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Brazil overview of types of plugs and sockets |
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| Over
decades the number of types of plugs and sockets that can be found in
Brazil has
steadily raised. The most commonly used plugs are North American flat
blade (with or without earth), European round pin (Europlugs and
similar) and plugs with angled pins (identical to NEMA 10-20). An overview of Brazilian plugs and sockets is shown below. Brazil is one of the few countries that uses both 110 and 220 Volt, 60 Hz. In some cities you may find a mix of 110 and 220 Volt. |
INMETRO, the Brazilian
organization for standardization is now actively promoting the
introduction of one standard
type. They have chosen for the new NBR 14136 standard, which is based
on the IEC 60906-1
standard household plug. Brazil aims to phase out the other types; see footnote. NBR 14136 socket |
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| 1, 5 |
Earthed
flat blade socket and plug similar to NEMA 5-15. The symbols that
indicate the rating are uncommon; presumably they mean 15A-110V /
10A-220V. See also note below. The shown socket orientation differs from standard U.S. orientation, but seems to be usual in Brazil, given plug no. 5. |
| 2 | Dual
standard socket for flat blade plugs and unearthed round pin plugs,
similar to Europlugs. |
| 3, 7 |
NBR 14136
standard 10A socket and plug, based on the IEC 60906-1 design. For
details, see IEC 60906-1 page. Another variant of a NBR 14136 plug is shown in images 15-17. |
| 4 | Multiple
standard socket the accepts unearthed U.S.-type flat blade plugs, 2-pin
Europlugs and similar unearthed round pin plugs, 10A Italian plugs (CEI
23-50 standard)* and NBR 14136 plugs. Note the following details: (i) The slots for line and neutral pins of 'Euro', Italian and NBR 14136 plugs have a diameter of 4.2 mm. (ii) The dual slot for earth pins has a diameter of 4.2 and 5.2 mm. However, 5.2 mm is larger than necessary for a 10A NBR 14136 earth pin, but too small for the earth pin of a U.S. plug. (iii) The socket is not suitable for a 20A NBR 14136 plug, or a 16A Italian plug (they have respectively 4.8 and 5.0 mm pins). (iv) There are additional, 5.2 mm line and neutral slots, spaced 26.5 mm (indicated by ?), probably meant for an Italian type 16A plug. However, only a, now obsolete, non-earthed 16A plug can be used because the central earth slot has a diameter of 4.2 rather than 5.2 mm. (v) Internal wiring for round pin L and N slots is separated from flat blade L and N slots, which means that the reversed polarity can be respected, and - in theory - the sockets can be wired to 220V (round pin) as well as 110V (flat blade). * CEI 23-50 plugs are not commonly used in Brazil, but they are one of the standards in neighboring Uruguay. Manufacturer: Cambre, Buenos Aires, Argentina. |
| 6 | 2-pole,
round pin plug rated at 10A-250V. The model shown only fits in
non-recessed sockets. Also Europlug type, unearthed plug are available
in Brazil. They would fit in recessed NBR 14136 sockets (see no. 3). |
| 8 | 2-pole
U.S. type flat blade plug rated at 15A-250V (see note below). The plug
is not polarized because L and N blades have the same width. Socket
nos.
1 and 2 have a wider neutral slot which suggests that also polarized
flat blade plugs are available in Brazil. |
| note | There is no strict distinction between
types of socket for 110V and 220V. Flat blade sockets may
also been connected to a 220V network. NBR 14136 sockets are used for
220V as well as
110V. Sometimes they have a label indicating the network voltage.
Examples are shown on the IEC
60906-1 page. |
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 We are supplying electric material and accessories as per German and all foreign standards. www.spezialelectric.com D-71634 Ludwigsburg Germany |
| 9, 10 |
Brazilian
socket and plug rated at 20A - 250V, with an outline of poles identical
to US NEMA 10-20 plugs and sockets. The inset of image no. 10 shows an atypical shape of the earth pin, possibly the result of the production process. In Brazil this type of plug is known as 'tipo tristinha' (sad face type). Because of the permitted use of relative high currents it is frequently used for air conditioners. For connecting new equipment a 20A version of NBR 14136 is recommended (see no. 12). |
| 11 | Comparison
of slots of a
Brazilian 20A socket (green) and Australasian standard socket
(blue). With earth slots of both types projected exactly on top
of each other it is clearly shown that Australasian plugs will not fit
in
a Brazilian 20A socket, vice versa. Designations as 'typo australiano' or 'typo argentino' are incorrect. Note the reversed polarity between BRazil and AUstralia. |
| 12 | NBR
14136 10A outlet (top; comparable to no, 3) and 20A outlet (bottom).
10A plugs have a pin diameter of 4.0 mm, whereas 20A plugs have 4.8 mm
pins. A NBR 14136 20A plug is shown on the IEC
60906-1 page. |
| 13, 14 |
The Alumbra company offers the same socket as no. 9 also for
split-phase wiring (see drawing no. 14). Depending on the
wiring of the plug, nominal 110 Volt (poles W and Y, or W and X are
connected), or 220 Volt (using X and Y poles) is available. The voltage
in Brazil may differ between province and/or city, but even buildings
can have both voltages, which points to split-phase wiring. Note that
there is no equipment ground available when using these '3-pole' plugs
and sockets. |
| Each of the plug and sockets shown above have been donated to the museum by Spezialelectric, Germany. |
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| 15 | PIAL
Legrand NBR 14136 plugue versátil. The
plugs can be
assembled in two ways: (a) with pins in line with the plug housing, or
(b) at a 90º corner. Details are explained in image no. 16. The example
shown is rated at 10A - 250V. A 20A version exists too. {LG} |
| 16 | A 'versatile' plug consist of two parts. The pin holding part has to be opened out to connect the wires. After that the plug can be assembled in two ways, indicated by green arrows, which results in two different types of plugs (see image no. 17). {LG} |
| 17 |
Adapter
plug with NBR 14136 4.0 mm pins and outlet for 2-pin Europlug-like
plugs and NEMA 1-15 and 5-15 flat blade plugs.
Manufacturer: Alumbra. {FSE} |
| Footnote Practical consequences of the introduction of the new NBR 14136 standard are among others that: (1) beginning January 1st, 2007 new residential, commercial and industrial wall outlet installations must comply with this new standard, and (2) beginning August 1st, 2007 imported electrical devices must comply with NBR 14136 regulations. It is the aim to gradually phase out NEMA flat blade and Schuko devices in Brazil. |
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Logos of Brazilian
manufacturers of plugs and sockets. Alumbra Materiais Elétricos, Porto Alegre; founded in 1963. Material shown above: nos 1-3, 5-11, 13 and 17. Pial,Sao Paulo. Founded in 1948; since 1977 subsidiary of Legrand. Material shown: nos 12, 15, 16 Steck da Amazônia Industria Elétrica, Sao Paulo. Founded in 1975; since 2011 subsidiary of Schneider Electric. No material shown on this page. |
| Click the flags at right for an overview
of plugs and sockets in Argentina and Uruguay. Argentinian electrotechnical companies Cambre and Richi also serves the Brazilian market. |
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