Type I (AS/NZS 3112) - Australia / New Zealand / Argentina
Two angled flat pins forming a V, plus an earth pin below - the Australian / New Zealand / Argentinian / Chinese mains plug.
The Type I plug per AS/NZS 3112 is the standard mains plug in Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Argentina, China (with a slight variant) and several other countries. Two flat pins angled at 30 degrees to form a V shape for line and neutral, plus a vertical flat earth pin below them. Rated 10 A at 230 V (officially - many AU/NZ installations run at 240 V). A 15 A variant has a wider earth pin, a 20 A variant has wider line and neutral pins. Argentina uses an inverted variant (line and neutral swapped) - mechanically interchangeable but with reversed polarity.
Technical Specifications
| Standard | AS/NZS 3112 |
| Rated current | 10 A (15 A and 20 A variants) |
| Rated voltage | 230 V AC (240 V common) |
| Pins | 2 flat angled + 1 earth |
| Class | I |
| Countries | Australia, NZ, PNG, Argentina, China (variant) |
| Switched sockets | Mandatory in AU/NZ |
Matching products in the shop
- Type I power cords
- AU/NZ travel adapters
- China export cables
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Australian and Argentinian sockets the same?
Mechanically yes, but Argentina inverts line and neutral. A device that depends on correct polarity (some single-pole switches, two-pin clamps) may behave unexpectedly. Modern double-pole switching avoids the issue.
Is the Chinese Type I different?
Slightly - China uses GB 1002 / GB 2099, which has the same V shape but a different pin spacing. AU/NZ plugs do not fit Chinese sockets cleanly.
Why are AU sockets switched?
Australian Standard AS/NZS 3000 mandates a switch on every wall socket. This adds a level of safety - you can isolate the device without unplugging.
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