Euro Grounding Plug Question

[Gibbo]

I just picked up a Euro style plug (continental) at the local parts
shoppe. Its a two round prong plus side grounding contacts at top and
bottom. Upon closer inspection, it also appears to have a socket at the
12 o'clock position that will accept a mating (round) ground pin in a
receptacle so equipped.

I've seen two hole receptacles. I've also seen the ones with the recess
and the side ground contact. Where to they hace a recepacle with two
holes (at 3 and 9 o'clock) for hot and neutral and a pin at 12 for
ground? Since there is only one pin, this could suggest that the
plug/receptacle may be polarized. If so, which side of the receptacle
(looking into the receptacle) would be neutral and which hot? In
countries that use the side grounding contacts, I understand that there
is no defined polarization. Correct?

The brand name on the plug is Legrand.

I may burn in hell for this, but I'm goint over to that side of the pond
and I'm making my own adapter from a USA 3-way extension cord head and
this plug.

Sounds like what is called a Shukko (spelling?).

Looking at the socket, with the earth pin at the top, live is on the
right, neutral on the left.

The earth pin is in the socket. The live and neutral pins are on the
plug. Is that what you have there?

 

[Joerg]

Paul Hovnanian P.E. wrote:

I just picked up a Euro style plug (continental) at the local parts
shoppe. Its a two round prong plus side grounding contacts at top and
bottom. Upon closer inspection, it also appears to have a socket at the
12 o'clock position that will accept a mating (round) ground pin in a
receptacle so equipped.

I've seen two hole receptacles. I've also seen the ones with the recess
and the side ground contact. Where to they hace a recepacle with two
holes (at 3 and 9 o'clock) for hot and neutral and a pin at 12 for
ground? Since there is only one pin, this could suggest that the
plug/receptacle may be polarized. If so, which side of the receptacle
(looking into the receptacle) would be neutral and which hot? In
countries that use the side grounding contacts, I understand that there
is no defined polarization. Correct?

The brand name on the plug is Legrand.

I may burn in hell for this, but I'm goint over to that side of the pond
and I'm making my own adapter from a USA 3-way extension cord head and
this plug.

This has the country lists for either. It's in German but just scroll down:
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schuko

So countries where your kludge most likely will not work would be the UK
and Ireland (they got some really weird monster plugs), Denmark, Italy
and Switzerland.

As for polarity I don't know, I lived mostly in countries with the
external contacts so no polarity there.

And don't forget to turn stuff to 230V. I once did with a razor. Phssst
.... BANG.

 

[Paul Hovnanian P.E.]

I just picked up a Euro style plug (continental) at the local parts
shoppe. Its a two round prong plus side grounding contacts at top and
bottom. Upon closer inspection, it also appears to have a socket at the
12 o'clock position that will accept a mating (round) ground pin in a
receptacle so equipped.

I've seen two hole receptacles. I've also seen the ones with the recess
and the side ground contact. Where to they hace a recepacle with two
holes (at 3 and 9 o'clock) for hot and neutral and a pin at 12 for
ground? Since there is only one pin, this could suggest that the
plug/receptacle may be polarized. If so, which side of the receptacle
(looking into the receptacle) would be neutral and which hot? In
countries that use the side grounding contacts, I understand that there
is no defined polarization. Correct?

The brand name on the plug is Legrand.

I may burn in hell for this, but I'm goint over to that side of the pond
and I'm making my own adapter from a USA 3-way extension cord head and
this plug.

 

[John B]

Paul Hovnanian P.E. wrote:



This has the country lists for either. It's in German but just scroll
down: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schuko

So countries where your kludge most likely will not work would be the
UK and Ireland (they got some really weird monster plugs), Denmark,
Italy and Switzerland.

As for polarity I don't know, I lived mostly in countries with the
external contacts so no polarity there.

And don't forget to turn stuff to 230V. I once did with a razor.
Phssst ... BANG.

You'll find the English language version here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schuko

 

[Joerg]

Sounds like what is called a Shukko (spelling?).

It's Schuko, short form for Schutzkontakt (protection contact).

Looking at the socket, with the earth pin at the top, live is on the
right, neutral on the left.

The earth pin is in the socket. The live and neutral pins are on the
plug. Is that what you have there?

In Germany and other countries there isn't much of a convention which
side is hot because you can plug them in either way.

 

[Eeyore]

I just picked up a Euro style plug (continental) at the local parts
shoppe. Its a two round prong plus side grounding contacts at top and
bottom. Upon closer inspection, it also appears to have a socket at the
12 o'clock position that will accept a mating (round) ground pin in a
receptacle so equipped.

I've seen two hole receptacles. I've also seen the ones with the recess
and the side ground contact. Where to they hace a recepacle with two
holes (at 3 and 9 o'clock) for hot and neutral and a pin at 12 for
ground? Since there is only one pin, this could suggest that the
plug/receptacle may be polarized. If so, which side of the receptacle
(looking into the receptacle) would be neutral and which hot? In
countries that use the side grounding contacts, I understand that there
is no defined polarization. Correct?

The brand name on the plug is Legrand.

I may burn in hell for this, but I'm goint over to that side of the pond
and I'm making my own adapter from a USA 3-way extension cord head and
this plug.

Bear in mind that there is not really any such thing as a Euro plug. The one you
have (probably a Schuko type E/F hybrid ) is a compromise that will work in many
instances, especially in Germany and France, though.

You need to check what it is you'll be plugging into wherever it is you're
going.

Some European countries do not have earthed sockets widely available either AIUI
(Denmark ? for example perhaps).

