In Russia, the standard voltage used by electronic gadgets and appliances is 220-240 volts with a frequency of 50Hz. Russia also uses two types of electrical outlet and plug, the Type C CEE 7/16  and Type F CEE 7/5 Schuko. The Type F CEE 7/5 Schuko electrical outlet and plug is used in contemporary and new structures while older ones have the Type C CEE 7/16  electrical outlet and plug. These two types of plug and electrical outlet are some of the most commonly used all throughout Europe.

Most European countries have the Type C CEE 7/16  and Type F CEE 7/5 Schuko as standards. Aside from these, a tourist who wants to go to Russia must also prepare adapters and voltage converters.

Adapters are used to alter the shape of the plug in instances when it is not compatible with the shape of the electrical outlet present in Russia. There are different kinds of adapters designed for particular plug types although there is also the universal adapter. In one’s trip to Russia or to any country, a universal adapter will be really helpful. A universal adapter in Russia could be used together with almost any type of plug and electrical outlet. Aside from the adapters, another necessary item would be the voltage converter. There are electronic gadgets and appliances that do not use the same voltage required in Russia. Voltage converters are used to solve the problem of incompatibility between the voltages.

Type C CEE 7/16 Europlug Electrical Outlet and Adapter

Type C plug and 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 Russia. The Type C CEE 7/16 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 Russia. Also, the receptacle end of the adapter is usually compatible with any standard electronic household plug in Russia and from any country, aside from the “Type M” South African SABS1661 (Old British BS-546 Large) plug.

Type C adapter

The pins of the Type C CEE 7/16 Europlug are 4.0mm in diameter, 19mm long and are spaced 19mm apart. In using appliances and gadgets in Russia, the Type C CEE 7/16 Europlug could also be safely used with the Type C, Type E, Type F, and some Type L electrical outlets. In addition, the Type C CEE 7/16 Europlug is also the most widely used electrical outlet all over continental Europe and in the former Soviet Republics. This plug in Russia is also non-polarized and non-grounded. Aside from Russia, 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.

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

Type F plug and outlet

Commonly known as the Schuko plug, the Type F CEE 7/5 plug and electrical outlet was derived from the German word “Schukostecker” which means “protective contact plug.” This electrical outlet in Russia 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 7/7 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.

Type F adapter

This Schuko plug and receptacle in Russia also has side grounding contacts which allow symmetrical connection system for live and neutral to be reversed. Most European countries including Russia 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. 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 Russia 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. If the appliance or electronic gadget to be used in Russia is already a Schuko, there is no need to use the Type F CEE 7/5 Schuko adapter for the electrical outlet.

Voltage Converters

Travel voltage converter

There are three kinds of voltage converters available: the transformer, the network-resistor converter, and the combination of these two. For laptop computers, cameras, mp3 players, and charging of batteries in Russia, the recommended voltage converter to be used is the transformer as it has a lower maximum watt rating of 50 to 100 watts and it could be used continuously although it could be heavy because of the large iron rods and copper wires inside. The resistor-network converter could support 50-1600 watts and are often used for a short period of time and in light-weight electrical appliances like hair dryers and irons.

Transformer

In a tourist’s trip to Russia, if the the wrong plug is inserted in the wrong electrical outlet or the voltage does not match, there could be some real damage to the appliance or electronic gadget. In worse cases, this might even cause electrocution. If the voltage of the appliance or electronic gadget to be used in Russia does not match its 220-240 volts requirement, like most American products that only use 110-120 volts, a tourist in Russia would need a voltage converter. It is important to know the proper voltage, electrical outlet, plugs, and adapters to use when visiting Russia and other countries because sometimes these electric requirements vary depending on the location.