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CEI 23-50 standard Italian plugs and sockets |
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| Comitato
Elettrotecnico Italiano standard 23-50 plugs and sockets are used
in Italy. CEI 23-50 (first edition in 1995) has replaced the CEI 23-16 (1971) standard. Section VII of the standard relates to 10A and 16A plugs and sockets. Compatible plugs and sockets plugs are used in Chile, Cuba, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Libya, Syria, Tunesia and Uruguay. |
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Related
galleries: uncommon types heavy duty types |
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| 110V- 220V |
In
the first half of the 20st century two voltages were commonly available
in homes (at different tariffs): 110 Volt for „luce“ (light) and 220
Volt for „forza“ (power). Different plugs were used for 110 and 220
Volt to prevent incorrect connections: 10A plugs with 4.0 mm pins, 19
mm spacing for 110V and 16A plugs with 5.0 mm pins, 26 mm spabing for
220V
(information given by Markus Stöllnberger). Distinction in voltage does not exist anymore, in favor of 230V, but the difference between Italian 10A and 16A plugs still exist. |
| 1 | Classical example of a CEI 23-16 (now 23-50) standard 10A socket. The example shown is a VIMAR company, type SICURY socket. Sicury refers to a shutter that prevents accidental contact with power pins. Vimar was the first Italian company to offer this safety provision in 1968; details are shown below. Nowadays safety shutters are compulsory. {SL} |
| 2 | Socket that can accommodate both 10A and 16A plugs (see no. 5). The right outlet has a bipasso or bivalente (dual use) figure of eight shaped slots. The larger (5.1 mm) diameter 16A slots have a 26 mm spacing; the smaller (4.5 mm) 10A slots have a 19 mm spacing, which is also suitable for Europlugs. Manufacturer: Bticino. |
| 3 | The Bipasso
type socket no. 2 allows separate wiring of the 10A and 16A outlets.
They can be connected to respectively a 10A and 16A fuse in the main
fuse box of the house. However, it is also possible to interconnect the
two connector blocs. Note that Italian CEI 23-50 plugs and sockets are not polarized, because of the symmetrical arrangement of the slots. That means that the position of brown (line) and blue (neutral) wires can be swapped. |
| 4 | 10A and 16A connector plugs. 16A models have 'dual use' shaped outlets. Manufacturer: Scame. |
| 5 | Italian 10A and 16A plug. It is compulsory that the basal part of power pins have insulated sleeves preventing accidental electric shock by not fully disconnected plugs. Pin diameter of 10A plugs is 4.0 mm; 16A plugs have 5.0 mm pins. Manufacturer: Scame. |
| 6,
6a |
Examples of two models of 10A plugs. Plug pin position can be changed easily from top to side (compare top and bottom images). The thickness of both housings is only 15 mm. The disassembled model (see no. 7) shows the elegant simplicity of the design. These 'Corner' models are developed by the Italian Bticino company. |
| 7 | Adapter for making 16A sockets also accessible to 10A plugs. Manufacturer: SRS (abbreviation of an unknown company) |
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8, 8a Europlug socket. Rating: 10A - 250V. Manufacturer: Slovenian company TEM. Bought in Nova Gorica (SI) in 2023 {SC} The socket is clearly based on the Italian "bipasso" design (see image 8a). A 10A-16A socket with earth connection is on offer also. Socket has both a Slovenian SIQ certification mark and European conformity (CE) mark. >> |
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| Italian
grounding system differs from all other standards. Adapted sockets have
been designed to bridge the compatibility gap between Schuko (CEE 7/4
and 7/7) plugs and typical Italian sockets. Examples made by VIMAR
accept even more plug types. Multi-purpose type of sockets are becoming
increasingly popular in newly build accommodations. |
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| 9 10 |
'Universale' socket
for Italian
10A
and 16A plugs (indicated with I), as well as Schuko (D) and NEMA 1-15P
(USA) plugs. The
diameter of
the inner (10A) slots is larger than the 10A slots in sockets no. 10
otherwise it would be impossible to insert a Schuko plug (pin
diameter 4.8 mm; spacing 19 mm).