I suggest you read.....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europlug
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schuko
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestic_AC_power_plugs_and_sockets

Graham

 

[Tam/WB2TT]

It's Schuko, short form for Schutzkontakt (protection contact).



In Germany and other countries there isn't much of a convention which side
is hot because you can plug them in either way.

Am I missing something - aren't both sides hot? In the US, the only way you
can tell the diffference in a 240V plug between the red and black wires
would require a clock that is accurate to better than 4 milliseconds
absolute.

Tam

 

[Eeyore]

Am I missing something
Yes.

- aren't both sides hot?
No.

In the US, the only way you
can tell the diffference in a 240V plug between the red and black wires
would require a clock that is accurate to better than 4 milliseconds
absolute.

In Europe, domestic, office and very light industrial power is distributed as
230V single phase with the neutral conductor potential close to ground. There is
no centre tapped 240V as you have.

Graham

 

[Paul Hovnanian P.E.]

[snip]

Sounds like what is called a Shukko (spelling?).

Looking at the socket, with the earth pin at the top, live is on the
right, neutral on the left.

The earth pin is in the socket. The live and neutral pins are on the
plug. Is that what you have there?

Yes.

 

[Paul Hovnanian P.E.]

It's Schuko, short form for Schutzkontakt (protection contact).


In Germany and other countries there isn't much of a convention which
side is hot because you can plug them in either way.

Germany must use the recessed socket with a side ground contact, so the
plug (with top and bottom side contacts) can be flipped and hot and
neutral are reversible. Wherever they use the 'Schuko' (as described
above), I don't think the plug could be reversed. If the neutral is at 9
o'clock, hot is at 3 o'clock and ground is a pin at 12, the plug would
not be capable of reversal.

 

[Paul Hovnanian P.E.]

[snip]

You'll find the English language version here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schuko

From this description, the Schuko is the reversible plug/socket with
side ground contacts and must be non-polarized. What I have is a hybrid
Schuko/French plug (bottom photo).

 

[Paul Hovnanian P.E.]

[snip]

This has the country lists for either. It's in German but just scroll down:
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schuko

So countries where your kludge most likely will not work would be the UK
and Ireland (they got some really weird monster plugs), Denmark, Italy
and Switzerland.

I have a multi-way (British, Continental, US, Australian) input/output
plug adapter. But it only handles one plug, so I'm making a short
extension cord with a triple receptacle head to accomodate my entire
menagerie of gizmos.

As for polarity I don't know, I lived mostly in countries with the
external contacts so no polarity there.

And don't forget to turn stuff to 230V. I once did with a razor. Phssst
... BANG.

Everything I have has a SMPS with a 100-240V range, no switching
required.

 

[Robert Latest]

Germany must use the recessed socket with a side ground contact, so the
plug (with top and bottom side contacts) can be flipped and hot and
neutral are reversible.

This is the Schuko (Schutzkontakt, = protection (ground) contact).

Wherever they use the 'Schuko' (as described
above), I don't think the plug could be reversed.

Of course it can. It can't be reversed with the outlets that have the ground
sticking out at 12 o'clock (possibly French), but those aren't called
Schuko. Virtually all modern Schuko plugs have that extra receptacle,
though, because it's compatible with the Schuko geometry.

robert

 

[Jan Panteltje]

In Europe, domestic, office and very light industrial power is distributed as
230V single phase with the neutral conductor potential close to ground. There is
no centre tapped 240V as you have.

Graham

Well, eh, in old Amsterdam, you know, it once was 2 phases (both live) with 220V beteen these.
I found out the hard way....
It would not surpize me if still some old parts of the city were like that.
Do not assume.

 

[OBones]

The brand name on the plug is Legrand.

Hint: Legrand is (or used to be) a French company.

In France, the wall mounted plugs have two holes for live and neutral
and a prong for earth.
As to which side is neutral and which is hot, well, there must be a
"standard" somewhere but NEVER trust it. All devices here are designed
to cope with wichever way the wall mounted plug is wired.

 

[Ken]

Hint: Legrand is (or used to be) a French company.

In France, the wall mounted plugs have two holes for live and neutral
and a prong for earth.
As to which side is neutral and which is hot, well, there must be a
"standard" somewhere but NEVER trust it. All devices here are designed
to cope with wichever way the wall mounted plug is wired.

http://www.global-electron.com/plugs/E.htm

 

[John B]

http://www.global-electron.com/plugs/E.htm

I see from the link above that the plug is rated at 16A. I don't think
I would stand too close when it is carrying that much current. Give me
a CeeForm 16A plug any day.

 

[Fred Bartoli]

John B a écrit :

I see from the link above that the plug is rated at 16A. I don't think
I would stand too close when it is carrying that much current.

LOL!
We live a dangerous live here, ain't we?

 

[Eeyore]

I see from the link above that the plug is rated at 16A. I don't think
I would stand too close when it is carrying that much current. Give me
a CeeForm 16A plug any day.

Hey, it's got bigger pins than a US plug.

Graham

 

[[email protected]]

Bear in mind that there is not really any such thing as a Euro plug. The one you
have (probably a Schuko type E/F hybrid ) is a compromise that will work in many
instances, especially in Germany and France, though.

You need to check what it is you'll be plugging into wherever it is you're
going.

Some European countries do not have earthed sockets widely available either AIUI
(Denmark ? for example perhaps).

I believe since the early 90's everything new is made with earth.
Our plugs look like the french but with three prongs, so a schuco plug
will fit a danish socket but won't get earthed.
A danish plug with earth won't fit in a socket without earth (unless
you saw off the extra prong which I'm sure happens alot )

-Lasse