Type E/F (CEE 7/7) - The European Hybrid Plug

Combines the side-contact earth of German Schuko with the male earth pin of the French Type E - one plug works in both socket systems.

The CEE 7/7 plug is a clever hybrid that solves a long-standing European problem: French and German wall sockets use different protective-earth mechanisms. The German Schuko Type F has two flat side contacts; the French Type E has a male earth pin protruding from the socket and a corresponding hole in the plug. CEE 7/7 carries both: the side-contact strips on the plug body for Schuko sockets, and a hollow centre receptacle for the French earth pin. The two round 4.8 mm pins for line and neutral are shared. As a result, a single CEE 7/7 cable powers a device anywhere from Lisbon to Warsaw.

Technical Specifications

Standard	CEE 7/7 (hybrid)
Rated current	16 A
Rated voltage	230 V AC
Poles	2 + dual earth (side-contact + receptacle)
Compatible sockets	CEE 7/3 (Schuko), CEE 7/5 (Type E)
Polarisation	Asymmetric (only one orientation in Type E sockets)
Typical use	Class I devices for the EU export market

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Frequently Asked Questions

In which countries does CEE 7/7 work?

All Schuko countries (DE, AT, NL, ES, PT, SE, NO, FI, GR) AND all Type E countries (FR, BE, PL, CZ, SK). Effectively continental Europe minus Switzerland (Type J) and Italy (Type L) and Denmark (Type K).

Is CEE 7/7 polarised?

In Schuko sockets it is symmetrical (line / neutral interchangeable). In Type E sockets the plug only fits one way because of the earth pin - so polarisation is partly enforced.

Can I plug a Schuko (CEE 7/4) into a French Type E socket?

No - the Schuko plug has no receptacle for the French earth pin, so it physically does not fit. The CEE 7/7 hybrid is the solution.

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