What types of sockets are there?
If you have decided to go on a vacation or on a business trip, you cant forget some equipment that is a must. For example, plugging in a laptop or charger at a hotel is a standard you simply count on. But before you go to some countries you need to look up some information, For example, if there are classic sockets that you can find in Czech or if you will need an adapter so that you can plug in all your devices without a problem.
Among the most common types that you can meet, for example, in very popular destinations, where Czechs like to go on holidays such as Croatia, Spain or Greece, are sockets type E, F and C.
Type E socket
In the Czech Republic, we most often have single-phase sockets with a voltage of 230 V. This is a classic socket, where you will find the left and right hollow and a grounding pin in the upper part. This type of socket can also be called a French socket. We can see this type of socket in the Czech Republic, France, Belgium, Slovakia or Poland. So you can relax if you go to these countries. You don't need any reduction here.
Type F socket
Another very known socket is a type F socket. You can hear about it under the name German socket or Schuko. This socket does not have a grounding pin, instead, there are two grounding strips. They are on the top and bottom. As you can already tell, this socket is used in Germany but also in some parts of Africa and Asia. Here you need to find information about the socket and buy an adapter if you need one.
Type C socket
This socket is known as a Euro plug. It is used for devices that have double insulation and do not require a ground wire. This type of socket is compatible with type E and F sockets.
Other types of sockets
The previous 3 types of sockets are the most common ones that we can find in foreign countries. However, there are other non-traditional pieces that you can also come across during your travel.
Type J socket
You can come across this socket in Switzerland. It is similar to a type C socket. However, there is one significant difference. It has 3 pins. The middle one is then connected to the ground wire.
Type L socket
If you go to Italy, you may encounter different types of sockets. It depends on the specific place. You can either see a type C or F socket here. However, there is another type that is not so common. And that is the type L socket. It has three pins in one row. They can even be in two versions.
Type K socket
Denmark is definitely a beautiful country worth visiting. However, even here you can find other sockets than the ones that we are used to. This is a type K socket. Here you can see three pins. Two of them are round and one is semicircular. These sockets are compatible with type C sockets.
Type G socket
Well-known is also a type G socket. This can be seen in Great Britain, for which it is already typical. It has a rectangular cross-section and three pins. We can also hear about it in connection with the so-called British standard BS 1363. However, the United Kingdom is not the only country where these sockets are used. We can also find them in Seychelles, Maldives and other popular destinations.
Type A and B sockets
If you are going to Japan or the USA, you should be careful. Here, the electricity network is built completely differently than in European countries. The normal voltage in the USA is not 230 V, as we are used to here, but 110 to 120 V. So if your devices are not adapted for this type of voltage, you have a problem. For most devices such as chargers or laptops, this is not a problem. However, for the others, it is necessary to find out.
In some countries, such as Thailand, which is also a popular holiday destination, we can come across various types of sockets. So it is always necessary to find out in advance which ones you will find in your accommodation.
Depending on the place you will visit, maybe you will need to get a suitable adapter. However, some adapters are often not available in regular stores. Therefore, find out about the sockets in advance so that you have them obtained and ready in time.
Paulina