A person who wants to have a vacation in Finland better come prepared. Some of the pieces of information one must know are the standard voltage, the type of electrical outlet, and plugs used in that particular country. In Finland, the voltage used by electronic gadgets and appliances is 220-240 volts while the primary electrical outlet types are the Type C European CEE 7/16, Type E European CEE 7/4 and the Type F CEE 7/5 Schuko.

In terms of difference in voltage, a voltage converter would be needed in Finland. If a tourist in Finland will insist on using his or her electronic gadget or appliance that uses 110-120 volts, there could be unpleasant results that might range from the damage of the electronics to causing a fire. Some of the voltage converters that could be brought to Finland by a tourist are the network-resistor converter, transformer, and the combination voltage converter. There are also cases wherein the shape of the electronic gadget or appliance’s plug is not compatible with the standard electrical outlet in Finland. To solve this problem, a tourist must use an adapter that will alter the shape of the plug to make it physically compatible with the electrical outlet.

Type C CEE 7/16 Europlug Electrical Outlet and Adapter

Type C plug and outlet

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 Finland. 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  Finland.  Also, the receptacle end of the adapter is usually compatible with any standard electronic household plug in Finland and from any country, aside from the “Type M” South African SABS1661 (Old British BS-546 Large) plug.

Tyep C adapter

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 Finland, the Type C Europlug could also be safely used with the Type C, Type E, Type F, and some Type L electrical outlets. Aside from Finland, 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. In addition, the Europlug is also the most widely used electrical outlet all over continental Europe and in the former Soviet Republics. This plug in Finland is also non-polarized and non-grounded.

Type E European CEE 7/4 Electrical Adapter Plug and Electrical Outlet

Type E plug and adapter

For the electrical outlet and plug of the Type E European CEE 7/4, the male pin is installed upwards in the electrical outlet, with the live connection in the left and neutral connection in the right. The specifications of this Type E European CEE 7/4 plugs used in Finland are two round pins spaced 19mm apart with a hole for the male grounding pin of the electrical socket.

Type E adapter

The Type E electrical outlet could also be used with Type C plugs while the Type E European CEE 7/4 plugs will work along with Type F outlets in Finland. The Type E electrical outlet and plug is the standard in France, Denmark, Poland, Belgium, and other European countries including Finland. However, the Type E European CEE 7/4 is not compatible with the Type F of Germany, the Netherlands, and other continental countries of Europe because of the round male pin in the socket.

Type F CEE 7/5 Schuko Electrical Outlet, Plug, and Adapter

Type F plug and outlet

Commonly known as the Schuko plug, the Type F CEE 7/5 Schuko plug and electrical outlet was derived from the German word “Schukostecker” which means “protective contact plug.” This electrical outlet in Finland is also similar to the Type E with the difference being its two earth clips on the side instead of the female earth contact. The Type F CEE 7/5 Schuko is used for the “Type F” CEE 7/4 Schuko style electrical socket of Germany or to a “Type E” CEE 7/5 socket of France. The receptacle end of Type F CEE 7/5 Schuko is compatible with most sockets except the “Type M” South African SABS1661 (Old British BS-546) plug and the non-grounded CEE 7/16 Europlug Socket because of its 4.0mm pin receptacles that are too small for the 4.8mm pins of the Type F CEE 7/5 Schuko. On the other hand, the plug end of Type F CEE 7/5 Schuko is compatible with the variations of the Schuko electrical outlet for France and Germany. The pins of this adapter in Finland are 4.8mm in diameter, 19mm long, and spaced 19mm apart. They have both side-grounding clips and a receptacle for the male grounding pin which is found in French Schuko sockets.

Type F adapter

If the appliance or electronic gadget to be used in Finland is already a Schuko, there is no need to use the Type F CEE 7/5 Schuko adapter for the electrical outlet. This Schuko plug and receptacle in Finland also has side grounding contacts which allow symmetrical connection system for live and neutral to be reversed. Most European countries including Finland use the Type F CEE 7/5 Schuko except Denmark, Italy, England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Malta, and Cyprus that have their own standard electrical outlet.

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