SI 32 standard Israeli plugs and sockets |
System
that is only
used in Israel and areas controlled by the Palestinian National
Authority
(West Bank) and Gaza Strip. Find at the bottom of the page a note about the similarity between SI 32 and HNA plugs. |
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Intro | A short history of Israeli sockets and
plugs may help to understand the differences between nos. 1-2 and 3-4. Up until the early 1980s SI 32 plugs had flat pins. These plugs and corresponding sockets were rated at 10A-250V. In the early 1980s rating was upgraded to 16A, without any change of design. It appeared that the upgrading could result in overheating when high drain appliances were used. To solve the problem a new type of plugs with round pins was announced in 1989. First new sockets were introduced that could handle both flat and round pin plugs. Round pin plugs followed early 2000. The delayed introduction of plugs ensured that in 2000 most sockets could accept round pin plugs. Nowadays you will find also sockets with round slots only. |
1,
5 |
Older
model SI 32
sockets, rated at 16A, 250V. It
is a typical 1990s - early 2000s model, designed for flat blade plugs
and round pin
plugs (as explained in the introduction above).
Because of the round holes (diameter 4.3-4.6 mm) and a spacing
of N and
L slots of 19 mm, sockets accept
Europlugs (see image no. 5). Brand names: Electrosen (1) and Tylon (5),
see logos and caption image at the bottom of the page, for additional
details.
{AZ} |
2 | Older model SI 32 plug with flat blade pins. Rating 16A-250V. The plug must have been made between early 1980s and early 2000s. Pins are 4.9 -5.0 mm wide, 2.4 - 2.5 mm thick and 18.5 - 18.9 mm long. Brand name: NISKO. {AZ} |
3 | New model
SI 32 socket for round pin plugs (see no. 4).
Rating: 16A-250V. Older, flat blade pins fit also in this modern
sockets, that has been bought in Ramallah in 2013. Slot diameter is 5.2
mm. Brand name: Mepa Elektrik A.S., Istanbul, Turkey. {PB} Note that slots are wide enough to accommodate also plugs with flat blade pins. |
4 | New
model SI 32 plug with round pins. Rating 16A-250V. Pins have a
diameter of 4.1 mm; pin length varies between 17.8 and 18.3 mm. Pins
are marginally thinner and shorter than specified in SI32 (see note
below). Brand name: I.G. {PB} |
6 | Connector plug (older model) for an extension cable. The plug has two vertical tabs to prevent insertion of multi-plugs that could overload cables. Tabs were often broken off. Newer connector plugs do not have tabs. Brand name: unknown. {AZ} |
7 | Plug
type with two parallel flat pins and a round earth pin. Corresponding
sockets were used in local Uninterrupted Power Systems and IT supply
systems to prevent connection of unauthorized, non-critical equipment.
An older version had a flat, rather than round earth pin. The flat
earth pin was positioned perpendicular to the power pins. The plug does
not fit in socket no.1, but can be inserted in the newer socket no. 3.
Brand name: NISKO. {AZ} The configuration of the shown plug is similar to North American 15A, 250V plugs (NEMA 6-15P), but brute force is needed to insert this plug into a US socket, because Israeli blades are 0.9 mm thicker than US blades. |
8 | Old
type 16A socket with child-safe locking mechanism. The lock that has to
be rotated clockwise to insert a plug, is an integral part
of the socket construction, not an add-on type of shutter.
After
releasing the plug, a spring
ensures that the plate automatically rotates back to its
safe position. The
socket can only be used with plugs that have flat blades (see slot for
earth pin), or round pin Europlugs. Manufacturer: Waisbord Electric Ltd
(see logo f below). {DH} |
note |
Sockets and plugs were upgraded to 16A in the early 1980s, but pin dimensions remained essentially unchanged. This means that they are still not always safe - depending on the specifications of the manufacturer - when a full 16A load is applied. I am grateful to Ash K. for providing information about history and details of Israeli plugs and sockets. |
Logos on displayed plugs and sockets. a: Electrosen, Bnei Brak, Israel (no. 1); b: unknown company (no. 6); c: Nisko, Tel-Aviv, Israel (nos. 2 and 7); d: I.G. International Ltd. (no. 4); e: Tylon, Nes Ziona, Israel (no. 5). The two words in the Tylon logo mean 'plug' (horizontal) and 'socket' (vertical); f: Waisbord Electric Ltd in Petah Tikua, near Tel Aviv (no. 8). |
9 Old SI 32 plugs with angled, flat pins are nearly identical to German domestic HNA* plugs, see image left. HNA plugs fit perfectly in SI 32 sockets, vice versa. Find more information on the page about earthed sockets with similar contact configurations. * HNA = Handelsschiff-Normen-Ausschuss (cargo vessel standard committee) was introduced in the late 1920s, while SI 32 has been introduced not before late 1940s. It seems unlikely that the Israeli type has been developed without knowledge of HNA, but any hard proof of a relation has not yet been found. |
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