An old thread covered part of this without providing definitive answers. There is a logic to the three kinds of electric outlets you will find in Italy. There are two kinds of grounded three pin plugs that look very similar but which are not interchangeable. Smaller diameter (4mm) pins placed closer together are for lower amperage circuits (10 Amps) so are fine for things like your smart phone charger. Larger diameter (4.8mm) pins placed further apart are for higher amperage circuits (16 amps). This system prevents you from plugging a high amperage appliance e.g. an iron, into a 10 amp circuit and blowing a fuse or circuit breaker. The third type of plug is round with two pins (4.8mm) with grounding connections on the side of the round piece, and is also for higher (16 amp) circuits. This is more commonly used in other European Countries and is called a Schuko plug.
Note that some 16 amp three pin wall receptacles are designed to accept the 10 amp plugs as well. These plug types are all assigned letters by a standards organization to identify them, but these letters are not molded into the adapters.
Always check the voltage available against what your electric device or appliance needs before plugging it in.
Posted by
Virginia, USA
792 posts
great info Works, I bought these online and they worked everywhere in Italy I went:
Posted by
OP
4 posts
The link posted shows an adapter which will handle 10 amps. I think this is molded into the adapter. A different one (with larger 4.8 mm diameter lugs) is required if you want to use such an adapter for a high wattage appliance through a transformer. And you need to locate a 16 amp wall outlet for the larger lugs.
Posted by
Virginia, USA
792 posts
I can't think of any high wattage device I would use on a trip to Italy. Certainly not a hair dryer, you can buy a 220v one for about €15 over there
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Exactly Right! Good advice.
Posted by
5 posts
Great information. Pardon my ignorance. I am headed to Italy in a week or so. I purchased the Type C plugs from Amazon, same brand as the above link. Am I good to go? :-) Thanks!
Posted by
Virginia, USA
792 posts
yes, Type C and L will both work in Italy
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19092 posts
The 10/16 amp configurations in Italy is similar to the 15/20 amp configuration here for 115V. 15 amp receptacles have the two vertical slots while a 20 amp receptacle has one slot "T" shaped. 15 amp plugs have parallel blades to fit into either receptacle while 20 amp plugs usually have the second blade perpendicular to only fit into the horizontal leg of the T.
I understand that newer Italian installations now include a receptacle with a cylindrical recess to accept the hybrid E/F Schuko plug. But the 2 pin type C, which should be limited to 2.5 amps or less, fits into receptacles all over the continent.
It should be noted that the universal plug adapter referenced above has one blade slot wider to accept an American polarizing plug, but the safety features provided by polarization could be defeated because 1) Italian power is not polarized and 2) even if it were, the plug can be inserted opposite ways, which would defeat polarization half the time. American appliances with polarizing plugs (most hair dryers, curlers, and straighteners) should not be used in Italy.
Posted by
Virginia, USA
792 posts
Well noted Lee, that is why its a bad idea to bring a hair dryer/ curler to Italy. Buy one over there.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Jim and Lee, Thanks, wish I'd had all this information prior to my first Italian trip!
Posted by
California
1625 posts
I always bring my own dual voltage curling iron to Europe due to needing a specific size barrel and ceramic titanium .
Used these adapters:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0084OPT8C/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Posted by
Texas
158 posts
Just to check..... if my cell phone charger says "Capacity: Input:100~240V" will this Rick Steves' $1.00 adapter do what I need in Italy?
Posted by
752 posts
Take a few adapters with you. They can fail. The Italy adapter in my Rick Steves Universal thigmajig is a dud, just there holding the contraption together!