3186: Truly Universal Outlet - Revision history

81.179.199.253: /* The sockets */ My own back-dated information. (I also made pictures!)

2026-03-19T19:28:17Z

‎The sockets: My own back-dated information. (I also made pictures!)

82.132.237.49: /* The sockets */ Information that I collated at the time (boiled down, I also have pin radiuses, blade/block dimensions, blade angles, etc) that I've only just dug up again, on being reminded.

2026-03-19T13:57:42Z

‎The sockets: Information that I collated at the time (boiled down, I also have pin radiuses, blade/block dimensions, blade angles, etc) that I've only just dug up again, on being reminded.

Linus Xu: /* The sockets */ filled in the easy column. Attribution is provided per https://www.dimensions.com/legal .

2026-03-18T07:51:42Z

‎The sockets: filled in the easy column. Attribution is provided per https://www.dimensions.com/legal .

Linus Xu: Changed subsection title since we are talking about the receiving end

2026-03-18T07:20:38Z

Changed subsection title since we are talking about the receiving end

Linus Xu: Attempting to lay down the structure for the table

2026-03-18T07:17:05Z

Attempting to lay down the structure for the table

82.13.184.33: /* Explanation */

2026-01-06T09:52:47Z

‎Explanation

82.13.184.33: /* Explanation */

2026-01-06T09:50:27Z

‎Explanation

82.13.184.33: /* Explanation */

2026-01-06T09:50:09Z

‎Explanation

2A02:1406:247:8ACD:46FE:F8E4:D83E:DB9A: Fix link

2025-12-28T20:34:33Z

Fix link

92.23.2.208: Arguably better link, and reduced the sea-of-blue link text.

2025-12-28T19:56:10Z

Arguably better link, and reduced the sea-of-blue link text.

