Mains Plugs

Ensure you've always got safety and power to hand for all your favourite tools with our range of mains plugs. Whether you need domestic or industrial plugs, extensions, splitters, or adaptors, Cromwell have a wide range of products to suit all your needs from industry leading brands such as SMJ®, Defender Power And Light®, and Connexion®.

What are mains plugs?

Mains plugs are an essential connection which attaches to a power source and can provide power to the required electrical device. They come in different shapes and voltage ratings to ensure that the device can be used safely in the required environment.

Why use mains plugs?

Changing the mains plugs are a common action in most industries as circumstances change or damage occurs. Selecting the correct mains plug for the application is crucial to ensure longevity of the device and safe operation.

When are mains plugs used?

Mains plugs are used when an electrical device didn't come with a plug or if current mains plug has been damaged in some way or is incompatible with the current environment. An example of this would be when bringing in a device from another country to the UK where the voltage is the same, but the plug is different, in which case a new plug would be required. The UK uses 3 pin plug sockets with rectangular slots which is quite unique so the mains plugs aren't interchangeable.

Mains plugs types

There are multiple different types of mains plugs available for different countries and their power source types. These differences are usually based on the number and shape of prongs, whether there is earthing, and the voltage they can support. In the UK, the power sockets have a built-in shutter on the positive and neutral connections to prevent the introduction of foreign materials. Type G mains plugs are used in the UK due to the ability to open these shutters and safely ground the device before having power sent through the device. Below are some of the most popular plugs used around the world:

• Type A - Mainly used in the USA, Canada, Mexico & Japan. It is ungrounded and is built with 2 flat prongs, and supports a maximum of 15 Amps, and 100-127 Volts.

• Type B - Mainly used in the USA, Canada, Mexico & Japan. It is grounded and is built with 2 flat prongs and a round prong, and supports a maximum of 15 Amps, and 100-127 Volts.

• Type C - Mainly used in Europe, South America & Asia. It is ungrounded and is built with 2 round prongs, supports 2.5, 10 & 16 Amps, and 220-240 Volts.

• Type E - Mainly used in certain European countries such as France and Belgium. It is grounded and is built with 2 round prongs, supports 16 Amps, and 220-240 Volts.

• Type F - Mainly used in Europe except for the UK & Ireland. It is grounded and is built with 2 round prongs, supports 16 Amps, and 220-240 Volts.

• Type G - Mainly used in the UK, Ireland, and a selection of other countries. It is grounded and is built with 3 rectangular prongs, supports 13 Amps, and 220-240 Volts.

• Type I - Mainly used in Australia, New Zealand, China & Argentina. It can be grounded or ungrounded depending on the prongs. It is built with 2 or 3 flat prongs, with the third being ground. It supports 10 Amps and 220-240 Volts.

Considerations when choosing a mains plugs

• Type - As mentioned above, there are various types of mains plugs based on the region, so it's important to select the correct type of plug.
• Current Rating - The mains plugs maximum amperage rating must be above the device's amperage ratings to ensure safe operation.
• Additional features - Any additional features required need to paid attention to such as any USB ports attached.

Mains plugs jargon buster

We want to make it easier for you to shop our range of mains plugs, so we've outlined and explained some key terms to allow you to make a confident purchasing decision.

What exactly is volts, watts and amps?

• Volts - The voltage or volts of a product refers to the difference in electrical energy between two parts of an electrical circuit. The bigger this difference is, the bigger the voltage of a product will be.

• Watts - This refers to the power used by a circuit. If you multiply the voltage by the current, you can see how many watts the circuit uses.

• Amps - Amps or amperes refers to the easurement of electrical current.

FAQs

What is a mains plug casing made out of?

The casing of a mains plug is usually made from ABS plastic. This type of plastic is sturdy, can be coloured in various colours, and has high electric insulating properties ensuring the safety of the user.