Global Plug Types and Voltage Standards Guide.

From the early 1900s to around 1947, there were no fixed rules or standards for how plugs and sockets looked or worked. Different countries were still using different voltages and plug shapes. Changing them would have cost a lot of money. Also, many companies only focus on their own country’s market to make more profit. So today, we have so many different kinds of plugs around the world.

US Plug (Type A/B)

The American plug was made by a group called NEMA (the National Electrical Manufacturers Association). At first, it was the Type A plug, which had two flat metal pins and no grounding pin.
Later, the Type B plug was made. It has a round grounding pin in the middle to make it safer to use. Since 1962, all new homes in the US and Canada must use the safer grounded Type B outlets.

Type A has two flat pins. Type B has two flat pins plus one round grounding pin. They use single-phase power in most homes, while three-phase power is used for industrial machines and heavy equipment. This is part of the US power grid standards, which differ from Europe’s 230V systems.
Type A plugs can fit into Type B outlets, but they won’t be grounded. We found that Type A and Type B plugs are popular in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Japan, Taiwan, and some parts of South America and Asia.
Type A plugs don’t have a grounding pin, so they’re good for small devices such as phone chargers or lamps. Type B plugs are safer because they have a grounding pin. Also, both Type A and Type B plugs don’t have fuses inside. So when our American customers receive the machine, we usually recommend that they prepare a plug adapter to connect the machine to the power outlet.

European Plug (Type C, Type E, and Type F).

European common plug types include Type C (Europlug), a two-round-pin plug, and Type E/F (Schuko), which adds a grounding pin or clips. The Type C plug appeared in the 1950s. It fits most two-hole wall outlets. It is one of the simplest and most common plugs in the world.

The Type C plug has two round pins, each 4 millimeters wide and 19 millimeters apart. It doesn’t have a grounding pin and a fixed direction — the live wire and neutral wire can safely change places. Because it has no ground, Type C is used for low-power, double-insulated devices like phone chargers, radios, and laptops. It can fit into Type E and Type F sockets found in most of Europe. However, it won’t work in the UK or the US without an adapter.
Type E plugs have two round prongs and a hole in the center for the protruding grounding prong on the outlet.
Type F plugs have two round prongs and two grounding prongs on the top and bottom.

Most countries in Europe use the IEC power standard, which means the voltage is 230 volts and the frequency is 50 hertz. This voltage is common for both domestic outlets and light industrial machines, ensuring electrical compatibility across EU countries. It’s used all across Europe — in Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Russia, and many other places — plus parts of the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.
So most of GQ Agri’s agricultural machinery shipped to Europe can be used with the Type C connector . If customers require E-type and F-type plugs, we can also provide customized services. Some countries require a converter. Of course, we will also remind customers to consider whether the voltage is compatible and use a transformer if necessary.

British Plug (Type G).

The British Type G plug was introduced in 1947, after World War II. It replaced older plugs and became the standard for the UK and many Commonwealth countries.
The British Type G plug’s design is very safe, with a built-in fuse inside the plug. It has three rectangular pins — one long ground pin at the top and two flat pins for power below. In the UK, single-phase 230V and three-phase 400V systems are standard for industrial machine power requirements, following strict electrical safety and wiring standards.
Every Type G plug includes a small fuse (3A, 5A, or 13A) to prevent overload. It’s standard in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, and the UAE. Type G is considered one of the safest plugs in the world. The fuse helps protect your device, and the socket has a safety shutter so kids can’t stick objects into it.
However, it’s not very compatible — you can’t plug it into any other type of outlet without an adapter. So when our British customers buy a GQ Agri machine, we can provide customized plug and motor voltage configuration services based on the customer’s location in the UK to adapt to the customer’s local production operations.

Australian Plug (Type I).

The Type I plug was first made in Australia in the 1930s and became the official national standard in 1938. Later, New Zealand and China also used similar versions. It has two flat, angled pins that form a “V” shape, and a vertical grounding pin.
Australia’s mains electricity runs at 50Hz, similar to Europe, which helps ensure motor efficiency and consistent performance for exported machines. However, travelers still need a plug adapter due to the unique socket shape.
Wall sockets in Australia often have a switch that turns the power on or off — a great safety feature! Used in Australia, New Zealand, China, and Argentina. Australian plugs are quite safe. The pins are partially insulated to prevent shocks.
However, the Chinese version has the ground pin at the top, so not every Australian plug fits perfectly in older Chinese sockets. If I travel from Australia to visit clients in Europe or the US, I always need an adapter plug. But in China, my Australian plug usually fits just fine!

