ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade Non-US Electrical Systems & Trades Color codes again

Paydirt. Thanks, Paul and C-H.

If CENELEC doesn't do something about recognising the national plugs they should issue standards governing the adaptors and converter plugs.

There are just way too many exceptionally badly made ones.

I've seen quite a few that don't come near to conformity with BS1363
Unsheilded phase pins
no fuse!!!


As for the French plug/socket system given the fact that CEE 7/7 includes the connector for the earth pin in the sockets I would pretty much consider Schuko and the French system as interchangable as no modern plugs will be manufactured to exclusively fit either system.

Actually on the French system, anyone else notice that those outlets REALLY hold onto the plug sometimes.

Have found some french plugs rather difficult to remove.. not sure why.

On the russian thing I think GOST updated standards to come into line with CEE 7/7 as 16 amps is a much more practical standard. Some old Russian sockets won't necessarily take modern CEE 7/7 16amp plugs though. I get the impression that the old GOST standard is just a copy of the old 10amp schuko plugs which were rated 10amps..

So true! I've seen many of them. Italy adaptors seem to be better though. I've seen a lot of them in long-term use, and they seem to do well. Only weird thing: they have 16A pins, but are labeled: max. 1500W.


Only true for molded plugs. Rewireable 7/7 plugs are still really rare.
New receptacles that haven't been used much have a _really_ tight grip on the plug. I sometimes have to use brute force to get plugs out of certain receptacles. OTOH they'll never fall out accidentally.


You mean the old Russian plugs? I've never seen 10A Schuko plugs anywhere else.

That's very true of some of the old BS546 15A connectors as well. It the crumbling brickwork of some old buildings, you could just about pull the socket off the wall before the plug started to come out!

Well, it needed replacement anyway...