Yeah italy's system's actually quite different from anything elsewhere. There are 2 different ratings for plugs and sockets.

10A have thin pins in the same spacing as a Europlug with the centre earth pin.

16A have thicker pins spaced further apart than a Europlug. You cannot insert a 16A plug into a 10A outlet but you can insert a 10A plug into either outlet.


Italian 16A plug
Pins diameter: 5mm spaced 26mm apart.

[Linked Image from andronio.it]

Italian 10A plug
Pins spaced 19mm apart 4mm diameter

[Linked Image from andronio.it]

For comparison: A CEE 7/7 plug (note the pins are spaced just like an italian 10A plug but are too fat to fit into an italian 10A socket and too close together to fit into a 16A socket) (not necessarily a bad thing as it prevents schuko plugs being used without a ground connection in italy!)

[Linked Image from andronio.it]

Finally: an open rewirable italian 16A plug. note the pins are quite a bit thicker than schuko.

[Linked Image from audiokit.it]



[This message has been edited by djk (edited 10-30-2003).]