ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade Non-US Electrical Systems & Trades Recessed socket outlets - but clean and no dust!

The Schuko design has been patented in 1926.
Discussions in the 80s made clear that it would not last forever and as a result http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IEC_60906-1 was proposed.

It is much smaller although it can as well carry 3600W.

Today I'm not sure whether this new plug will really be introduced. I believe that sooner or later a fourth contact will appear, something one could call "Function Earth" to distinguish it from "Protective Earth". It will carry all this current caused by filtering and smoothing of the sinus wave, which today misuses the PE path and causes many problems.