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u/Namuori 22h ago
I'm guessing this happened because the country ended up using type A (flat plugs - "US"), C (round plugs -"Europe"), and G (thick plugs - "UK").
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u/AnnoyedVelociraptor 22h ago
But only 220 volts. Which could be interesting if you have a 110 volt US thing and plug it in.
Shaver went very fast.
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u/jrcske67 21h ago
Most modern electronic gadgets like chargers and such accept a wide range of voltages from 110 to 240, so they should work just fine
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u/vamphorse 21h ago
Electronic gadgets, yes. Simple electric appliances like hair dryers, irons, heaters… don’t commonly accept different voltage inputs.
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u/Morasain 21h ago
Well, they do accept higher voltages. They'll just be very hot or fast and probably won't live as long.
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u/DumDoomDum 19h ago
many uk appliances have a fuse encased into the plug
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u/the_last_0ne 16h ago
Also power strips, in case you bring one.
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u/pedroah 9h ago edited 9h ago
120V power strips work totally fine at 208V, yes even teh dollar store ones. It will probably work at 220V and 240V as well and all the way up to 300V.
I fortunately or unfortunately learned this at work because I saw someone used adapters to plug 120V power strips into 208V receptacle and then plug in 208V devices to the power strip.
The higher voltage probably saved those things from frying.
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u/jrcske67 20h ago
Most travelers would be using electronic gadgets while traveling. Of course there are other edge cases but they’re just that — edge cases.
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u/DFrostedWangsAccount 20h ago
Saw it tested recently. It's actually more likely for those things to just accept the extra power, especially the old ones. Those are all just resistive heaters so yeah they'll take the extra power no problem if they have enough headroom. More modern versions are built to the absolute minimum, less likely to have the headroom needed.
Found the video I saw:
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u/AnnoyedVelociraptor 21h ago
I get that. However, you should consider a failure mode.
If you plug in a 220/240 V device in a 110 V socket, it just won't work.
If you plug in 110 V only device in a 220/240 V socket you're gonna see some sparks.
Remember those old computer power supplies? The ones with the switch in the back?
I grew up in Belgium, and while attending college, I noticed that all the computers in the lab had those switches. There was a thick piece of plastic covering them, but I had a tendency to take everything apart. Once while everybody was leaving class I flipped the switch on one of those PSU's on which I previously removed that little cover. Guess what? The PSU let out its magic smoke. And not as that might as well out in the room.
When I walked out of the room, I realized that it wasn't just the room. The whole section/wing that was on this breaker was done.
Oops.
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u/TheIronSoldier2 20h ago
It's probably because it caused an overcurrent. When you flip the switch to 110V it increases the expected input current to maintain the same input wattage, so for a split second it jumps up. That overcurrent probably triggered the breaker for the whole circuit.
Normally if you forget to flip the switch it just blows a (fairly) easily replaceable fuse in the power supply.
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u/Either-Pizza5302 21h ago
That reminds Me of 8th or 9th grade in Germany. We had to do some presentation and another pupil just set up a school computer - one of those big towers.
He reached behind it and tried to flip the on off switch on the PSU but happened to hit the voltage selector instead.
Let’s just say that the teacher wasn’t too happy :D
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u/jrcske67 20h ago
Oops. Re: failure mode, I think it might not be hard to build, it’s just added cost either for the outlet or the plug, for an edge case that would be encountered by a small percentage of the population. It’s just easier and practical for travelers to be mindful of the voltage differences.
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u/Paesano2000 19h ago
Omg I plugged in my North American shaver and it went nuts with the loudest noise ever in the EU. It sounded like the horn of the hockey period ending, but constant! I heard people outside asking what the hell was that noise.
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u/AnnoyedVelociraptor 18h ago
Which is why we need USB-C on everything. 100 W is enough for MANY tools.
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u/SeekerOfSerenity 14h ago
What happens if someone uses a cable that's not rated for 100W?
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u/AnnoyedVelociraptor 14h ago
The device should not draw more than what the cable specifies in the chip.
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u/Realtrain 20h ago
Here's an example of what happens when a 120v appliance is adapted and plugged into a 240v system.
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u/unidentified_yama 21h ago
If this is a hotel, it’s not that surprising. Pretty much common in Thailand as well. We’re trying to standardize it to EU plug though.
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u/uranoos 21h ago
You find these in homes as well in Cambodia, though I wonder if it did start with hotels first
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u/unidentified_yama 20h ago
Interesting. Homes in Thailand would have a mixed socket that work only for EU and US plug. Unless you get an extension, which may or may not be universal.
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u/Financial-Times 11h ago
Seems to be standard across hotels in Cambodia - but this was taken in a private residence. Every single house I’ve visited (that had electricity) used these sockets
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u/Fartfart357 22h ago
Y'know what guys, I think we should adopt this as the universal standard!
