Quote:
Originally Posted by MadMan
I'm aware that they have some differences, mostly to do with the method of connection for grounding. But otherwise they seem mostly the same. 0.8mm isn't much. It's probably just so you can't plug a German plug into a Polish outlet.
Also, I find it funny that the people who constantly bemoan our use of the imperial system of measurements, haven't actually settled on a universal outlet standard, despite that they all use the same voltage (ish) and frequency. The UK excepted.
At least most of this hemisphere has settled on an outlet type...
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The larger pins are for 16A circuits, the smaller euro plugs are for 2.5A or less appliances. The idea is you can plug a small pin plug into a large pin socket, but not vice versa. This prevents overloading of extension cords, etc.
The Eastern Bloc countries used small diameter pins all the time, so you cannot plug any modern 16A plugs into old outlets from the Soviet era. Poland is probably similar to Russia, although I haven't been there so I can't tell for sure.