Type K vs. Type L
Comparing 2 standards across 5 specifications. 4 key differences identified.
Type K is Denmark's standard -- two round power pins plus a separate round earth pin mounted on the plug, offset from center. Used exclusively in Denmark, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands; EU accession has allowed Schuko (Type F) sockets in Danish homes since the early 1990s.
Type L, Italy's standard, uses three round pins in a straight line rather than a triangle, in two incompatible sizes (10A and 16A). Chile and Uruguay use the same physical design, though no independently confirmed national standard document defines it in either country.
Specification Comparison Table
5 Parameters| Parameter / Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Pin Count
|
2 round power pins + 1 round/D-shaped earth pin (on the plug) | 3 round pins in a straight line (unpolarized/reversible) |
|
Rated Current
|
16 A | 10 or 16 (two incompatible sizes) A |
|
Rated Voltage
|
250 V | 250 V |
|
Grounded
|
Yes | Yes, both sizes |
|
Common Regions
|
Denmark, Greenland, Faroe Islands (exhaustive -- not used elsewhere) | Italy, Chile, Uruguay |