Type L plug: Which countries use it?

Type L

The Type L plug, also known as the Italian plug or CEI 23-16/VII, is the electrical standard mainly used in Italy, Chile, Ethiopia, Libya, the Maldives, San Marino, Syria, and Tunisia. This type of plug is characterized by its three prongs arranged in a line, with two round prongs for electrical connection and a third, longer, central round prong for grounding.

One distinctive feature of the Type L plug is that, despite its similarity to the Type C plug (Europlug), it is not compatible with other European plugs. This means that devices with plugs different from the Type L will not connect directly to a Type L socket without a special adapter.

Which countries use the Type L plug?

The Type L plug is the national standard in several countries, including:

• Italy
• Chile
• Ethiopia
• Libya
• The Maldives
• San Marino
• Syria
• Tunisia

Due to the widespread geographical distribution of these countries, it’s important to be prepared with the proper adapters when traveling to any of these regions.

Features of the Type L plug

The Type L plug has the following technical features:

• Three prongs in a line, with two round prongs of 4.8 mm in diameter and 19 mm in length for electrical connection, and a third central round prong of 4.8 mm in diameter and 24 mm in length for grounding.
• The distance between the two electrical connection prongs is 19 mm, and the distance between the grounding prong and the electrical prongs is 9.5 mm.
• Standard voltage of 220-230V and frequency of 50Hz.
• It can support currents of up to 10A or 16A, depending on the variant of the plug.
• The presence of the longer central grounding prong ensures a secure connection and reduces the risk of electric shocks, similar to the safety system used in other European plugs like Type F (Schuko).

In summary the Type L plug is the electrical standard used in Italy and several other countries. Its design of three prongs in a line, with a longer central grounding prong, provides a secure connection, but it is not compatible with other European plugs.

When traveling to countries that use the Type L plug or purchasing electrical devices for use there, it is crucial to keep in mind its features and the need for special adapters to connect devices with other types of plugs.

---

Why don't all countries use the same plug?

We often come across the question of why in a highly globalized world, we still use different types of plugs depending on the country. The answer lies in several historical, technical, and economic factors.

First, each country developed its electrical system independently. During the expansion of electrical grids in the 19th century and early 20th century, there was no international standard to unify criteria. This led to each nation adopting its own solutions based on local needs, technical capacities, and economic considerations of the time.

Second, safety standards play a crucial role. The different types of plugs reflect variations in voltages and frequencies used around the world. For example, while some plugs are predominantly used in countries with voltages between 100 and 127 V, other regions operate at 220-240 V. This diversity ensures that devices designed for certain power levels are safe and efficient.

Third, there is a natural resistance to change due to associated costs. Updating the national electrical infrastructure to adopt a new type of plug would involve significant investments for both governments and consumers.

Although today we see efforts towards standardization through universal adapters, we are still far from having a single type of plug globally accepted. Understanding these reasons helps us prepare better when we travel or purchase international electronic devices, ensuring their compatibility with our local system without surprises.