When travelling overseas, tourists must know some basic information about the country they are visiting. For instance, for those who want to visit Denmark, it is important that they should know the standard plug and electrical outlet type used in that country, as well as the voltage used by the appliances and electronic gadgets. In Denmark, the primary electrical outlet is the Type K Danish SRAF 1962/DB although the common Type C European CEE 7/16 Europlug could also be found in various areas. For the voltage, appliances and electronic gadgets in Denmark use 220-240 volts.

Another is that tourists must also be prepared with the necessary adapters that might be needed. Adapters are used when the plug of the appliance or electronic gadget does not match the shape of the electrical outlet. There are also voltage converters that allow tourists to use their 110-120 volts gadgets and electronic appliances together with the 220-240 volts present in Denmark. Examples of these voltage converters are the transformer, network-resistor converter, and the combination voltage converter.

Type K Danish SRAF 1962/DB Plug, Electrical Outlet, and Adapter

Type K electrical outlet

The Type K Danish SRAF 1962/DB is the standard electrical outlet in Denmark and the receptacle end of this plug is compatible with any standard household plug in Denmark except the Type M South African SABS1661 (Old British BS-546 Large) plug. This Type K also has pins that are 4.8mm in diameter, similar to the Schuko plug of Germany and France. However, the difference of the Type K Danish plug from the German and French schuko is that the standard plug of Denmark has a 6.0mm half-cylinder grounding pin that is uniquely shaped and positioned. This kind of plug from Denmark is also polarized and grounded. Although Europlugs and Schuko plugs are compatible with the Swiss electrical outlet, the connection might be grounded. In addition, this plug from Denmark could only be plugged into a Danish electrical outlet.

Type K plug

In particular, the specifications of the Type K Danish plug and electrical outlet are two round pins and a spade grounding pin. This Type K plug from Denmark is also known as Danish 10 A/250 V and it is not compatible with appliances that need to be earthed. Another variation of the Type K plug is the DK 2-5a which is solely used for surge-protected computer circuits. For the electrical outlet, the Type K electrical outlet from Denmark is equipped with a switch to prevent the live pins from touching when connecting or disconnecting the plug. There are also some electrical outlets that do not have a switch, but these are required to have a cavity that prevents the pins from touching. Also, the electrical outlet was designed in such a way that the pins will not come in contact with each other. There are new electronic installations in Denmark as well that require grounded electrical outlets and older versions must be protected by RCD/GFCI (HFI in Denmark).

Type K adapter

In 2008, because of the huge amount of E and F Shucko plugs in Denmark, the government had decided to make it legal to install the Type E electrical outlet in homes and buildings instead of the Type K, but installation of the Type F Schuko is still considered illegal. And although the Type K electrical outlet and plug is the standard in Denmark, there are also some countries that use this electrical outlet and plug like Bangladesh, Faeroe Islands, Greenland, Senegal, Tunisia, Madagascar, Maldives, and Guinea.

Type C CEE 7/16 Europlug Electrical Outlet and Adapter

Type C plug and electrical outlet

The Type C Europlug is also known as the CEE 7/16 (Europlug 2.5 A/250 V unearthed), which is a bit similar, only slightly smaller, to the CEE 7/17 and it is one of the most commonly used electrical outlet and plug in  the Denmark. The Type C Europlug alters the shape of the appliance’s plug so that it could be used into a “Type C” European CEE 7/16 Class II non-grounded Europlug socket or a Soviet-era Russian GOST 7396 Class II non-grounded socket used in Denmark. Also, the receptacle end of the adapter is usually compatible with any standard electronic household plug in Denmark and from any country, aside from the “Type M” South African SABS1661 (Old British BS-546 Large) plug.

Type C adapter

The plug end of the Type C Europlug is compatible as well with the other types of sockets used in Europe, like that of the grounded “Type F” German and “Type E” French Schuko socket, “Type L” Italian socket, “Type H” Israeli socket, “Type J” Swiss socket, and “Type K” Danish socket, although connections to some of these sockets are non-grounded. The pins of the Type C Europlug are 4.0mm in diameter, 19mm long and are spaced  19mm apart. In using appliances and gadgets in Vietnam, the Type C Europlug could also be safely used with the Type C, Type E, Type F, and some Type L electrical outlets. This plug in Denmark is also non-polarized and non-grounded. In addition, the Europlug is also the most widely used electrical outlet all over continental Europe and in the former Soviet Republics. Aside from Denmark, there are also countries in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Pacific Rim region, Central and South America, and Caribbean that use this kind of adapter.

Voltage Converters

There are also cases when it is the voltage that is not compatible as Denmark uses 220-240 volts and most American products are 110-120 volts, a voltage converter will be needed. An example of these are the network-resistor converter, the transformer, and a combination of the two. The last one might be the most handy in a tourist’s trip to Denmark. Just a quick stop at a hardware or electronic store in Denmark and one could already have an adapter for the Type K electrical outlet or voltage converter for the 220-240 V that will be needed.

About kristine

View all post by kristine