Editing AC power plugs and sockets (section)

=== Italy (Type L) ===
{{Multiple image |align=right |width=200 |direction=vertical |image1=Ita_plug_16A_10A.jpg |image2=Italian sockets.jpg |footer=Side by side comparison of Italian CEI&nbsp;23-50 S&nbsp;17 and S&nbsp;11 plugs and sockets rated 16&nbsp;A (left) and 10&nbsp;A (right)}}

Italian plugs and sockets are defined by the standard CEI&nbsp;23-50 which superseded CEI&nbsp;23-16. This includes models rated at 10&nbsp;A and 16&nbsp;A that differ in contact diameter and spacing (see below for details).<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.power-plugs-sockets.com/italy/ |title=Italy |website =Power Plugs and Sockets of the World}}</ref> Both are symmetrical, allowing the live and neutral contacts to be inserted in either direction. This plug is also commonly used in Chile and Uruguay.

# 10 A plugs and socket: Pins which are 4&nbsp;mm in diameter, the centres spaced 19&nbsp;mm apart. The 10&nbsp;A three-pin earthed rear entry plug is designated CEI&nbsp;23-50 S&nbsp;11 (there are also two side-entry versions, SPA&nbsp;11 and SPB&nbsp;11). The 10&nbsp;A two-pin unearthed plug is designated CEI&nbsp;23-50 S&nbsp;10. The 10&nbsp;A three-pin earthed socket is designated CEI&nbsp;23-50 P&nbsp;11, and the 10&nbsp;A two-pin unearthed socket is designated CEI&nbsp;23-50 P&nbsp;10. Both 10&nbsp;A sockets also accept CEE&nbsp;7/16 (Europlugs).
# 16 A plug and socket: Pins which are 5&nbsp;mm in diameter, the centres spaced 26&nbsp;mm apart. The 16&nbsp;A three-pin earthed rear entry plug is designated CEI&nbsp;23-50&nbsp;S&nbsp;17 (there are also two side-entry versions, SPA&nbsp;17 and SPB&nbsp;17). The 16&nbsp;A two-pin unearthed plug is designated CEI&nbsp;23-50 S&nbsp;16. The 16&nbsp;A three-pin earthed socket is designated CEI&nbsp;23-50 P&nbsp;17, there is not a 16&nbsp;A two-pin unearthed socket. The 16&nbsp;A socket used to be referred to as ''per la forza motrice''<ref>{{cite book |last=De Cesco |date=1975 |pages=70–71 |title=''Manuali pratici del far da sé Acqua Luce Gas'' |language=it}}</ref> (for electromotive force, see above) or sometimes (inappropriately) ''industriale'' (industrial) or even ''calore'' (heat).

The two standards were initially adopted because up to the second half of the 20th century in many regions of Italy electricity was supplied by means of two separate consumer connections – one for powering illumination and one for other purposes – and these generally operated at different voltages, typically 127&nbsp;V (a single phase from 220&nbsp;V three-phase) and 220&nbsp;V (a single phase from three-phase 380&nbsp;V or two-phase from 220&nbsp;V three-phase). The electricity on the two supplies was separately metered, was sold at different tariffs, was taxed differently and was supplied through separate and different sockets.{{sfn|De Cesco|1975|pp=56–57}} Even though the two electric lines (and respective tariffs) were gradually unified beginning in the 1960s (the official, but purely theoretical, date was the summer of 1974){{sfn|De Cesco|1975|p=93}} many houses had dual wiring and two electricity meters for years thereafter; in some zones of Lazio the 127&nbsp;V network was provided for lighting until 1999. The two gauges for plugs and sockets thus became a [[de facto standard]] which is now formalized under CEI&nbsp;23-50. Some older installations have sockets that are limited to either the 10&nbsp;A or the 16&nbsp;A style plug, requiring the use of an adaptor if the other gauge needs to be connected. Numerous cross adaptors were used.

Almost every appliance sold in Italy nowadays is equipped with CEE&nbsp;7/7 (German/French), CEE&nbsp;7/16 or CEE&nbsp;7/17 plugs, but the standard Italian sockets will not accept the first and the third ones since the pins of the CEE&nbsp;7/7 and CEE&nbsp;7/17 plugs are thicker (4.8&nbsp;mm) than the Italian ones (4&nbsp;mm); besides the pins are not sheathed and forcing them into a linear Italian socket may lead to electric shock. Adaptors are standardized in Italy under CEI&nbsp;23-57 which can be used to connect CEE&nbsp;7/7 and CEE&nbsp;7/17 and plugs to linear CEI&nbsp;23-50 sockets.