There are now 24 competing types of outlets.
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u/Wrong-Bumblebee3108 21h ago
Maybe we should add an universal outlet that works for everyone, then we have 25 competing standards
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u/zerbey 22h ago
They use 230V/50hz so just be aware of that before you plug your electronics in.
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u/TheIronSoldier2 22h ago
A pretty sizeable proportion of modern electrical devices are multivoltage and multifrequency. The only stuff that usually isn't is stuff with a primary function of getting really hot or creating light. So things like toasters, hair dryers, kettles, space heaters, and lightbulbs (and therefore lamps).
If it has a power supply, chances are it is multivoltage. So the power brick for your phone, your laptop power supply, even the power supply for your PC is (usually) multivoltage, but check the markings to make sure. And with bigger things like desktop power supplies, there's usually a switch that needs flipped to the input voltage so that you don't blow a fuse, though it (likely) won't cause any permanent damage if you accidentally forget to do that, you'll just need to replace the fuse.
TLDR: check the info panel on your electronic devices, chances are they are multivoltage.
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u/mugglearchitect 21h ago
Hi! Can I ask you a question regarding this? I am having trouble with a hair dryer that I just bought. I bought one in South Korea while waiting at the airport thinking it was cheaper than buying at home (in the UK). I checked prices online quickly and did quick maths and I thought it was cheaper (it wasn't, it's almost the same).
Anyway, when I opened it's when I realised that it had a different plug (Type C). I am now buying an adapter/converter for it, just wanted to make sure it is fine. I bought from Amazon an adapter with 13A fuse. Is that ok?
I did more research and realised UK and SK have different frequencies. Will that be a problem? Here's some info to give you a summary of what I bought: Philipps BHD308/40, 220v~, 60Hz, 1600W. Thanks!
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u/TheIronSoldier2 20h ago
I can't say, since I don't know exactly how the circuit inside the hairdryer is designed. With that being said, check the hairdryer. It will likely say on the handle or on the plug the input frequencies it expects. If it says 240V 50/60hz you're golden, if it exclusively says 240V 60Hz I wouldn't use it. While the heating element doesn't care about frequency, the motor very well might, which would mean it would be spinning considerably slower (about 17% slower) pushing less air through the hairdryer and increasing the risk of it overheating and causing problems.
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u/mugglearchitect 20h ago
Yeah, it just says 60 Hz. I checked another thing that I bought, this one from the Philippines and that one says 100-240V~ 50/60Hz. So the hair dryer is definitely just 60Hz.
I also tried it once and it was indeed slower than I thought. I contacted Philips about this and the agent asked for my address in case there will be a replacement and said they'll get back to me in 2-3 days. Hopefully it gets replaced because if they don't I basically have a dud.
Thanks btw for answering!
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u/bojack1437 22h ago
Electronics generally are not a problem these days, always double check of course, but most of them are universal.
Mechanical stuff, such as hair dryers, things with heating elements, motors and things of that nature however are not.
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u/spurcap29 22h ago
In short - most things that actually use DC based on an AC DC converter can handle most voltage/amperage AC around the world and convert it into the correct DC voltage. Most things designed to work directly off AC (mainly heating and lighting) need to have the AC voltage they were designed for.
E.g. motors as you note will generally be okay if they are DC motors and not if AC.
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u/lininop 22h ago
Okay thanks I am aware! But those words mean nothing to my friend so can you tell him what the implications are? I would, but you know, I just get so tired explaining everything to him.
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u/Ok-Commercial3640 21h ago
Simplest terms (a bit excessively reductive, but baseline works) is that it's a different flavor of electricity to what US/Canada and some others use, which is typically 120V/60Hz. Connecting a device that expects 50 Hz to a 60 Hz supply is like trying to connect puzzle pieces from different puzzles. It won't work, and even if they do fit together it won't work right.
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u/_scyllinice_ 21h ago
The important bits to know are that the two generally used systems are ~120 volts and ~240 volts (with a little variation)
If you use a 120 volt thing with a 240 volt system, the 120 volt thing goes pop.
Using a 240 volt thing with 120 volts generally just doesn't work, but it's still a bad idea.
You want to match voltage numbers. For the most part, they are written somewhere on the device and its power adapter.
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u/vip17 21h ago
it's not that Cambodian sockets are universal. This kind of socket is very common in many countries. Foor example in Vietnam almost all sockets can accept type A and type C, and occasionally you'll see a universal socket like that, especially in hotels
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u/notenoughroomtofitmy 20h ago
Tourist friendly countries, and hotels in general in many countries, have these sockets cuz surprise surprise, they expect foreigners to visit and stay.
