Editing AC power plugs and sockets (section)

=== IEC 60906-1 (Type N) ===
{{Main|IEC 60906-1}}
[[File:IEC 60906-1 (type N ) socket.jpg|thumb|upright=.5|left|IEC 60906-1 (type&nbsp;N) socket]]
[[File:SANS 164-2 plug 05.jpg|thumb|Three-pin 16&nbsp;A plug conforming to South African Standard SANS&nbsp;164-2]]

In 1986, the International Electrotechnical Commission published IEC 60906-1, a specification for a plug and socket that look similar, but are not identical, to the Swiss plug and socket. This standard was intended to one day become common for all of Europe and other regions with 230&nbsp;V mains, but the effort to adopt it as a European Union standard was put on hold in the mid-1990s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iec.ch/worldplugs/history.htm |title=International standardization of electrical plugs and socket-outlets for domestic use |location=CH |publisher=[[International Electrotechnical Commission|IEC]] |access-date=20 May 2017 |archive-date=12 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180812205914/http://www.iec.ch/worldplugs/history.htm |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The plug and socket are rated 16&nbsp;A 250&nbsp;V&nbsp;AC and are intended for use only on systems having nominal voltages between 200&nbsp;V and 250&nbsp;V&nbsp;AC. The plug pins are 4.5&nbsp;mm in diameter, live and neutral are on centres 19&nbsp;mm apart. The earth pin is offset by 3.0&nbsp;mm. The live pin is on the right when looking at a socket with the earth pin offset up. Shutters over the live and neutral pins are mandatory.

The first country to have officially adopted the standard is [[South Africa]] (as [[SANS 164#SANS 164-2|SANS&nbsp;164-2]]).<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Crabtree |location=ZA |url=http://www.crabtree.co.za/modules_fe/layout1/displayFullNews.asp?newsID=19 |title=When Less is More... |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100706213636/http://www.crabtree.co.za/modules_fe/layout1/displayFullNews.asp?newsID=19 |archive-date=6 July 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |publisher=EE publishers |location=ZA |url=http://www.eepublishers.co.za/images/upload/04%20G%20IT%20-%20SANS.pdf |title=SANS 164 standards: a working group perspective |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320000042/http://www.eepublishers.co.za/images/upload/04%20G%20IT%20-%20SANS.pdf |archive-date=20 March 2012}}</ref> [[Paraguay]] has also adopted it as national standard (PNA-IEC 60906-1),<ref name=PNA-IEC-60906-1>{{cite web |title=PNA-IEC 60906-1 |url=https://erp.intn.gov.py/shop/product/pna-iec-60906-1-ctn-02-8224 |website=Instituto Nacional de Tecnología, Normalización y Metrología |access-date=24 March 2025 |language=es |date=November 2022}}</ref> but so far its application is voluntary,<ref>{{cite web |title=INTN presentó norma de los nuevos tomacorrientes que deberán utilizarse en Paraguay |url=https://amigocamionero.com.py/intn-presento-norma-de-los-nuevos-tomacorrientes-que-deberan-utilizarse-en-paraguay/ |website=Amigo Camionero |access-date=24 March 2025 |language=es |date=25 November 2022}}</ref> and {{As of|2025|03|lc=y}}, there is no indication that sockets of this type are commonly installed in the country.

[[Brazil]] developed a plug resembling IEC 60906-1 as the national standard under specification NBR&nbsp;14136.<ref name="ABNT"/> The NBR&nbsp;14136 standard has two versions, neither of which has pin dimensions or ratings complying with IEC 60906-1. Use at 127&nbsp;V is permitted by NBR&nbsp;14136, which is against the intention of IEC 60906-1.

==== South African standard SANS 164-2 ====
{{Main|SANS 164-2}}
[[File:SANS 164-2 sockets.jpg|thumb|upright=.85|South African SANS 164-2, quadruple socket]]

South Africa adopted IEC 60906-1 as its national standard, SANS&nbsp;164-2, in 1992. The standard specifies both a 2-pin unearthed and 3-pin earthed plug system, equivalent to IEC Type&nbsp;N. SANS&nbsp;164-2 was designated the "preferred standard" in 2013, and South Africa is in the process of transitioning to it as the dominant system, expected to be completed by 2025 to 2035.

