# item.guide
Side-by-Side Comparison Plug Types

Type N vs. Type O

Comparing 2 standards across 7 specifications. 7 key differences identified.

Comparing:
Type N
Type O
Type N →

Type N is used in two places -- Brazil and South Africa -- but they are genuinely different implementations, not one standard: Brazil's NBR 14136 uses two different pin-diameter variants and skips a shutter requirement that South Africa's SANS 164-2 (closer to the source IEC 60906-1 spec) includes.

View full Type N spec sheet →
Type O →

Type O is Thailand's standard, introduced in 2006 -- three round pins whose earth-pin offset happens to numerically match Type B's, letting Thailand's real-world hybrid sockets also accept American Type A/B and European Type C plugs. Pure single-standard Type O outlets barely exist in practice.

View full Type O spec sheet →

Specification Comparison Table

7 Parameters
Parameter / Spec
Type N
Type O
Pin Count
3 round pins in a triangle (symmetrical layout) 3 round pins, 4.8mm diameter
Grounded
Yes, both implementations Yes
Common Regions
Brazil (exclusively) and South Africa (exclusively) -- used nowhere else as a primary standard Thailand only
Rated Current (Brazil)
10 or 20 (4.0mm or 4.8mm pins respectively) A —
Rated Current (South Africa)
16 (uniform 4.5mm pins) A —
Rated Current
— 16 A
Rated Voltage
— 230 V

Other Alternatives to Compare

Compare Type N vs. Type A → Compare Type N vs. Type B → Compare Type N vs. Type C → Compare Type N vs. Type D → Compare Type N vs. Type E → Compare Type N vs. Type F (Schuko) → Compare Type N vs. Type G → Compare Type N vs. Type H → Compare Type N vs. Type I → Compare Type N vs. Type J → Compare Type N vs. Type K → Compare Type N vs. Type L → Compare Type N vs. Type M →