South African Plug (Type M/N).

South Africa used to follow the old British plug standard (BS 546). Some big power machines use type M plugs. Recently, South Africa started using the Type N plug, which is a newer and safer international standard.

• The Type M plug has three big round pins in a triangle shape, and the Type N plug has three smaller pins with insulation.
• The Type M plug can carry 15 amps, and the Type N plug can carry 16 amps. Both use 250 volts.

In South Africa, and in some parts of Brazil and India, we could see that people are changing from Type M to Type N plugs. Now the Type M plug is old, but it is still strong and very durable. South Africa’s national voltage is 230 volts, and the frequency is 50 hertz; it follows the international plug and socket standard. Three-phase power (400V) is used in factories and large industrial sites, listed in most countries’ electricity guides.
Type N sockets can also fit Type C plugs, but not Type M plugs. When I visited South Africa, I needed a Type M/N adapter. If you buy our agricultural machinery and use it here, it’s smart to buy a universal travel adapter that covers D, M, and N — just in case! If you think too much trouble, there’s another solution. GQ agricultural machinery can be customized to your local voltage specifications during production and assembly. Simply tell us your local plug type and voltage, and getting the machine started should be a breeze.

Chinese plug.

Actually, one kind of plug we use in mainland China. The normal voltage is 220V, and the frequency is 50Hz. China has three main kinds of plugs: Type A, Type C, and Type I.

• Type A Plug:This plug has two flat, parallel pins. It doesn’t have a grounding pin, so we use it for small and low-power devices, like phone chargers or fans. We can still find it in some older buildings or simple sockets in China.
• Type C Plug: This one has two round pins. It’s also not grounded, but it’s very common and easy to use in many places. Some modern hotels and offices in China have sockets that can fit Type C plugs.
• Type I Plug: This kind of plug has three flat pins — two are in a “V” shape, and there is one grounding pin in the middle. In recent years, the “V” shape of the neutral and live wires has been gradually replaced with a parallel design.

It is safer and can handle more power, so people usually use it for big machines like Oil presses, nut oil seed rotary electric roaster machine, and Hydraulic Oil Press Machine. It is now the most common and standard plug type in China.

Below I have summarized some country specific voltage and frequency chart.

Plug Type	Illustration	Common Countries	Rated Voltage (V)	Frequency (Hz)	Pin Type & Number
Type A (Flat 2-pin, North American standard)		USA 🇺🇸, Canada 🇨🇦, Japan 🇯🇵, Taiwan 🇹🇼, Mexico 🇲🇽	100–127	60	2 flat pins
Type B (3-pin North American)		USA 🇺🇸, Canada 🇨🇦, Mexico 🇲🇽	100–127	60	2 flat pins + 1 round grounding pin
Type C (Europlug, 2 round pins)		Germany 🇩🇪, France 🇫🇷, Italy 🇮🇹, Spain 🇪🇸, Russia 🇷🇺, and most of Europe	220–250	50	2 round pins (φ4mm, 19mm apart)
Type G (British standard 3-pin)		UK 🇬🇧, Ireland 🇮🇪, Hong Kong 🇭🇰, Singapore 🇸🇬, Malaysia 🇲🇾, UAE 🇦🇪	220–240	50	3 rectangular pins (top pin is ground)
Type I (Australian/Chinese 3-pin)		Australia 🇦🇺, New Zealand 🇳🇿, China 🇨🇳, Argentina 🇦🇷	220–240	50	2 angled flat pins + 1 vertical ground pin
Type M / N (South African standard)		South Africa 🇿🇦, Brazil 🇧🇷, India 🇮🇳 (some areas)	220–250	50	3 round pins (M: φ10mm; N: φ4.5mm with insulation sleeves)

This difference is shown in most country-specific voltage and frequency tables. Understanding these global voltage standards and plug types helps prevent damage to machinery and ensure electrical compatibility during custom export. When exporting GQ machines, we confirm local voltage requirements with our customers. We also offer custom-designed equipment based on the region’s markings. Using the wrong plug or voltage will damage the equipment and even cause a fire.

As an exporter of agricultural machinery and equipment, we’ve seen too many customers lose work and profits due to these minor power supply voltage issues. Therefore, it’s crucial to be vigilant and choose the right agricultural machinery that can bring you continuous benefits.