The SANS&nbsp;164-2 system is compatible with the SANS&nbsp;164-5 Europlug, commonly used in the country. This transition aims to improve electrical safety and standardization, aligning South Africa with international plug and socket systems.

==== Brazilian standard NBR 14136 ====
{{See also|IEC 60906-1#Brazilian NBR 14136 standard}}
[[File:NBR 14136 plugs and outlet.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Two-pin charger, three-pin 10&nbsp;A plug and 10&nbsp;A socket-outlet conforming to Brazilian Standard NBR&nbsp;14136]]
[[File:Tomada_Brasileira_-_NBR_14136,_20A,_250V.jpg|thumb|upright=.85|Brazilian 20 ampere socket]]

Brazil, which had been using mostly Europlugs as well as NEMA&nbsp;1-15 and NEMA&nbsp;5-15 plugs, adopted a (non-compliant) variant of IEC 60906-1 as the national standard in 1998 under specification NBR&nbsp;14136 (revised in 2002).<ref name="ABNT">{{Citation |title=NBR 14136:2002&nbsp;– Plugues e tomadas para uso doméstico e análogo&nbsp;– Padronização |publisher=ABNT |trans-title=Plugs and socket-outlets for household use and similar purposes – Specification |language=pt |place=BR |year=2002}}</ref> These are used for both 220-volt and 127-volt regions of the country, despite the IEC 60906-2 recommendation that NEMA&nbsp;5-15 be used for 120&nbsp;V connections. There are two types of sockets and plugs in NBR&nbsp;14136: one for 10&nbsp;A, with a 4.0&nbsp;mm pin diameter, and another for 20&nbsp;A, with a 4.8&nbsp;mm pin diameter.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Projeto de redes |url=http://www.projetoderedes.com.br/artigos/artigo_norma_abnt_14136.php |title=Norma ABNT NBR 14136:2002 |language=pt |location=BR}}</ref> This differs from IEC&nbsp;60906-1 which specifies a pin diameter of 4.5&nbsp;mm and a rating of 16&nbsp;A. NBR&nbsp;14136 does not require shutters on the apertures, a further aspect of non-compliance with IEC 60906-1. NBR&nbsp;14136 was not enforced in that country until 2007, when its adoption was made optional for manufacturers. It became compulsory on 1 January 2010.

Few private houses in Brazil have an earthed supply, so even if a three-pin socket is present it is not safe to assume that all three terminals are actually connected. Most large domestic appliances were sold with the option to fit a flying earth tail to be locally earthed, but many consumers were unsure how to use this and so did not connect it. The new standard has an earth pin, which in theory eliminates the need for the flying earth tail.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.inmetro.gov.br/qualidade/pluguestomadas/perguntas.asp |title=Plugues e Tomadas |access-date=1 December 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305013445/http://www.inmetro.gov.br/qualidade/pluguestomadas/perguntas.asp |archive-date=5 March 2016}} Aquele fiozinho que tem pendurado atrás da minha geladeira, vai desaparecer?</ref>

Due to their smaller pin diameter, Brazilian plugs rated for 10{{nbsp}}A also fit into Brazilian sockets rated for 20{{nbsp}}A and South African sockets rated for 16{{nbsp}}A. 20{{nbsp}}A plugs do not fit into 10{{nbsp}}A sockets, which is as intended. However, if the Brazilian and South African variants are mixed, due to receptacle tolerances it might be possible to insert a 16{{nbsp}}A plug into a 10{{nbsp}}A socket or a 20{{nbsp}}A plug into a 16{{nbsp}}A socket, which could overload the socket.<ref>{{cite web |title=IEC 60906-1:2009 |url=https://webstore.iec.ch/en/publication/3882 |website=International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) |at=Standard sheet 1-1 (gives the receptacle diameter as 5{{nbsp}}mm for a pin diameter of 4.5{{nbsp}}mm) |language=en}}</ref>
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