Editing AC power plugs and sockets (section)

==== Australian/New Zealand standard AS/NZS 3112 ====
{{Main|AS/NZS 3112}}
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File:Australian Dual Socket Outlet.jpg|Australasian switched three-pin (10&nbsp;A) dual socket outlet, the most commonly found variant
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File:Aust AC plug.jpg|Standard Australian 10&nbsp;A power plug with insulated pins
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File:Australian mains socket styles for different current ratings.jpg|10&nbsp;A, 15&nbsp;A, 20&nbsp;A, 25&nbsp;A, and 32&nbsp;A single-phase sockets. Each socket accepts plugs of equal or lesser current rating.
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This Australian/New Zealand standard is used in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga, Solomon Islands, and Papua New Guinea.<ref>AS/NZS&nbsp;3112:2004, ''Approval and test specification&nbsp;– Plugs and socket-outlets'', [[Standards Australia]] and Standards New Zealand</ref> The plug shape and basic dimensions are identical to the 10&nbsp;A plug used in Argentina. The Australasian standard defines a series of plugs and sockets for devices drawing up to 10, 15, 20, 25 and 32&nbsp;A that are one-way compatible. All sockets accept plugs of equal or lower current ratings, but not higher. For example, a 10&nbsp;A plug will fit all sockets but a 20&nbsp;A plug will fit only 20, 25 and 32&nbsp;A sockets.

In all plugs, the power pins are set at 30° to the vertical with a distance of {{convert|7.92|mm|in|3|abbr=on}} from their centres to the centre of the plug, while the earthing pin is placed below the plug centre at a distance of {{convert|10.31|mm|in|3|abbr=on}} – exactly the same dimensions as used by the Argentine 10&nbsp;A plug. The three flat pins all measure {{convert|6.35|by|1.63|mm|in|3|abbr=on}} – very slightly larger than in Argentina. The length of the power pins is {{convert|17.06|mm|in|3|abbr=on}}, while the earthing pin has a length of {{convert|19.94|mm|in|3|abbr=on}} – somewhat shorter than in Argentina.

In the 15&nbsp;A plug, the height of the earth pin is increased from 6.35 to {{convert|9.08|mm|in|3|abbr=on}}, while the dimensions of the power pins remain the same. In the 20&nbsp;A plug, however, their height is increased in the same way, so that the surface dimensions of the three pins are again identical. In the 25&nbsp;A version, the earthing pin takes the shape of an inverted L (an extra bar is added at the top end), and in the 32&nbsp;A version it takes the shape of a sideways U (extra bars are added at both ends).

In general, only 10&nbsp;A and 15&nbsp;A socket outlets are likely to be encountered in domestic or commercial installations. 20&nbsp;A sockets are rare and higher rated ones are very rare. An unearthed version of the 10&nbsp;A plug with two angled power pins but no earthing pin is used with double-insulated appliances, but sockets and higher-rated plugs always include an earth contact. In New Zealand, PDL&nbsp;940 "tap-on" or "piggy-back" plugs are available which allow a second 10&nbsp;A plug to be fitted to the rear of the plug. In Australia these piggy-back plugs are now available only on pre-made extension leads.

A novel feature of modern Australian socket outlets is a snap-fitting surround for the socket, covering the screws that affix the socket to the wall, and extending all the way around the socket periphery. Australia is unique in having electrical rules that stipulate that only licenced electricians may remove the socket from the wall, so the easily removed outer cover facilitates repainting the wall without exposing power and incurring the expense of engaging an electrician to remove and replace the sockets.

Australia's standard plug/socket system was originally codified as standard C112 (floated provisionally in 1937, and adopted as a formal standard in 1938), which was based on [[History of AC power plugs and sockets#American 125&nbsp;V, 15&nbsp;A / 250&nbsp;V, 10&nbsp;A "Australian" style|a design]] patented by [[Harvey Hubbell]] and was superseded by [[AS/NZS 3112|AS&nbsp;3112]] in 1990. The requirement for insulated pins was introduced in the 2004 revision.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mains Plug Insulated Pins: Australian Standards AS/NZS3112:2000 & AS/NZS3112:2004 |url=https://www.accesscomms.com.au/ref_insulated-pins/ |website=Access Communications Australia |access-date=29 March 2025}}</ref> The current version is ''AS/NZS&nbsp;3112:2017''.<ref>{{cite web |title=AS/NZS 3112:2017: Approval and test specification – Plugs and socket-outlets |url=https://www.standards.govt.nz/shop/asnzs-31122017 |website=Standards New Zealand |access-date=30 March 2025 |date=24 August 2017}}</ref>