Switzerland Heavy duty plugs and sockets

SN 441011

 

Switzerland has two types of earthed, domestic single phase plugs: 10A T12 (see image right) and 16A T23. Derived 3-phase plugs are respectively T15 (10A) and T25 (16A). See images 1-6. A scheme shows the compatibility between 10A and 16A plugs and sockets. Images 7-11 show examples of out of date heavy duty plugs and sockets. In the 1930s domestic earthed sockets had an earth pin. That applied also to single phase 380V devices. Transition sockets have been designed to facilitate the change of earth pin position from socket to plug in the mid 1950s. Images 12-18 show  380V examples.

 

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1, 4	10A - 230/400V three-phase socket and plug (SEV 1011 type 15). A guide (green arrow) prevents attempts to insert a five-pin plug (see no. 4) upside down. 10A T15 plugs can also be used with 16A T25 sockets (no. 3). Manufacturers: socket: Feller AG in Horgen (ZH); plug: Electro-Mica AG im Mollis (GL).
2	10A - 230/400V three-phase T15 connector plug. Indicated L1, L2, L3, N, E configuration applies also to 16A model. Manufacturer: WAROB, trademark of PWFG Kunststofftechnik in Laupersdorf (SO).
5	Resista model 230/400V, 10A three-phase T15 plug. The plug has a rubber, water resistant housing. Manufacturer: Resista Electric SA in Renens (VD), Switzerland.   {FSE}
3, 6	16A - 230/400V three-phase socket and plug (SEV 1011 type 25). A T25 plug does not fit in a 10A T15 socket. Manufacturers: socket: Feller AG in Horgen (ZH); plug: Martin Kaiser in Hochstadt am Main, Germany

Compatibility of Swiss plugs and sockets. The scheme right shows the compatibility of single phase plugs (T11, T12 and T23), three-phase plugs (T15 and T25) and the four maching sockets. T11 and  T12 (10A) plugs fit not only in 10A and 16A single phase sockets, but also in three-phase 10A and 16A sockets. T23 (16A) plugs fit in two types of sockets: single and three-phase 16A. T15 (10A) fits in 10A and 16A three-phase sockets T25 (16A) fits only in 16A three-phase sockets.

 

7, 8	Type 10, three-phase plugs with earth pin rated at 25A - 500V. Resista plug no.8 has a robust, rubber housing. The three power pins (L1, L2, L3, are not specified) have a length of 27.0 mm and diameter of 7.5 mm. The protective earth pin is 29.5 mm long and 10 mm thick. Manufacturers are: no. 7: plug has a JJB logo, which means that it has been made by the TH-contact branch of Tschudin & Heid in Rheinach (BL), formerly Jean Jaques Buser,  {WN};   no. 8: Resista Electric in Renens (VD), Switzerland  {FSE}
9	3-Phase +N+E, 15A - 500V socket. Configuration of contacts is similar to 25A T9 sockets. Manufacturer: XAMAX AG in Zürich.   {AR}
10, 11	T7, 2-phase +E, 15A- 500V socket and plug. The line contacts are connected to either L1 and L2, or L1-L3, or L2-L3. Each combination offers 400V (previously 380V). Pin dimensions are: 24.7 / 6.0 mm for earth pin, and 21.7 / 5.0 mm for line pins. Manufacturer of socket and plug: Feller AG in Horgen (ZH).   {AR}
note	Type 7, 8, 9 and 10 are old SEV standards for heavy duty plugs and sockets, with the following specifications:  T7 (2L+E, 15A-500V), T8 (3L+E, 15A-500V), T9 (3L+N+E, 25A-500V) and T10 (3L+E, 25A-500V). These plugs and sockets can still be found in kitchens. Newer electric stoves/ovens have T25 or IEC 60309 plugs*. * T63 = IEC 60309 400V-16A (3-pin, 6h, blue);  T75 = IEC 60309 400V-16A (5-pin, 6h, red)

 

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Early Swiss domestic, earthed sockets had a pin for protective earth connection. Two 10A single phase types have been introduced in the 1930s: T2 (250V) and T18 (380V)*. The socket earth pin system has been abandoned in 1953, in favour of earth pin plugs. From 1953 until 1974 transition type sockets were available that accepted both old and new style plugs: • T14 for 10A 250V old T2 and new T12 plugs. • T20 for 10A 380V old and new T18 plugs. *  a 2-pin, not earthed 10A-380V model T3 has    existed also, at least until the 1960s.

In the 1980s (exact date unknown) T18/19 is taken out of use. The introduction of T15 (10A) and T25 (16A) 3-phase plugs and sockets (see nos 1-6 above) made a single phase 380V model superfluous. For replacement 3-pin T18 plugs were still available in 2016.

13	T18 10A - 380V single phase socket with earth pin. It is a recessed model. According to socket diagrams in Hausinstallations- vorschriften des Schweizerischen Elektrotechnischen Vereins (1985) also non-recessed T18 sockets have existed. A matching old type T18 plug is not in the museum collection. Manufacturer: Feller AG in Horgen (ZH).   {AR}
14, 15	Duplex 10A socket with a T14 (250V) and T20 (380V) outlet. Image 15 shows the inner part of the T20 outlet. Comparable images of a T14 outlet are shown on the page about Swiss domestic plugs and sockets. The socket is still in a remarkable good condition, despite being located outdoors for about half a century. Excellent quality, made by Adolf Feller AG in Horgen.   {RD}
16	T18 plug with earth pin, rated at 10A - 380. The plug fits in T20 socket (no. 14) and T19 sockets, but is incompatible with the old T18 socket (image 13). Manufacturer: F. Baillod S.A. in La Chaux-de-Fonds (NE).
17, 18	T19 connector (no. 17) and matching T18 plug (no. 18). Rating 10A - 380V. Both have a SEV certification mark (S+ type, introduced in 2002) and logos of companies Tschudin & Heid  AG and Feller AG. Both companies have for some time coordinated their plug production.    {ARF}

Company logos shown on Swiss plugs and sockets shown above. Companies that simply used thier full name have been left out (i.e. WAROB and Resista Electric).

a	Feller AG. Classic logo found on nos. 1 and 10-12, used by the company founded in 1909 by Adolf Feller in Horgen (ZH), Switzerland.
b	Feller AG. Modern logo found on socket no 3, used by the company that became in 1994 a part of Schneider Electric.
c	Electro-Mica AG in Mollis (GL), a family owned company founded in 1931; logo found on plug no. 4.
d	Martin Kaiser Elektrotechnische Fabrik in Hochstadt am Main (Germany); logo found on plug no. 6.
e	XAMAX AG in Zürich; logo found on socket no. 9.
f	F. Baillod S.A. in La Chaux-de-Fonds (NE), Switzerland; logo on plug no. 13.
g	Tschudin & Heid in Waldenburg (BL), a family owned company founded in 1900; logo found on plug nos 17 and 18.
	More information about Swiss companies can be found in a manufacturer list.

 

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