Type C Plug and Socket: The Definitive Guide (2022) (2024)

Popularly known as the Europlug, the Type C plug is a 2 pin unearthed plug used throughout continental Europe, parts of the Middle East, and much of Africa, South America, Central Asia, and the former Soviet republics.

Type C Plug and Socket: The Definitive Guide (2022) (1)

Table of Contents

1 What Type of plug is a Type C plug?
2 Type C plug features
3 What countries use Type C plug?
4 Electricity Type C plug certificate
5 What about Type C sockets?

What Type of plug is a Type C plug?

Type C plug is the most widely used plug internationally. This two-wire plug is ungrounded, unpolarised, and has two round prongs. It is popularly known as the Europlug which is described in CEE 7/16. The electrical plug has two 4 mm round pins, measuring 19 mm in length on centers spaced 18.6 mm apart at the base and 17.5 mm apart at the tip.

The two pins have 10 mm long insulated sleeves. They converge slightly, but they are relatively flexible, allowing the plug to mate with any socket that accepts 4.0 – 4.8 mm round contacts on 17.5 – 19 mm centers. The plug is generally limited for class II applications requiring 2.5 amps or less.

Type C Plug and Socket: The Definitive Guide (2022) (2)

There is also a second, less frequently used version of the Type C plug (CEE 7/17), which is rated at either 10 A or 16 A. Its pins have the same length (19 mm) as the 2.5 amp version, but they are not insulated and have a slightly larger diameter (4.8 mm instead of 4 mm). Appliances that do not require earthing but are high energy-consuming are almost always fitted with this kind of plug (e.g. hairdryers, bathroom heaters, vacuum cleaners, etc.).

Please note that type N sockets, which are used in Brazil and South Africa, are incompatible with the 16 amp version of type C because of the shape of the plug. Type N sockets are recessed and hexagonally shaped and only accept hexagonally-shaped plugs.

Type C Plug and Socket: The Definitive Guide (2022) (3)

Type C plug features

The Type C plug is the CEE 7/16 (Europlug 2.5 A/250 V unearthed). A similar plug with slightly larger pins is known as the CEE 7/17. Both types are unearthed and have two round pins which converge slightly. The CEE 7/16 is intended for devices that require 2.5 A or less. The 19 mm separation of the pins and the pins’ 4 mm length allows safe insertion in most Type C, Type E, Type F, Type H, and some Type L outlets.

The larger CEE 7/17 has a round plastic or rubber base that prevents it from being inserted into small sockets. The base has holes to accommodate the side contacts and socket earth pins.

What countries use Type C plug?

Type C plug is commonly used in all countries of Europe except in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Malta, and Cyprus. They are also used in various parts of the developing world.

Albania

Algeria

Angola

Argentina

Austria

Azores

Balearic Islands

Bangladesh

Belgium

Bolivia

Bosnia

Brazil

Bulgaria

Burkina Faso

Burundi

Cameroon

Canary Islands

Cape Verde

The central African Republic

Channel Islands

Electricity Type C plug certificate

INMETRO and CSA agency approvals and certifications are available on the product specification page, IEC Type C Plug.

We have made a very detailed graphic introduction in the article safety marks for more information about the safety certification of power cord plugs.

What about Type C sockets?

Although type C plugs are used in so many places worldwide, the opposite is true for type C sockets. This socket is the older and ungrounded variant of Type E, F, J, K, L, N, and O socket. Nowadays, most countries demand grounded sockets to be installed in new buildings.

Since type C sockets are unearthed, they have become illegal almost everywhere, and they are being replaced by type E, F, H, J, K, L, N, or O (depending on the country). To leave no doubt: only the sockets have become illegal, the plugs remain in use, of course. The ‘normal’, 2.5 amp type C plug fits perfectly into a type E, F, H, J, K, L, N, or O socket.

Now It’s Your Turn

So that’s how I understand Type C plug and socket.

Now I want to turn it over to you: Through my article, do you understand Type C Plugs and Sockets (Outlets)?

Do you have a different point of view with the power plug type C? Or any other questions?

Let me know by leaving a quick comment below right now.

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