Type N (NBR 14136 / IEC 60906-1) - The Brazilian Mains Plug

Three round pins in a triangle - the IEC 60906-1 attempt at a global plug standard, adopted by Brazil and South Africa.

The Type N plug per NBR 14136 is electrically identical to IEC 60906-1 - the international standard proposed in 1986 as a global mains plug. Three round 4 mm pins arranged in a small triangle (earth at top, line and neutral below), recessed socket throat for finger safety. Rated 10 A or 20 A. Brazil made it mandatory in 2010, replacing a previous mix of Type A, B and C. South Africa adopted it as SANS 164-2 in 2018 to replace Type M. The plug is also Europlug-compatible: a Type C plug fits Type N sockets without protective earth.

Technical Specifications

Standard	NBR 14136 / IEC 60906-1 / SANS 164-2
Rated current	10 A or 20 A
Rated voltage	127 / 220 V AC (Brazil), 230 V (SA)
Pins	3 round 4 mm in triangle
Recessed socket	Yes (finger safety)
Europlug compatibility	Yes (Type C fits)
Countries	Brazil (mandatory), South Africa (rollout since 2018)

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why was IEC 60906-1 not adopted globally?

Each country protects its installed base of millions of sockets. A worldwide replacement would cost trillions and serves no urgent purpose. Only Brazil and South Africa moved to the standard from scratch.

Is Brazilian voltage really mixed?

Yes - parts of Brazil use 127 V (older grids), others 220 V (newer grids), depending on the city / state. Always check the rating before plugging in.

Type N is just a smaller Type J?

Visually similar but not compatible. Type J (Swiss) has hexagonal pin arrangement and 10 mm pin spacing; Type N is triangular with smaller spacing. Plugs do NOT interchange.

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