electrical networks supplied their devices suitable for these networks. Accordingly, various types of plug connectors and sockets were introduced and their networks were designed. The developments of other countries were completely ignored.
Influenced the design of outlets and the availability of materials. For example, during World War II, the UK invented a three-pin plug with a short copper fuse. This design made it possible to save reserves of copper for military needs.
Now, according to one classification, there are 12 types of sockets, according to another - 15. Moreover, sockets of one type sometimes accept plugs of another. However, when you find out that the country you are going to has the same type of outlet as at home, do not rush to rejoice! This is a solution to only half of the problem. The voltage and frequency of the current may vary in different parts of the world.
Classification of types of sockets and plugs in different countries of the world
The most common are two standards: European - 220-240 V at 50 Hz and American - 100-127 V at 60 Hz. You should not check what will happen if an electrical appliance operating from 100-127 V is plugged into an outlet with 220-240 V.
In some countries, one should be on the alert at all. For example, in most parts of Brazil, 127 V is used, but in the north of the country 220 V. And in Japan the voltage is the same everywhere - 110 V, the frequency is different: in the east, 50 Hz is used, in the west - 60 Hz. The reason is simple: first, German-made generators with a frequency of 50 Hz were purchased for Tokyo, and soon after that, American ones with a frequency of 60 Hz were supplied in Osaka.
Perhaps someday a single standard will be adopted. A universal socket for all types of plugs has already been developed. But for now it is up to everyone to establish it or not. In addition, you first need to come to a single voltage standard. And this comes up against huge financial costs for re-equipment and re-equipment of transformer substations, replacement of sockets and plugs. 
Something about sockets and their use from my own experience
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 should also be borne in mind that each country has a special 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 like to travel. Some, making repairs in an apartment or house, deliberately install sockets of the standard of other countries. One of these is the American socket. It has its own characteristics, disadvantages and advantages. Today, there are only 13 outlet and plug standards that are used around the world. Let's consider some of them.
Two standards for frequency and voltage
It would seem, why are so many standards and types of electrical elements needed? But it should be borne in mind that there are different voltage standards in the network. Many do not know that in the household electrical network of North American countries, not traditional 220 V, as in Russia and the CIS, are used, but 120 V. But this was not always the case. Until the 60s, household voltage throughout the Soviet Union was 127 volts. Many will ask why this is so. As you know, the amount of consumed electrical energy is constantly growing. Previously, apart from light bulbs in apartments and houses, there were simply no other consumers.
Everything that each of us plugs into an outlet every day - computers, televisions, microwave ovens, boilers - did not exist then and appeared much later. When the power rises, the voltage must be increased. A larger current entails overheating of the wires, and with them certain losses for this heating. This is serious. In order to avoid these unnecessary losses of precious energy, it was necessary to increase the wire size. But it is very difficult, time-consuming and expensive. Therefore, it was decided to increase the voltage in the networks.
Times of Edison and Tesla
Edison was a supporter direct current... He believed that just such a current is convenient for work. Tesla believed in the benefits of variable frequency. Eventually the two scientists began to practically go to war with each other. By the way, this war ended only in 2007, when the United States switched to alternating current in household networks. But back to Edison. He created the production of incandescent light bulbs with carbon filament. The voltage for optimal operation of these lamps was 100 V. He added another 10 V for losses in conductors and at his power plants took 110 V as an 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 the electric networks were created in such a way that two phases and "neutral" were connected to the 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, and more powerful ones were transferred to line voltages.
60 Hz
This is completely Tesla's merit. It 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 optimal frequency - the opponent insisted on choosing one of the frequencies in the range from 25 to 133 Hz, however Tesla stood firm on his idea and the 60 Hz figure fit into the system as much as possible.
Benefits
Among the advantages of such a frequency, one can single out lower costs in the process of manufacturing an electromagnetic system for transformers and generators. Therefore, the equipment for this frequency has much less dimensions and weight. By the way, the lamps practically do not flicker. The American outlet in the States is much better suited for powering computers and other appliances that require good power.
Sockets and standards
There are two main standards for frequency and voltage in the world.
One of them is American. This voltage is 110-127 V at a frequency of 60 Hz. And as a plug and socket, standard A and B are used. The second type is European. Here the voltage is 220-240 V, the frequency is 50 Hz. The European socket is predominantly S-M.
Type A
These species are widespread only in North 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 slightly different. And the fork to her, respectively, too. Here one post is wider than the other. This is done taking into account the fact that the correct polarity is always observed when connecting electrical appliances. After all, earlier 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 connect these elements the other way around (if american plug) will not work. You need a suitable plug adapter. But usually people just file the wide post.
