Interpower Connections is a monthly newsletter dedicated to giving you information to assist you when designing equipment for worldwide use. There are over 21 standard plug patterns used around the world. It can be a daunting task to develop equipment for worldwide use trying to keep plug patterns and countries along with their voltages and frequencies straight. In our
Interpower Connections newsletter, we are covering the 21 standard plug patterns used worldwide and giving you the information and resources you need when designing your equipment for worldwide use. To date, we have covered Germany, the United Kingdom, Denmark, France and Belgium, India and South Africa, and Israel. To review previous issues, you can visit our website
https://www.interpower.com/ic/designers/interpower-connections/. This month, we will take a look at the power main used in Italy.Italy’s testing agency is the Italian Institute for the Quality Mark (IMQ) which is an independent, non-profit association, under the auspices of leading scientific and technical bodies in the electrical sector. The IMQ is considered to be Italy’s most important certification body and also European leader in terms of conformity assessments and laboratory tests for the electrical, electronic, gas and agro-food industries.To contact IMQ, use this link:
http://www.imq.it/en/ This link will provide you with the information and standards to which your equipment must conform. When you have the appropriate standard numbers, you can go to
www.standards.org.it and purchase the standards. The standards contain the information you need to design your equipment and gain the appropriate approvals to export to Italy.There are several types of plugs used in Italy (including the Continental European CEE 7/16 plug). However, the official standard is the CEI 23-50. The Italian system is relatively standardized in Libya, Ethiopia, and Chile and is also used in parts of Northern Africa.The Italian plug pattern is 3 pins in a row with the middle pin being ground. The Class I plug/socket standard, CEI 23-50, includes two styles rated at 10A/250VAC and 16A/250VAC and differ in terms of contact diameter and spacing. The 16 amp pins are larger than the 10 amp pins so that you cannot accidentally plug a 16 amp plug in a 10 amp socket. However, because the 10A and 16A plugs can be inserted in either direction (in the correct socket), they are unpolarized. The line and neutral pins are partially insulated to prevent electrical shock. Both plugs carry the Italian safety agency, IMQ, approval. Like many European countries Italy uses the Europlug for Class II applications.Like many countries, Italy does not have a medical standard. Many worldwide markets must meet EN/IEC 60601-1. At this time, there are no special performance or construction requirements for cord sets used in these applications. Cord sets typically will be
Class I, PVC, and black in color.For information on Italian power mains, you may visit our
Power Mains Monday – Italy blog post, our National Power Mains
webcast, and our National Power Mains
white paper.
Plug-in to Italy
Interpower Corporation offers molded power cords and cord sets for
Italy. There are two Italian plugs one rated at 10A/250V and the other rated 16A/250V. Interpower Italian molded plugs carry IMQ approval. Choose from IEC 60320 straight
C5, any angle
C13, or straight or right angled
C19 connectors. Many cords are in stock and can ship same day.
Value-added options such as custom length, labeling, and packaging are available upon request. Interpower has just a 1-week manufacturing lead time on any nonstock power cord or cord set for Italy. From 1 to 1,000 pieces or more, we offer no minimum order requirements. Contact our Customer Service Department from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CST at (800) 662-2290, email
info@interpower.com, or order online at
www.interpower.com.
Interpower Corporation's InterPower Source Magazine
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InterPower Source. This magazine will cover various product requirements, keep you up-to-date on environmental and other regulatory information, highlight new products, introduce you to a sales representative in your area, and more! Click
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