@@ Line 33: / Line 33: @@
 !|Details of plug
 |-
-|A (NEMA-1)
+|A<br/>({{w|NEMA connector#NEMA 1|NEMA-1}})
+|
-|USA, Canada and Mexico (older installations), Japan
+|USA/Canada (older installations), Mexico and Japan
-|Blades (L-N) 12.7mm apart, no Ground, blade widths differ for where correct orientation is essential
+|Blades (N-L) 12.7mm apart<br/>Ungrounded<br/>Blade widths differ where polarity should be observed.<br/>May be usable in Type B socckets.
 |-
-|B (NEMA-5)
+|B<br/>({{w|NEMA connector#NEMA 5|NEMA-5}})
+|
-|USA, Canada, Mexico, and Japan
+|USA/Canada, Mexico, and Japan
-|Blades (N-L) 12.7mm apart, Ground blade 11.9mm downwards, accepts type-A<!-- despite opposite polarity? -->
+|Blades (N-L) 12.7mm apart<br/>Ground 'U'-pin 11.9mm downwards
 |-
-|C (Europlug)
+|C<br/>({{w|Europlug}})
+|
-|Europe, South America and Asia
+|Europe, South Africa, South America and Asia
-|Pins (either polarity) 19mm apart, no Ground<br/>''May'' be accepted by type E, F, J, K and N socksts, depending upon pin-radius tolerances and any Ground-pin 'shuttering' by socket.
+|Pins (either polarity) 19mm apart<br>Unground<br/>''May'' be accepted by type E, F, J, K, N sockets, plus hybrids
 |-
-|D (BS546)
+|D<br/>({{w|AC power plugs and sockets: British and related types#5-ampere|BS546, 5A}})
+|
-|India, previously Britain with legacy use for stage-lighting
+|India; previously UK, with legacy uses such as stage-lighting
 |Pins (N-L) 19mm apart, Ground pin 22.2mm upwards
 |-
-|E
+|E<br>({{w|AC power plugs and sockets#Type E|CEE 7/5}})
+|
 |France, Belgium, Poland, Slovakia and Czechia
-|Pins (N-L) 19mm apart, Ground pin ''from socket into plug''<br/>May be cross-compatible with Type F, in a dual-format plug.
+|Pins (N-L) 19mm apart<br/>Ground pin ''from socket into plug''<br/>CEE 7/7 plug is cross-compatible with Type F.
 |-
-|F
+|F<br>({{w|Schuko|CEE 7/3 'Schuko'}})
+|
-|Germany, Spain, broad compatibility with rest of Europe (excluding UK or Ireland) and Russia
+|Germany, Spain; broad compatibility with rest of Europe (excluding UK or Ireland) and Russia
-|Pins (either polarity) 19mm apart, Ground via paired clips<br/>May be cross-compatible with Type E, in a dual-format plug.
+|Pins (either polarity) 19mm apart<br/>Grounded via paired socket clips (not shown)<br/>CEE 7/7 plug is cross-compatible with Type E.
 |-
-|G
+|G<br/>({{w|AC power plugs and sockets: British and related types#BS 1363 three-pin (rectangular) plugs and sockets|BS1363}})
+|
 |UK, Ireland, Malta, Malaysia and Singapore
-|Blocks (N-L) 22.2mm apart, Ground block 22.2mm upwards
+|Blocks (N-L) 22.2mm apart<br>Ground block 22.2mm upwards
 |-
-|H
+|H<br/>({{w|Israel_SI32_(Type_H)|SI32}})
+|
-|Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip
+|Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip
-|Angled blades<sup>[legacy]</sup> or pins (N-L) 19mm apart, Ground (blade/)pin 9.5mm down
+|Angled blades<sup>&#91;''pre-1989''&#93;</sup> or pins (N-L) 19mm apart<br.>Ground (blade/)pin 9.5mm down<br>Only pin version is shown, hybrid sockets take both.
 |-
-|I
+|I<br/>({{w|AC power plugs and sockets#Australasian AS/NZS 3112 and compatible plugs (Type I)|NZS 3112}})
+|
 |{{w|AS/NZS 3112|Australia, New Zealand}}, China, and Argentina
-|Angled blades (N-L, except in Argentina) 13.7mm apart, Ground blade 10.3mm down
+|Angled blades (Australasia: N-L; Argentina: L-N) 13.7mm apart<br/>Ground blade 10.3mm down
 |-
-|J (SN441011)
+|J<br/>({{w|SN 441011}})
+|
 |Switzerland and Liechtenstein
-|Pins (N-L) 19mm apart, Ground pin 5mm down
+|Pins (N-L) 19mm apart<br/>Ground pin 5mm down
 |-
-|K
+|K<br/>({{w|AC power plugs and sockets#Danish plug (Type_K)|DN10A-R}})
+|
 |Denmark and Greenland
-|Pins (L-N) 19mm apart, Ground pin 13mm down
+|Pins (L-N) 19mm apart<br/>Ground 'D'-pin 13mm down
 |-
-|L
+|L<br/>({{w|AC power plugs and sockets#Italy (Type L)|CEI 23-50}})
+|
 |Italy and Chile
-|Pins (either polarity) 19mm ''or'' 26mm apart (historically, only narrower version is illustrated), Ground pin in-line
+|Pins (either polarity) of 19mm ''or'' 26mm apart (only narrower version illustrated)<br/>In-line central Grounding pin (does not enforce orientation)
 |-
-|M
+|M<br/>({{w|AC power plugs and sockets: British and related types#15-ampere|BS546 15A}})
+|
-|South Africa, legacy (e.g. stage) use in Britain
+|South Africa; some niche legacy (e.g. stage-lighting) use in Britain
-|Pins (N-L) 25.4mm apart, Ground pin 28.6mm up (typically)<br/>N.B.: varying specifications exist; none<!-- that I've found--> match the illustration, which is proportionately too small.
+|Pins (N-L) 25.4mm apart<br/>Ground pin 28.6mm up<br/>Variants exist, but the comic version is too small against the original standard.
 |-
-|N
+|N<br/>({{w|IEC 60906-1}})
+|
 |Brazil and South Africa
-|Pins (L-N) 19mm apart, Ground 3mm down
+|Pins (L-N) 19mm apart<br/>Ground 3mm down
 |-
-|O (TIS156-2549)
+|O<br/>({{w|AC power plugs and sockets#Thai plug TIS 166-2549 (Type O)|TIS 166-2549}})
+|
 |Thailand
-|Pins (L-N) 19mm apart, Ground pin 11.9mm up
+|Pins (L-N) 19mm apart<br/>Ground pin 11.9mm up
 |}