Manufacturer: VIMAR. {WaO} Two additional VIMAR "ßpresa" sockets for Italian 10A and 16A plugs. |
| 11 | Socket
with two 10A outlets (left and right), a bipasso outlet (center) and
CEE 7/3 (Schuko) outlet. The most common Italian wall box is type 503 that provides space for one, two or three upright 10A or 16A outlet modules. A Schuko outlet takes the space of two modules. The shown socket is a compact model that fits in a 503 box and offers two 10A and a socket outlet*. Manufacturer: 4Box, Milano, Italy. Dating 2023. {SL} Note that the Vimar socket shown in images 9-10 requires a larger, non-standard, wall box and wall plate. * Information about Italian wall boxes has been given by Saluele Collodi. |
| 12 | 3-way,
'triple use'
multi-plug for Italian 10A and 16A plugs (top and side entries) and a
Schuko plug (top entry only). Although this multi-plug
is meant for a 10A outlet, it also allows 16A plugs (either CEI 23-50
or Schuko)*. Schuko plugs cannot
be inserted in the two side entries, because of insufficiently large
diameter of those 10A slots. Manufacturer: Scame. * from 2014 it is no longer allowed to produce and sell 10A multi-plugs or adapters that accept also 16A plugs. |
| 13- 16 | 4BOX socket that can be used for CEI 23-50 10A and 16A plugs, or a CEE 7/4 or 7/7 (Schuko / hybrid) plug; see respectively image no. 15 and 16. The two flexible earth clips - essential for Schuko plug earth contact - seems to hinder the insertion of Italian plugs (see image no. 14). However, an ingenious mechanism pushes the earth clips aside when a 10A or 16A plug is inserted. Up to two Europlugs can be inserted also. {WeO} |
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| 17a |
A CEE 7/4 adapter is needed if a home or
office doesn't have universal
type sockets (see nos. 10, 11, 13) and an appliance cord has a Schuko
plug. When using a dual socket (identical to no. 2)
the adapter makes the second outlet inaccessible. To solve this inconvenience, the company Electraline has designed an asymmetrical adapter, see image 17b. |
| 17b - d | Asymmetrical adapter with 16A pins* and an
outlet for a 16A Schuko plug or 10A Italian plug. Images 17c and 17d
show that the other outlet of a dual socket remains accessible for a
standard Italian 10A plug (identical to 10A plug in image no. 5). Adapter manufacturer: Electraline 3Pmark S.p.A. in Concorezzo (MB), Italy. {ARF} * a variant with Italian 10A pins exists also. |
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| 18 | 10A multi-plug with three 10A outlets. Manufacturer: Scame. |
| 19 | 16A
multi-plug with
four 'dual use' outlets. Manufacturer: Scame. |
| 20 | Small
plug (33.4 x 12.5 x 19.8 mm) designed for replacement of classic lamp cord
plugs. The plug has been made of galalith, a synthetic plastic
material, based on casein and formaldehyde. A block of galalith can be
cut, drilled, carved and dyed. Because it is not possible to mould
galalith, the plug has a simple, one piece body. Wiring has to be done
by unscrewing the partially insulated pins. Any form of cord tension
relief is not possible. The Italian shop Punto Luce offers (2016) galalith plugs in four colors: marrone (chestnut brown), grigio (grey), oro (gold) and ivorro (ivory). Rating and manufacturer are not indicated. Plugs have no certification mark. {MSt} |
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| 21 | White porcelain bipasso type earthed socket, rated at
10A/16A -250V. Socket contacts are protected with black safety shutters. Manufacturers: Merlotti S.a.s. (porcelain design*) and Elios SpA (plastic inner part with contacts and shutters). Dating: 2010s. {RH} * Merlotti offers among others a range of cords with twisted textile insulation and porcelain electrical sockets, switches, lampholders that have a classic look but comply with modern standards. |
| 22, 22a |
Adapter
with 10A-type pins and bipasso inlet. When the adapter is fully
inserted in a socket or connector plug an internal mechanism locks the
adapter. Image 22a shows external visible parts of plug locking
mechanism. Details of
the mechanism internal part are unknown. Pressing the big red button
unlocks the
