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Just to be clear, power sockets are not standardized in the EU. Italy has different ones (Type L), France as well (Type E), and the UK too (but they are no long

Just to be clear, power sockets are not standardized in the EU. Italy has different ones (Type L), France as well (Type E), and the UK too (but they are no longer ... you know) ... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mains_electricity_by_country https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mains_electricity_by_country

toyg 5y ago
Well, they are standardized - it's just that the standard (sadly) accepts a substantial number of different plug designs... Some countries did have to adapt when the standard was defined or if they joined after the standard was set. Compared to what we had before, it was a substantial simplification of the landscape, even if it doesn't go all the way to mandate a single plug design.
filiphorvat 5y ago
To be fair, the CEE 7/7 plug will work almost everywhere in the EU, not counting the UK of course. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AC_power_plugs_and_sockets#CEE_7/7_plug https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AC_power_plugs_and_sockets#CEE...
- wrboyce 5y ago
  If you use a screwdriver or similar to open the socket covers (shove the screwdriver into the earth socket) then you can indeed use a CEE 7/7 in a UK socket.
  - e_proxus 5y ago
    I used to do this with my keys every time I traveled to the UK and forgot my adapters.
messe 5y ago
> and the UK too (but they are no longer ... you know) ... We have the same sockets in Ireland, so the EU still has the same number of different standards.
selfhoster11 5y ago
Italian sockets can be easily vandalised into a type C socket in a pinch. I know, I've done it once in a fit of anger.
cma 5y ago
But still each govt standardizes them to some extent right?
Mashimo 5y ago
/me cries in Danish ;_;
Kipters 5y ago
> Italy has different ones (Type L) Non-ancient sockets in Italy are _bipasso_, meaning they accept both the 16 and 10 A variants of the Type L, and the 10A variant is compatible with the Europlug, making it really a non issue. In households you'll also likely find Type-L compatible Schuko (usually) sockets for higher power devices, or even combo sockets that can work as two _bipasso_ or one Schuko. So in the end standardization ended up working anyway and no one is struggling because of this (also standards about wire gauges made extension cords safe to use)

toyg 5y ago

Well, they are standardized - it's just that the standard (sadly) accepts a substantial number of different plug designs... Some countries did have to adapt when the standard was defined or if they joined after the standard was set. Compared to what we had before, it was a substantial simplification of the landscape, even if it doesn't go all the way to mandate a single plug design.

filiphorvat 5y ago

To be fair, the CEE 7/7 plug will work almost everywhere in the EU, not counting the UK of course. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AC_power_plugs_and_sockets#CEE_7/7_plug https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AC_power_plugs_and_sockets#CEE...

wrboyce 5y ago
If you use a screwdriver or similar to open the socket covers (shove the screwdriver into the earth socket) then you can indeed use a CEE 7/7 in a UK socket.
- e_proxus 5y ago
  I used to do this with my keys every time I traveled to the UK and forgot my adapters.

messe 5y ago

> and the UK too (but they are no longer ... you know) ... We have the same sockets in Ireland, so the EU still has the same number of different standards.

selfhoster11 5y ago

Italian sockets can be easily vandalised into a type C socket in a pinch. I know, I've done it once in a fit of anger.

cma 5y ago

But still each govt standardizes them to some extent right?

Mashimo 5y ago

/me cries in Danish ;_;

Kipters 5y ago

> Italy has different ones (Type L) Non-ancient sockets in Italy are _bipasso_, meaning they accept both the 16 and 10 A variants of the Type L, and the 10A variant is compatible with the Europlug, making it really a non issue. In households you'll also likely find Type-L compatible Schuko (usually) sockets for higher power devices, or even combo sockets that can work as two _bipasso_ or one Schuko. So in the end standardization ended up working anyway and no one is struggling because of this (also standards about wire gauges made extension cords safe to use)