Why does the world harbor so many different voltages, plugs, and sockets?

Re:Why does the world harbor so many different voltages, plu... by cik on Sunday June 27, 2021 @10:10AM (#27651685)

I could accept different standards across the world - things evolve differently. But why should a country have multiple standards? That one drives me nuts. Here in Israel fine - we use Type C... except for the completely random use of Type H. Then, main room air conditioners use Type M - but at least that's standardized...except for when it isn't.

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Re:Why does the world harbor so many different voltages, plu... by masklinn on Sunday June 27, 2021 @10:25AM (#27651809)

> But why should a country have multiple standards? That one drives me nuts. Here in Israel fine - we use Type C... except for the completely random use of Type H.

Type C (the "europlug") is a compatibility low-amperage plug (2.5A @ 250V) for shavers and small lamps and USB power adapters and such. It was designed to be compatible with the high-power Type C, E, F, and K popular in mainland europe, but providing a cheaper plug, and allowing for dedicated low-amperage circuits (e.g. shaver sockets which would be safer in bathrooms).

Type H (and N, which is brazilian) were then designed to be compatible with the Europlug in turn.

> Then, main room air conditioners use Type M - but at least that's standardized...except for when it isn't.

Possibly rather than Type M (which is a 15A plug) it's the 30A plug from the same over-arching BS546 standard? Or a similar-looking 3-phase plug? That's what I'd expect for high-power applications like AC. I assume the standard Type H is 15 or 16A single-phase aka the usual mains.

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Re:Why does the world harbor so many different voltages, plu... by m-zuber on Sunday June 27, 2021 @10:24AM (#27651797)

C is no ground and H does have But what I've been seeing these days is C style pins, but with a ground

The M used in Israel might be different than the one pictured as it is used exclusively for 3 phase lines (so an AC that doesn't need 3 phase can then have a regular plug)

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Re:Why does the world harbor so many different voltages, plu... by cik on Monday June 28, 2021 @01:36AM (#27658455)

Our C is both ground and no ground. We have two prong and three prong type C, much like NA has two and three prong. Currently, the electricians I've spoken to say that we do indeed use an "M" (notice the quotes) because it's an Israeli M. Frankly.. it's quite silly.

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Re:Why does the world harbor so many different voltages, plu... by compsciphd on Sunday June 27, 2021 @10:17AM (#27651741)

except, that it's not really type c. type c is bigger pins in general (so while it fits, it many times has to be forced in). I'm also a bit confused by the graphic of type-h. pretty sure type h is only used here? (which is a thing itself, why!?)

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