The electrical outlet and power plug type E are widely used in Belgium, France, the Czech Republic, Morocco, Slovakia, and Tunisia.
The type E power plug is compatible with the type F socket, and the same is the case between the Type F plug and the type E socket.
Belgium and France use the standardized sockets, which is different from the CEE 7/4 socket, aka type F socket.
Previously, type F sockets were incompatible with type E plugs.
This was because the grounding in the type E socket was brought about by a round male pin, which permanently in the socket.
Old models of the Type F plug did not have holes for the pins in the type E socket, hence the incompatibility.
The grounding pin in the type E socket has a length of 14 mm with a diameter of 4.8 mm.
There are similarities between the ground C and E plugs, but the round pins and female contact for the socket’s grounding pin is the major difference between them.
Type E round pins have a diameter of 4.8 mm, with a length of 19 mm, separated by a distance of 19 mm.
The plug’s center to center distance between the middle of the imaginary line which connects the two pins and the female contact is 10 mm.
The universal Continental European standard E/F plug was developed due to the difference between E and F sockets.
The plug has an earthling clip in its top and bottom indentations.
There’s also a female contact for the type E socket grounding pin. Though this plug does not have round pins, plastic notches on the right and left sides help fit into the type F socket.
The difference in the original type E plugs from type F sockets soon made it outdated. It can still be found in old appliances. The plug is rated 16 amps.
For the plug to be used, the equipment must either be connected to a higher power connector, such as the IEC 60309 system or the mains. The type E socket can accept the type C plug.
Since the socket is recessed by 15 mm, if a plug is partially removed, it poses no risk of electrocution.