Type B
These types of devices are used only in Canada, USA and Japan. And if devices of type "A" were intended for low-power equipment, then such sockets include mainly powerful appliances with consumption currents 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 US, only "B" is used. But in old buildings you can still find an old American socket. There is no contact in it responsible for connecting the ground. In addition, the US industry has long been producing devices with modern plugs. But this does not prevent the use of new electrical appliances in old houses. In this case, resourceful Americans simply cut down or destroy the grounding contact so that it does not interfere and it can be connected to an old-style outlet.
About appearance and differences
Those who bought an iPhone from the United States know very well what an American outlet looks like. It has its own characteristics. The socket consists of two flat holes or slots. In devices of the new type, there is 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 they left everything the same in the new outlets. The pins on the plug are not prongs like a European plug. These are rather 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 are faced with a problem - the socket does not fit the plug. So what can you do? You can replace the cord with a standard European one, but this is not an option for everyone. For those who are not versed in technology and have never held a soldering iron in their hands, it is recommended to purchase an adapter for an outlet. There are quite a few of them - they are all different in quality and price. If you are planning a trip to the United States, 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 borne in mind that even in US hotels, all outlets are under 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 do not want to solder, you can purchase an inexpensive Chinese-made adapter and fully use electrical appliances, charge your phone or tablet on a non-standard outlet. There are no other options here.
Summary
They say that one cannot understand Russia with the mind, but in the United States, too, everything is not so simple. You can't just come 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.
Sockets in the US are so different from Russian sockets that without an adapter (adapter), you will not be able to use American sockets. When setting off, it is important to take into account the peculiarities of American outlets - you can in advance or ask the hotel what sockets 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 report that due to outlets in the United States, their hair dryer does not work as powerful or the phone charges more slowly.
What are the sockets in the USA
The most important thing that a tourist needs to know is that the outlets in the USA are different, not like in Russia. They are very different, and it will not be possible to insert a domestic plug into them. Many have seen in Hollywood movies what the US outlet looks like, but let's refresh our memory:
As you can see, the sockets in the USA are completely different, not like in Russia, Ukraine, or Europe. They differ in that it is impossible to insert a standard Russian plug into them. Instead of the standard rounded slots, two rectangular holes are used. It is already clear what the sockets look like in the USA, but if the outlet is different, then the plug is different? Yes, the US plug looks different too, check out 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 in America sockets
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 United States. Volts, they are also voltage, in the American power grid differ from Russian ones. But the principle of grounding does not differ. There are grounded outlets and the ground looks the same as in European outlets. 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 in detail specifications devices - possibly existing devices will work. But there is also a technique that is highly dependent on voltage and can fail.
Can I 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 are planning to move to the United States for a long period of time, then it is better to buy all household appliances immediately upon arrival. In total, it can turn out to be expensive, but you can always find budget models. Another plus is that you don't have to carry 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:
So you will find out all the requirements for the electrical network and be able to understand whether the equipment will burn out and deteriorate. It is important to understand that domestic equipment in 99% of cases will not burn out with insufficient voltage, only it will not function normally. But American equipment in Russia, on the contrary, is likely to burn out, since American equipment, which is not designed for the international market, is designed for low voltage.
For example, you can use a hairdryer from Russia only at full speed, while the device will blow as if it were turned on in the weakest mode. The same applies to ironing and other equipment. Imagine as if your technique 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 it will take several times longer to charge the device than in Russia. In case of mobile phone, we recommend buying a new one charger... The charging speed depends on it, and not on your smartphone.
Adapter and plug for American socket
Using a special adapter, you can easily connect any device. But you need to take care of its acquisition in advance - you are unlikely to want to walk the streets of an unfamiliar city in search of suitable adapter for the outlet. An adapter for an American outlet looks like this and you can:
Many hotels provide guests with such devices, but this option is not available in all hotels. And most importantly, it is often necessary to simultaneously recharge the 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. In the assembled version it takes up a minimum of space.
Here are all the supported connectors:
It costs 3-5 dollars, delivered to Russia free of charge, came to me 19 days after payment. You can buy at.
In addition, if you want to charge your phone, then it is better to buy not an adapter for an outlet, but USB adapterwith which you will charge the phone. For example, you can buy a similar one:
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 from the air shop when you fly on.
If you postpone this question until a trip 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 adapters for American sockets:
Adapter for english socket - the most necessary thing in England! Money, reservations, documents - it's all clear. This is a must on any journey. As for the UK, you will definitely need adapter for english socket... Their sockets are absolutely incompatible with ours and with the so-called "euro" 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 store of radio goods, you can find a whole set adapters, neatly arranged in a beautiful, convenient box at a price of 150 rubles. If suddenly you didn't have them in the 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 Electrical Voltage compatible with our electrical appliances and sucks 230 Volts at 50 Hertz.
English socket adapter in a handy box
This is what the adapter itself looks like
The whole set
This is how it works
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