It is always advisable to be prepared on overseas trips and a visit to Sweden is not an exception and one of the things that a tourist must know beforehand is the type of electrical outlet and plugs used in Sweden. In order to maximize one’s use of electronic gadgets and appliances like laptop computers, cameras, radios, mobile phones, and battery chargers, an electrical outlet in Sweden must match with the plugs of these electronics.

When the plug does not match the electrical outlet, adapters could be used. The standard electrical outlet in Sweden is the Europlug as well as the Schuko. In particular, these standard sockets are the Type C European CEE 7/16 Europlug, the Type F CEE 7/5 Schuko, and the Type E European CEE 7/4. Also, the voltage used by the electronic gadgets and appliances is 220-240 volts.

For travelers who want to use their electronic gadgets and appliances that have 10-120 volts in Sweden, they will need a plug adapter and a step-down transformer. In cases like this that the voltages are not compatible in Sweden, it is best to use a voltage converter in order to avoid accidents and damages in the electronic gadget or appliance.

Type C CEE 7/16 Europlug Adapter, Plug, and Electrical Outlet

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 is one of the commonly used electrical outlet and plug types in Sweden. 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 commonly used in Sweden. Also, the receptacle end of the adapter is usually compatible with any standard electronic household plug from any country, aside from the “Type M” South African SABS1661 plug, also known as the Old British BS-546 Large. 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 apart by 19mm.

Type C adapter

In using appliances and gadgets in Sweden, the Type C Europlug could also be safely used along with the Type C, Type E, Type F, and some Type L electrical outlet. This plug in Sweden is also non-polarized and non-grounded. In most developing countries like Sweden, the usual electrical outlet used is the Type C Europlug. In addition to Sweden, there are also countries in Middle East, Southeast Asia, Pacific Rim region, Central and South America, and Caribbean that use this kind of adapter. Some of these countries are Greece, Greenland, Madagascar, Tunisia, Vietnam, Philippines, Poland, Hungary, Israel, Lithuania, Iceland, Laos, Lebanon, Russia, and Luxembourg.

 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 Schuko plug and electrical outlet was derived from the German word “Schukostecker” which means “protective contact plug.” This electrical outlet in Sweden 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 7/7 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 7/7 Schuko. On the other hand, the plug end of Type F CEE 7/7 Schuko is compatible with the variations of the Schuko electrical outlet for France and Germany.

Type F adapter

The pins of this adapter 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 are found in Schuko sockets of France. If the appliance or electronic gadget to be used in Sweden is already a Schuko, there is no need to use the Type F CEE 7/7 Schuko adapter for the electrical outlet.This Schuko plug and receptacle in Sweden also have side grounding contacts which allow symmetrical connection system for live and neutral to be reversed. The Type F CEE 7/7 Schuko is the standard in countries part of the European Union as well as those which adhere to CENELEC (Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique) standards. Most European countries including Sweden use the Type F CEE 7/7 Schuko except Denmark, Italy, England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Malta, and Cyprus that have their own standard electrical outlet.

Type E European CEE 7/4 French 2-Pin Electrical Adapter Plug and Electrical Outlet

Type E plug and outlet

The Type E electrical outlet and plug is the standard in France, Denmark, Poland, Belgium, and other European countries including Sweden. However, the Type E 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. For the electrical outlet and plug of the Type E in Sweden, 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 plugs used in Sweden 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 plugs will work along with Type F outlets in Sweden. In addition, people who are going to Sweden would need a voltage converter and plug adapters for their appliance and electronic gadgets if they do not run on 220-240 voltage. Most American electronics use 110-120 voltage so if these are to be used in Sweden, some of the ways to make it work safely and efficiently are using a transformer, a resistor-network converter, and combination converters.

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