@@ Line 31: / Line 31: @@
 !|Appearance
 !|Standardized/Primarily used in... ([https://www.dimensions.com/collection/electrical-plugs-sockets Source])
-!|Details
+!|Details of plug
 |-
-|A
+|A (NEMA-1)
+|
 |-
-|B
+|B (NEMA-5)
+|
 |USA, Canada, Mexico, and Japan
+|Blades (N-L) 12.7mm apart, Ground blade 11.9mm downwards, accepts type-A<!-- despite opposite polarity? -->
 |-
-|C
+|C (Europlug)
+|
 |Europe, South America and Asia
+|Pins (either polarity) 19mm apart, no Ground<br/>''May'' be accepted by type E, F, J, K and N socksts, depending upon pin-radius tolerances and any Ground-pin 'shuttering' by socket.
 |-
-|D
+|D (BS546)
+|
 |-
 |E
+|
 |France, Belgium, Poland, Slovakia and Czechia
+|Pins (N-L) 19mm apart, Ground pin ''from socket into plug''<br/>May be cross-compatible with Type F, in a dual-format plug.
 |-
 |F
+|
-|Europe (excluding UK or Ireland) and Russia
+|Germany, Spain, broad compatibility with rest of Europe (excluding UK or Ireland) and Russia
+|Pins (either polarity) 19mm apart, Ground via paired clips<br/>May be cross-compatible with Type E, in a dual-format plug.
 |-
 |G
+|
-|UK, Ireland, Malta, Malaysia, and Singapore
+|UK, Ireland, Malta, Malaysia and Singapore
+|Blocks (N-L) 22.2mm apart, Ground block 22.2mm upwards
 |-
 |H
+|
 |Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip
+|Angled blades<sup>[legacy]</sup> or pins (N-L) 19mm apart, Ground (blade/)pin 9.5mm down
 |-
 |I
+|
 |{{w|AS/NZS 3112|Australia, New Zealand}}, China, and Argentina
+|Angled blades (N-L, except in Argentina) 13.7mm apart, Ground blade 10.3mm down
 |-
-|J
+|J (SN441011)
+|
 |Switzerland and Liechtenstein
+|Pins (N-L) 19mm apart, Ground pin 5mm down
 |-
 |K
+|
 |Denmark and Greenland
+|Pins (L-N) 19mm apart, Ground pin 13mm down
 |-
 |L
+|
 |Italy and Chile
+|Pins (either polarity) 19mm ''or'' 26mm apart (historically, only narrower version is illustrated), Ground pin in-line
 |-
 |M
+|
-|South Africa
+|South Africa, legacy (e.g. stage) use in Britain
+|Pins (N-L) 25.4mm apart, Ground pin 28.6mm up (typically)<br/>N.B.: varying specifications exist; none<!-- that I've found--> match the illustration, which is proportionately too small.
 |-
 |N
+|
 |Brazil and South Africa
+|Pins (L-N) 19mm apart, Ground 3mm down
 |-
-|O
+|O (TIS156-2549)
+|
 |Thailand
+|Pins (L-N) 19mm apart, Ground pin 11.9mm up
 |}

@@ Line 30: / Line 30: @@
 !|Socket type
 !|Appearance
-!|Primarily used in...
+!|Standardized/Primarily used in... ([https://www.dimensions.com/collection/electrical-plugs-sockets Source])
 !|Details
 |-
 |A
+|
+|USA, Canada, Mexico, and Japan
+|
 |-
 |B
+|
+|USA, Canada, Mexico, and Japan
+|
 |-
 |C
+|
+|Europe, South America and Asia
+|
 |-
 |D
+|
+|India
+|
 |-
 |E
+|
+|France, Belgium, Poland, Slovakia and Czechia
+|
 |-
 |F
+|
+|Europe (excluding UK or Ireland) and Russia
+|
 |-
 |G
+|
+|UK, Ireland, Malta, Malaysia, and Singapore
+|
 |-
 |H
+|
+|Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip
+|
 |-
 |I
+|
+|{{w|AS/NZS 3112|Australia, New Zealand}}, China, and Argentina
+|
 |-
 |J
+|
+|Switzerland and Liechtenstein
+|
 |-
 |K
+|
+|Denmark and Greenland
+|
 |-
 |L
+|
+|Italy and Chile
+|
 |-
 |M
+|
+|South Africa
+|
 |-
 |N
+|
+|Brazil and South Africa
+|
 |-
 |O
+|
+|Thailand
+|
 |}

@@ Line 25: / Line 25: @@
 While this comic is not part of the [[:category:Cursed_Connectors|Cursed Connectors series]], it does follow a similar theme of unorthodox or dangerous ways to make electrical connections.
-==The plugs==
+==The sockets==
 {| class="wikitable sortable"

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:17, 18 March 2026
Line 24:		Line 24:

	While this comic is not part of the [[:category:Cursed_Connectors\|Cursed Connectors series]], it does follow a similar theme of unorthodox or dangerous ways to make electrical connections.		While this comic is not part of the [[:category:Cursed_Connectors\|Cursed Connectors series]], it does follow a similar theme of unorthodox or dangerous ways to make electrical connections.
		+
		+	==The plugs==
		+
		+	{\| class="wikitable sortable"
		+	!\|Socket type
		+	!\|Appearance
		+	!\|Primarily used in...
		+	!\|Details
		+	\|-
		+	\|A
		+	\|
		+	\|
		+	\|
		+	\|-
		+	\|B
		+	\|
		+	\|
		+	\|
		+	\|-
		+	\|C
		+	\|
		+	\|
		+	\|
		+	\|-
		+	\|D
		+	\|
		+	\|
		+	\|
		+	\|-
		+	\|E
		+	\|
		+	\|
		+	\|
		+	\|-
		+	\|F
		+	\|
		+	\|
		+	\|
		+	\|-
		+	\|G
		+	\|
		+	\|
		+	\|
		+	\|-
		+	\|H
		+	\|
		+	\|
		+	\|
		+	\|-
		+	\|I
		+	\|
		+	\|
		+	\|
		+	\|-
		+	\|J
		+	\|
		+	\|
		+	\|
		+	\|-
		+	\|K
		+	\|
		+	\|
		+	\|
		+	\|-
		+	\|L
		+	\|
		+	\|
		+	\|
		+	\|-
		+	\|M
		+	\|
		+	\|
		+	\|
		+	\|-
		+	\|N
		+	\|
		+	\|
		+	\|
		+	\|-
		+	\|O
		+	\|
		+	\|
		+	\|
		+	\|}

	==Transcript==		==Transcript==

@@ Line 17: / Line 17: @@
 The comic shows an outlet with fifteen sets of holes merged together, so that any of those plug types might fit. In reality, it's possible that a plug may not be held securely, and it may fall out or lose contact. For example, the hole for types D, M, and O at the top of the outlet has three distinct holes, some of which are entirely contained within others; a prong for a smaller type would not make contact with the walls (without particularly spring-loaded contacts). Different outlets can also mean different voltages, which can risk damage if devices do not account for it<!-- and some combinations may reverse Live and Neutral contacts compared to others??CHECK THIS, SOMEONE??, which some equipment may not work properly with-->. Although universal plug adapters [https://internationalconfig.com/icc6.asp?item=30250 actually exist], none of them are as 'universal' as the one shown in this comic, most likely due to these safety concerns.
-Also the comic seems to misrepresent type E sockets - it seems like Randall wasn't aware of (or ignored) the fact that type E sockets has a grounding pin that protrudes out from the socket, and rather represents it as if it were a hole in the socket instead. In reality it would be difficult to make a socket that safely grounds type E plugs without being simultaneously incompatible with a large number of other plugs that aren't designed to accommodate the grounding pin, probably requiring the prominent socket-pin to be a spring that retracts far into the socket when pressed by a plug's ground pin.
+The comic also seems to misrepresent type E sockets — it seems like Randall wasn't aware of (or ignored) the fact that type E sockets have a grounding pin that protrudes out from the socket, and represents it as if it were a hole in the socket instead. In reality, it would be difficult to make a socket that safely grounds type E plugs without being simultaneously incompatible with a large number of other plugs that aren't designed to accommodate the grounding pin, probably requiring the prominent socket-pin to be a spring that retracts far into the socket when pressed by a plug's ground pin.
-The comic also seems to not notice the lack of grounding for full compatibility with F plugs. This leaves them in the same state as type E above. This could be fixed by adding the extra pins for grounding. Given that most plugs in E and F regions are compatible with both standards (CEE 7/7) and have the E ground connected to the F ground through a front plate bigger than the hole for the E standard, it would be theoretically possible to make a mostly universal plug, with the exception of pure CEE 7/5 Schuko and some pure French-style CEE 7/6 that don't have the external metallic plate, but both of those are vanishingly rare, phased out by the CEE 7/7.
+The comic also seems to not notice the lack of grounding for full compatibility with F plugs. This leaves them in the same state as type E, above. This could be fixed by adding the extra pins for grounding. Given that most plugs in E and F regions are compatible with both standards (CEE 7/7) and have the E ground connected to the F ground through a front plate bigger than the hole for the E standard, it would theoretically be possible to make a mostly universal plug (with the exception of pure CEE 7/5 Schuko and some pure French-style CEE 7/6 that don't have the external metallic plate, but both of those are vanishingly rare, phased out by the CEE 7/7).
 The title text references the classical clickbait format "<organization/role> hate this one weird trick," implying <organization/role>'s services will be no longer needed if the trick works out as it claims to, and therefore (according to the clickbait) they do not want you to find out about the trick. In this case, however, building inspectors likely hate the design solely because of its grotesque safety problems.

