Schuko
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"Schuko" (IPA: /'ʃuko/) is the common colloquial name for a system of domestic power plugs and sockets that is also known as "Type F" or "CEE 7/4". A Schuko plug features two round pins of 4.8 mm diameter (19 mm long, centers 19 mm apart) for the live and neutral contacts, plus two flat contact areas on the top and bottom side of the plug for protective earth (ground). Schuko sockets form a cavity into which the socket is inserted. A pair of non-conductive guiding notches on the left and right side provides extra stability, enabling the safe use of large and heavy plugs (e.g. with built-in transformers or timers). Schuko plugs and sockets are symmetric AC connectors. They can be mated in two ways, therefore live and neutral can arrive on either pin at the consuming device. As with most types of European sockets, Schuko sockets can accept europlugs.
"Schuko" is a short form of the German term Schutzkontakt (literally: protective contact), which simply indicates that plug and socket are equipped with protective-earth contacts (in the form of clips rather than pins). Schuko connectors are normally used on circuits with 230 V, 50 Hz, for currents up to 16 A.
The Schuko system originated in Germany and is used today in more than 40 countries, including most of Continental and Eastern Europe. France and Belgium use a type of plug and socket with the same size and spacing of the main pins but with a male protective-earth pin on the socket instead of the eath clips and without the guideing notches at the sides. Most modern moulded Schuko plugs are a hybrid version with an extra hole ("CEE 7/7") that also accommodates the earth pin of French sockets.
The Russian standard plug defined in GOST 7396 is similar but has 4 mm pins. Therefore, Russian plugs will fit normal Schuko outlets, but normal Schuko plugs will not fit Russian outlets.
Safety features
When inserted into the socket, the Schuko plug covers the socket cavity and establishes protective-earth connection before the live and neutral pins establish contact, thereby preventing users from touching connected pins. Therefore, the Schuko system does not require partially insulated pins, as they are used in the europlug, as well as the British and Australian plugs. While Schuko plugs are considered a very safe design when used with Schuko sockets, they can be inserted into many two-pin unearthed sockets and into some sockets with a different form of earth connection that will not mate with the earth contacts on the schuko plug (e.g., some variants of type L). Many such sockets lack the cavity required to prevent users touching the pins whilst inserting the plug.
References
- See Domestic AC power plugs and sockets for comparison with other plugs and sockets.
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