French and German plugs

[AndyPRK]

Does anyone know the diameter of french and german plug pins (16A)

I always thought they were the same, but just found something forsale to suggest they are different

 

[BS3036]

Should be 4.8mm (the 2-pin German ones are 4mm but designed to mate with the earthed sockets by leaning the pins towards each other).

 

[AdrianUK]

..... leaning the pins towards each other.

That's deliberate? I always assumed it was the result of poor moulding/manufacture.

 

[AndyPRK]

This is what I saw

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Legrand-...=p2349624.m2548.l6249&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0

 

[BS3036]

That's deliberate? I always assumed it was the result of poor moulding/manufacture.

So did I till I read about them a while ago. I assume it was a kluge to create some compatibility.

This is what I saw
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Legrand-...=p2349624.m2548.l6249&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0

I wish people would be consistent when describing adapters, regarding 'to' and 'from'!

 

[plugwash]

That's deliberate? I always assumed it was the result of poor moulding/manufacture.

Europlugs (2-pin low-current) do indeed have springy converging pins by design, to allow them to get a reasonable contact in a variety of similar but not identical sockets. This means that for low current class 2 appliances, two plug types (Europlug and BS1363) are considered enough to cover Europe.

For high current or class 1 appliances a much greater range of plugs is needed to properly cover Europe.