adapter. The adapter box states: "With the Automatika your standard household plug is improved by adding an automatic expulsion feature!" "With the Automatika, in case you're using a plug on an extension cord, you can simply push [the button] with your foot to eject the socket." Manufacturer: L' Automatika S.r.l., Cabiate (Como). |
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23 Adapter with a single Schuko outlet and three bipasso outlets (2 blue outlets at top and bottom sides of adapter and another combined with Schuko outlet. Adapter has sleeved pins fitting in a standard 10A socket. The adapter has a compulsory overload protection*. The indicated maximum load is 1500 Watt, but according to the accompanying package carton, current is switched off automatically when load exceeds 2300W. In case of overload, the red button with indicator light switches to off position. To reactivate, remove "overload appliance" and press the button reset side. * main reason for overload protection is that nowadays nearly all 10A sockets are connected to a 16A circuit. |
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| 24 24a, b |
Obsolete
type of not earthed 10A socket that was a part of the Bticino Domino
series. The two brass contacts are kept in place in a small porcelain
block that is fixed to the wall plate by a single screw (images 24a,
b). A simple but
effective design. Rating: 6A-250V AC or 10A-125V AC. The note
"GARANTITO 5 ANNI - 1956" suggests that guarantee ended in 1961. The Bticino logo used at that time is shown in image no. 28. {WN} |
| 25 | Obsolete type 16A socket without earth. It was part of the Btichino Piuma series that was produced from the mid 1950s to late 1970s. Manufacturer: Btichino. {SL} |
| 26 | Recessed
10A socket and push button. The button
is missing in the museum collection socket (left). An example of the
push button is copied from an ebay images (right). Such sockets could
be found in hallways and were used to open the front gate of a house or
door of an apartment. A dual purpose socket saved the construction of a
second connectionm. Before the ntroduction of plug pins with insulated sleeves, recessed outlets were a safe option, but they have never been used at a large scale. See also image no. 26 Manufacturer: AVE (Anonima Vestonese Elettrica). Dating 1960s-'70s). Information about the combination of outlet and push button has been given bij Samuele Collodi |
| 27 | Recessed connector plug rated at 10A - 220V. See no. 26 for information regarding recess. Manufacturer: Italian company MAPL (full name unknown; company probably doesn't exist anymore). {SC} |
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| 28 28a, b |
Adapter
plug with two outlets. Rating: 110 - 220V / 200-W. The inside (image
no. 25b) explains the very low capacity of 200 Watt. The adapter is
meant for festoons of intermittent decoration lights; for example in a
Christmas tree. The higher the wattage the faster lights are switched
on and off. The adapter is patented (brevettato) by an unknown and probably no longer existing Italian company ETF. Another unknown, TGM logo has been found at the inside, see image no. 28 {WN} |
| 28c | Adapter
plug has two logos. Top: ETF logo of adapter plug no. 28. Bottom: Unknown TGM logo found inside the ETF adapter plug no. 25. T.G.M. S.r.l. is an Italian manufacturer of electric cables, founded in 1986. It is questionable whether the adapter TGM is the same as cable supplier. |
| Vimar Sicury plug Figure right shows Vimar's patent 61549, granted on March 15 1968. The patented mechanism closes automatically access to socket contacts when a plug is pulled out. When plug is inserted: plug pins rotate shutter no. 2 and contacts are accessible. When plug is pulled out: spring no. 3 brings shutter back in position that blocks access to contacts. Vimar 10A socket shown in above image no. 1 has this type of safety shutter. Source: Vimar history. |
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Logos of Italian manufacturers of material
shown on this page Details of companies are given in list of Italian manufacturers |
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