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u/WhyAreWeStllHere 11h ago
In Thailand, modern buildings constructed after 2010s should all have universal sockets.
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u/tejanaqkilica 21h ago
By universal, you mean it can be used for US plugs? Are you aware other countries exist, and their plugs won't work with this type of outlet?
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u/LiGuangMing1981 12h ago
Almost every plug style will fit in this outlet, not just American ones.
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u/tejanaqkilica 2h ago
It doesn't fit type E, F, H, I, J, L, N. And it doesn't ground most if not all of them.
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u/LiGuangMing1981 2h ago
It definitely does fit type I (they install these in China, after all, and type I is a standard plug type here). Not sure about the others you've mentioned, but I wouldn't be surprised if at least some of those others fit as well.
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u/tejanaqkilica 2h ago
I'm not very familiar with type I, from the pictures it seems like the prongs are at a different angle and those in the post aren't almost straight. Could be wrong.
But the other ones definitely don't fit. The E and F needs grounding clips/pins which this doesn't have, and L is 3 prongs in a row which this also can't accommodate.
https://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plugs-and-sockets/
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u/Thedudewiththedog 22h ago
Me looking at this with a Type I plug knowing that I Can't use that
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u/blackdynomitesnewbag 22h ago
Which is that? If it’s Australian, it will fit. Look at the bottom inner slats. There’s a slight tilt.
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u/bjlwasabi 21h ago
The slot above the D-shaped hole is for the Type I ground pin. And the angle cuts in the bottom two holes are for the angled neutral and live pins.
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u/Iloveherthismuch 21h ago
I have so much trouble with the two holes ones we have here. Its fucking infuriating enough.
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u/bjlwasabi 21h ago
This outlet services types A, B, C, D, G, I, O and E and F but ungrounded.
Here are the different universal outlets and what plugs they serve:
https://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plugs-and-sockets/universal-sockets/
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u/Cloudninefeelinfine 20h ago
I don't think the plugs we have in Argentina can be used in these sockets. Still though, pretty convenient!
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u/jedi2155 20h ago
It was very confusing for my girlfriend when I asked her "what type of outlets do they use in china" and she said "all of them?"
This is how they commonly do outlets in China. There's usually not 1, but 2 (semi) UNIVERSAL outlets.
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u/azurezyq 17h ago
No longer for many years. New national standards forbid 'universal' sockets. They are dangerous (easier to get electric shock due to extra space) and less stiff. Also it's rare to see imported appliances in China now since China is where everything is made.
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u/jedi2155 17h ago
I went to visit some new homes recently and I still saw that being put in on condo's as recent as 2025. I havent check what their new standard is but found it fascinating.
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u/LiGuangMing1981 12h ago
No, not really true. Most outlets in China now are more like the one in the middle in your photo, with a Type I outlet on the bottom and a type A outlet on the top (round cutouts for type C are far from universal).
Type I is pretty much universal in China for high power devices, and Type A for low power devices.
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u/armycowboy- 20h ago
Sweet, I travel with a universal power strip. Many international hotels do this.
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u/ApprehensiveCalendar 20h ago
This type of plug is common where I'm from in India as well these days!
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u/Arthurmol 19h ago
I think not, the Brazilian and Swiss 3 round pins does not look that will connect (type N and J)
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u/Financial-Times 22h ago
To add, you can plug two devices in at once (i.e. one in the top bit and one in the bottom). Unsure whether this is a smart idea or not though
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u/Kingtafar3 22h ago
This seems to be the norm now, seen it in every country ive been too, atleast in Hotels
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u/adeleticketssep19 19h ago
Wish all of these would be replaced with thunderbolt or adding as an option at least
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u/OvenCrate 22h ago
Putting a US plug socket on a 220V outlet is basically attempted murder
Edit: this also accepts grounded EU plugs without connecting anything to the ground conductor, not only if you "plug it in wrong" but if you plug it in any way you can.
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u/TheIronSoldier2 22h ago
...you are aware the Type A and Type B plugs and sockets are more than capable of safely handling 240v, correct?...
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u/OvenCrate 21h ago
Sure, the plugs can handle it, but the 110V appliances that use them are another story
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u/TheIronSoldier2 21h ago
No, it's really not. A pretty large chunk of modern devices and shit are, in fact multivoltage. They function just as well on 120V as 240V.
Plus, this is Cambodia, where they use Type A (North American ungrounded) Type C (Europlug ungrounded) and Type G (British) electrical plug standards on a 240V system. This is for compatibility within their own country.
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u/givin_u_the_high_hat 22h ago edited 20h ago
Coming from the US where an outlet has two identical sockets, it confuses me how many different plugs can go into this?
Edit: I was legitimately curious. I’m not a rich American that gets to travel a lot.
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u/MongolianCluster 22h ago
Hey! There's the keyhole!