DJK,

The words "China" and "electrical standards" put together make me laugh out loud.

I wonder if the American style two-pin plug is now technically obsolete in China whether all Class II appliances will be fitted with three-pin Australian plugs with a dummy earth pin.

Of course this will lead to even more kludges and use of shoddy adapters as people buy new Class II devices like radios, TV sets, record players, etc.

Here is a picture of a combination socket that accepts either American or European style two-pin plugs and Australian-style earthed plugs:

[Linked Image from kropla.com]

I also have a light-duty two-pin plug from China whose prongs can be rotated in order to fit American or Australian sockets. It's designed to be used with things like lamps.

The pins are fitted on rotating blade-holders on the plug face that allow them to be pivoted to adapt the thing to the proper configuration. Of course they can rotate either way so the plug is not technically polarized. You can pivot it either
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[This message has been edited by SvenNYC (edited 05-29-2003).]