@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 This comic shows a layout for a universal outlet which would theoretically fit any mains power-plug. Throughout the world,  countries and regions have [https://www.dimensions.com/collection/electrical-plugs-sockets their own standards for outlets], including their shape, contact amount, and voltage. When traveling, or otherwise using devices from other countries, it is often necessary to have an adapter to connect one type of plug to a different outlet.
-The comic shows an outlet with fifteen sets of holes merged together, so that any of those plug types might fit. In reality, it's possible that a plug may not be held securely, and it may fall out or lose contact. For example, the hole for types D, M, and O at the top of the outlet has three distinct holes, some of which are entirely contained within others; a prong for a smaller type would not make contact with the walls (without particularly spring-loaded contacts). Different outlets can also mean different voltages, which can risk damage if devices do not account for it<!-- and some combinations may reverse Live and Neutral contacts compared to others??CHECK THIS, SOMEONE??, which some equipment may not work properly with-->. Although universal plug adapters [https://internationalconfig.com/icc6.asp?item=30250 actually exist], none of them are as 'universal' as the one shown in this comic, most likely due to the aforementioned safety concerns.
+The comic shows an outlet with fifteen sets of holes merged together, so that any of those plug types might fit. In reality, it's possible that a plug may not be held securely, and it may fall out or lose contact. For example, the hole for types D, M, and O at the top of the outlet has three distinct holes, some of which are entirely contained within others; a prong for a smaller type would not make contact with the walls (without particularly spring-loaded contacts). Different outlets can also mean different voltages, which can risk damage if devices do not account for it<!-- and some combinations may reverse Live and Neutral contacts compared to others??CHECK THIS, SOMEONE??, which some equipment may not work properly with-->. Although universal plug adapters [https://internationalconfig.com/icc6.asp?item=30250 actually exist], none of them are as 'universal' as the one shown in this comic, most likely due to these safety concerns.
 Also the comic seems to misrepresent type E sockets - it seems like Randall wasn't aware of (or ignored) the fact that type E sockets has a grounding pin that protrudes out from the socket, and rather represents it as if it were a hole in the socket instead. In reality it would be difficult to make a socket that safely grounds type E plugs without being simultaneously incompatible with a large number of other plugs that aren't designed to accommodate the grounding pin, probably requiring the prominent socket-pin to be a spring that retracts far into the socket when pressed by a plug's ground pin.

@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 *Need to add pictures of the different outlets and maybe even overlay them onto the comic?.}}
-This comic shows a layout for a universal outlet which would theoretically fit any mains power-plug. Throughout the world,  countries and regions have [https://www.dimensions.com/collection/electrical-plugs-socketstheir own standards for outlets], including their shape, contact amount, and voltage. When traveling, or otherwise using devices from other countries, it is often necessary to have an adapter to connect one type of plug to a different outlet.
+This comic shows a layout for a universal outlet which would theoretically fit any mains power-plug. Throughout the world,  countries and regions have [https://www.dimensions.com/collection/electrical-plugs-sockets their own standards for outlets], including their shape, contact amount, and voltage. When traveling, or otherwise using devices from other countries, it is often necessary to have an adapter to connect one type of plug to a different outlet.
 The comic shows an outlet with fifteen sets of holes merged together, so that any of those plug types might fit. In reality, it's possible that a plug may not be held securely, and it may fall out or lose contact. For example, the hole for types D, M, and O at the top of the outlet has three distinct holes, some of which are entirely contained within others; a prong for a smaller type would not make contact with the walls (without particularly spring-loaded contacts). Different outlets can also mean different voltages, which can risk damage if devices do not account for it<!-- and some combinations may reverse Live and Neutral contacts compared to others??CHECK THIS, SOMEONE??, which some equipment may not work properly with-->. Although universal plug adapters [https://internationalconfig.com/icc6.asp?item=30250 actually exist], none of them are as 'universal' as the one shown in this comic, most likely due to aforementioned safety concerns.