Trumpy that's a 10Amp Italian socket.

There is also a 16Amp version with fatter pins spaced further apart.

However, recessed schuko sockets with an extra ground receptical in the centre have started to appear. These happily accept the common 3 pin italian 10amp plug and normal Schuko 16A plugs.

Many appliences sold in italy ship with grounded schuko plugs or 16amp ungrounded contour plugs neither of which will fit the old-style italian 16amp socket.

It's quite likely that the italian system will disappear in the not too distant future.

Often the Italian 16Amp socket outlets won't accept the 10A plugs.. so the Italian version of Schuko makes more sense in terms of compatability around the house.

i.e. heavy appliences use schuko and small appliances use europlug / italian grounded plugs but you can still plug a small applience into any of the sockets.


[Linked Image from saietelettronica.it]

Italian Schuko socket (hard to see the earth receptical, but that is a receptical not a screw!)

[Linked Image from gima.it]
Italian Plug 10Amp

[Linked Image from summerinitaly.com]
16 or 10A italian socket accepts both pin diameters.

[Linked Image from gima.it]
Italian 16A plug

Oh and just to confuse people : there's a 10A un-grounded plug which looks identical to the usual 2.5A europlug but has 4mm pins! This is commonly found on items like Italian hairdryers, travel irons etc and will usually mate perfectly with a schuko or french socket. But jamming it into an older European 2 pin non grounded usually isn't possible as the pins are too fat.

[Linked Image from gima.it]

[This message has been edited by djk (edited 02-28-2005).]