Today many of switching mode power supplies accept anywhere between 100-250V

It's the only one that looks happy to be there.

:D

Real

Had me in the first half. Well played.

And your adult toys must be licensed, of course. To protect the kids.

My toys are wireless...

I'm actually kinda surprised that more don't have switches, but I suppose if you have radial rather than ring circuits you don't have to play 'hunt the appliance that tripped all your switches' quite so hard

Hey now, let's not give BSI and NESO any ideas mate.

and then include a map that doesn't match the flags!

Jawoll!

What's the difference of C and F type?

Agreed. The best.

I see a lot of your comments about F being objectively same or better compared to G. The only thing I'd throw into the mix is the socket switch feels so logical, I'm really surprised it's not more standard.

High frequency use case: I don't need my microwave on all the time showing me the time, so I switch it off at the socket unless I'm using it

Low frequency use case: before going on holiday I switch all the electrics off at the sockets

Furthermore, appliances compatible with Type F are almost always compatible with Type E as well, it's just a matter of including both grounding mechanisms which they all do to avoid designing multiple cords.

I haven't yet visited the UK so the only time I've had trouble plugging in something in Europe is in shudders Italy.

Bi-directional is a double-edged feature.

It means that there is no reliable way of identifying line and neutral wire, which requires more complex double switches downstream.

Also, F is unnecessarily clunky and big and hard to make a weather-proof version of because of the complex shape.

Hear me out, type L, the one in the middle, is the best socket, as it has all the things you talked about, but also accepts Italian plugs.

Type L bipasso (the one on the side) instead is the most space efficient, while retaining type C compatibility and grounding. Type L plugs also have plastic bits at the end to avoid contact with live wire (like UK one).

And type-E. Most EU plugs are F-E compatible, because countries go about alternating them. Spain F, France E, Germany F, Poland E. You build a plug with a hole for the E ground bolt and a cutout for the F side contacts.

As the least biased swiss person. Type J (or type N, Idk) is so much better. We put three plugs on the same surface as you have 1. I am always frustrated to see how impractical your plugs are when I go to the EU

It's the oldest standard on the list, and is still around older homes in the USA. They used to be equally-sized (aka unpolarized), but later on they had a bigger hole for neutral (polarized). They're not up to code anywhere anymore though, you'll only see them in older houses before the grounding pin was required.

Yup. Japan also has grounded outlets, though, although they are comparatively rarer.

I see the left side of just slightly bigger than the right, so I expect one of those sides to be the ground

In the USA, there's a ground in that the neutral wire is connected to ground. Devices that take advantage of this have a slightly broader neutral pin that won't fit into the hot pin.

Because it's a hot mess trying to accept both type F and type L. The traditional type L socket has three pins inline. The pin spacing between Live and Neutral for an earthed device using type L is wider than using type F, so plugging in a Schuko won't work in normal type L sockets. However, some type L sockets have extra, smaller holes at Europlug spacing, to accept ungrounded type C plugs.

The picture here shows two Type L sockets with Europlug expansions on the sides (C/L combo), and an F/L combo in the middle.

Compatible to everything. Takes type F without issues.

Three prongs widths changed added earth support

The pictured one is an universal socket that can accept any plug sold in the eu, because if you go to buy any fridge or oven or washer it comes with the German plug

Otherwise, any other plug (phone chargers, lamps, laptops) comes with the standard which is this:

It doesn't fit in a German plug as the diameter of the holes and the spacing is slightly different, hence the weirdly shaped wholes

It has both prongs insulated so you don't get accidentally electrocuted if your finger accidentally touch one during unplugging (especially toddlers)

In my house I exclusively got pure L sockets without the double holes and I wanted to kill the sadist electrician who decided to install them everywhere. (It's a money issue, universal socket by regulations need 2.5 mm² section copper wires, while the 10A L socket can use cheaper 1.5 mm² section copper wires - but still, how much he saved, 50€ in total? Asshole, I had to spend 3x that to replace all the sockets)