Euro Plugs and Euro Policy

The Geo-Politics of European Electrical Plugs

In our travels, we are always trying to sort out the right adaptor to plug our NZ electrical appliances into a European wall socket.  We have multiple adaptors, single adaptors, variable adaptors and still often fail to have the correct one to hand.  Naively thinking this was a foreign traveller problem we have discovered it is a local problem as well and local hardware and appliance shops supply various adaptors for local residents many of whom are equally confused.

Why is this so when we have a unified Europe, a common power supply 240v 50Hz and common electrical standards. A single means of connecting your electrical appliance would be a logical conclusion to this.  

Not so, officially according to authoritative websites like WorldStandards.eu , https://world-power-plugs.com/ Power-Plug-Sockets.com (yes these sites exist) there are 6 or 7 different plugs and sockets and we can confirm there are more than that in use.

No doubt the bureaucracy in Brussels thought they were on to a good thing when they specified 2 types of plug for Europe. Of course, all member states were going to comply with regulations and standards from Head Office.

The Europlug, also known as type C is a 2 pin plug that was carefully specified as to dimension, voltage, and maximum currents but with no corresponding socket specified for it to fit into.

The Schuko plug (type F) is of German origin and is as you would expect is a proper no-nonsense device designed for practicality and can be used safely up to 16A.  A corresponding socket has also been specified which both fits this plug and fortunately also accommodates the Euro Plug.

There you have it, problem solved!! all appliances in the EU are now sold with one of these 2 options on the power cable and you can just buy them, bring them home plug them in and enjoy your new purchase.

The practical realities are somewhat different, 

The French, of course, have a slightly different wall socket (type E) but because the Germans have consistently managed to outthink the French the Schuko and the Euro plug will both fit this without an adaptor.

However, in Italy when you return home with your new appliance, with your European standard plug, then in the typical Italian fashion it will not plug into any socket in the house. Local power points are either 3 round pins (type L) of 2 different sizes and current capacity. Or 2 pins looking like a Schuko but different so it’s back to the appliance store for an adapter.  For the record, the smaller type L round pin plugs are supposed to plug into the larger sockets but like Fiat electrical systems of old the results are variable at best. The minimum purchase is 3 adaptors of varying combinations.

Some more modern houses have a single Schuko outlet in the kitchen for a Microwave or similar, not so helpful for the new fan in the living room. The next thing is picking up an extension cord from the supermarket to run the fan in the living room – not possible as they don’t sell them.  

Off to the hardware store only to discover that extension cords don’t really exist as there are too many combinations of plug and socket so you need to make your own.  Suitably informed you choose what looks like the correct components, return home, and carefully put it all together only to discover the Schuko like socket you purchased and fitted to your extension cord is not in fact a current model so will not fit the fan.  

Of course, you then think you will use your new fan in the boatyard to help ventilate the engine room as it is a warm 35 degrees with no wind and those alternator belts just have to be changed. No problem will just plug it into the now sorted extension cord only to find we now need an adaptor from a 16A Rayrol plug to a Schuko. All industrial power supplies and extension leads use Rayrol 3 pin plugs pretty much universally in the EU. Quick-to-solve the problem we ask the boatyard guys if we can borrow one who after much searching have 3 other types of adaptor to other Italian plugs but no one has a  Schuko one as they have all changed the plugs on their tools to one of the Italian options.

In Malta, the standard wall socket is the same as UK (type G) but once again the appliances in the shop are all to the Euro standard as this is an essential part of being in the EU.  Remember Malta is an island, has been populated for 5000 years, ruled by the Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Carthaginians, Moors, French, Knights Templar, and the English as well as resisting the Ottomans with the glorious victory in 1535. There are only 420,000 of them, mostly of Sicilian extraction, they have the George Cross, speak the only Arabic language written in Latin script, and can survive anything.

They have a twofold solution – sometimes a local cottage industry merely cuts off the Euro plug and fits a UK plug to the appliance before you purchase it.

The second option is more enlightened as the Maltese are able to fit a round peg into a square hole – with judicious application and some force it is possible to fit both a Schuko and a Euro plug into a UK wall socket.  The socket does always survive the encounter and who needs an earth pin anyway!

In the UK, who were at best grudging Euro standards members, they retained the £ and the UK type G plug, and all their appliances come manufactured with the correct plug fitted for domestic consumption only.  Obviously, Brexit was always going to happen as they never really wanted to properly join in.

Montenegro, on the other hand, who regard themselves as suitable candidates to join the EU have been very keen to adopt EU standards so the Schuko and the Europlug rule.  They have also unilaterally adopted the Euro as their currency and can’t understand why they have not ascended to membership. Perhaps when they read the fine print about free and fair elections it may become more apparent.