Europlugs are also in common use in Italy; they are standardized under CEI&nbsp;23-34 S 1 for use with the 10&nbsp;A socket and can be found fitted to Class&nbsp;II appliances with low current requirement (less than 2.5&nbsp;A).

The current Italian standards provide for sockets to have child-resistant shutters ("Sicury" patent).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vimar.de/de/de/article/article/detail/id/1259 |title=Bestreben Nach Sicherheit {{pipe}} Vimar |publisher=Vimar.de |access-date=12 March 2013}}</ref>
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==== Italian multiple standard sockets ====
[[File:Vimar-brand universale (all purpose) socket.jpg|thumb|A CEI&nbsp;23-50&nbsp;P&nbsp;40 socket (Italian adapted ''Schuko'') next to a CEI&nbsp;23-50&nbsp;17/11 (''Bipasso'') socket in a modern installation]]
[[File:4box side 4B.AM.H21 28-14.jpg|thumb|''4box side'' socket combining 1 Schuko and 2 CEI&nbsp;23-50&nbsp;P&nbsp;17/11 ''bipasso'' (Italian type plugs)]]
[[File:ForzaLuce1950.jpg|thumb|upright=.75|Old adaptor from ''forza'' to 2&nbsp;× ''luce'' and 1&nbsp;× ''forza'']]

In modern installations in Italy (and in other countries where Type&nbsp;L plugs are used) it is usual to find sockets that can accept more than one standard.

The simplest type, designated CEI&nbsp;23-50 P&nbsp;17/11, has a central round hole flanked by two figure-8 shaped holes, allowing the insertion of CEI&nbsp;23-50 S&nbsp;10 (Italian 10&nbsp;A plug unearthed), CEI&nbsp;23-50 S&nbsp;11 (Italian 10&nbsp;A plug earthed), CEI&nbsp;23-50 S&nbsp;16 (Italian 16&nbsp;A plug unearthed), CEI&nbsp;23-50 S&nbsp;17 (Italian 16&nbsp;A plug earthed) and CEE&nbsp;7/16 (Europlug). The advantage of this socket style is its small, compact face; its drawback is that it accepts neither CEE&nbsp;7/7 nor CEE&nbsp;7/17, very commonly found in new appliances sold in Italy. Vimar brand claims to have patented this socket first in 1975<ref>{{Citation |url=http://www.vimar.eu/index.php?l=it&module=articles&class=articles&event=__default&menu_item_id=134&content=20 |title=La ricerca della sicurezza. Ma la ricerca continua | publisher=Vimar |access-date=22 January 2009 |language=it}}</ref> with their ''Bpresa'' model; however soon other brands started selling similar products, mostly naming them with the generic term ''presa bipasso'' (twin-gauge socket) that is now of common use.

A second type is called CEI&nbsp;23-50 P&nbsp;30 and looks like a Schuko socket, but adds a central earthing hole (optional according to CEI&nbsp;23-50, but virtually always present). This design can accept CEE&nbsp;7/4 (German), CEE&nbsp;7/7 (German/French), CEE&nbsp;7/16, CEE&nbsp;7/17 (''Konturenstecker'', German/French unearthed), CEI&nbsp;23-50 S&nbsp;10 and CEI&nbsp;23-50 S&nbsp;11 plugs. Its drawback is that, while it is twice as large as a normal Italian socket, it still does not accept Italian 16&nbsp;A plugs; therefore this socket is relatively rarely installed.

A more flexible hybrid socket is called CEI&nbsp;23-50 P&nbsp;40. This socket, which is quickly becoming the standard in Italy along with CEI&nbsp;23-50 P&nbsp;17/11, accepts the same plugs as P&nbsp;30 and additionally Italian S&nbsp;16 and S&nbsp;17 plugs. A small drawback is that it does not accept SPA&nbsp;11, SPB&nbsp;11, SPA&nbsp;17 and SPB&nbsp;17 side-entry plugs; however almost no appliance is sold with these types, which are mainly used to replace existing plugs.
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