why do US and european plugs have 2 pins, not three?

sith123 | 18:20 Thu 10th Nov 2011 | How it Works

6 Answers

really need to know.

We bought a cctv camera couple of years ago

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mightyWBA

http://gizmodo.com/53...a-different-fing-plug
Here you go!

sith123

Question Author

thanks a lot....you dont know how much i needed to know this lol

jomifl

European plugs for small loads have 2 pins, for anything bigger than a radio or a table lamp they have 3 pins, one of which is the earth connection.

heathfield

The German ''Shuko'' plug, commonly used throughout Europe for loads taking over 2.5 amps, isn't earthed by a pin, but by two clips, one on either side.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schuko

ChuckFickens

"European plugs for small loads have 2 pins"

Not quite true, the 2 pin plugs (well 3 pin, but the earth is plastic) is for class 2, double insulated devices, it's nothing to do with the load. Class one devices require an earth pin, class two devices do not.