AS 3112

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AS 3112 is an Australian standard for mains power plug. It is also known as a Type I plug.

Australian switched 3 pin dual power point (socket)
Australian switched 3 pin dual power point (socket)

The plug mating the pictured socket, used in Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea, has an earthing pin and two flat pins forming an inverted V-shape. There is an unearthed version of this plug as well, with only two flat V-aligned pins. These flat blades measure 6.5 by 1.6 mm and are set 30° to the vertical on a nominal pitch of 13.7 mm. It is easy to bend them straight with pliers to force them into American sockets, although this is not advised due to the differences in both voltage and frequency. The standard 240V 10Amp wall outlets are always switched for extra safety, as in the UK.

There are several AS/NZS 3112 plug variants including one with a wider earth pin is used for devices drawing up to 15 A; sockets supporting this pin will also accept 10 A plugs. Additionally, there exists a 20 A variant, in which all three pins are wider.

Although the above plug looks similar to the one used in Israel (type H), both plugs are not compatible.

Australia's standard plug/socket system was originally codified as standard C112 (floated provisionally in 1937, and adopted as a formal standard in 1938), which was superseded by AS 3112 in 1990. As of 2003, the latest major update is AS/NZS 3112:2000, which mandated insulated pins by 2005.