SANS 164

SANS 164-1 (old, left) and -2 (new, right) sockets

South African National Standard 164: Plugs and socket outlets for household and similar purposes for use in South Africa is the South African Bureau of Standards' standard for domestic AC power plugs and sockets. As a former British colony, South Africa's electricity standards are of British derivation, and it uses 220/230 V at 50 Hz AC.^[1]

However, while the UK changed over to the rectangular-pin BS 1363 plug after World War II, South Africa has retained the older round-pin BS 546 style^[2] which was current when it gained independence in 1931.^[3]

More recently, South Africa has adopted the IEC 60906-1 plug and socket. Although the sockets are compatible with the Europlugs in common use, and Brazil adopted a modified form, South Africa is the first country to adopt the standard directly, and the wisdom of a small country exchanging one little-used standard for another has been questioned.^[4][5]

The standard is divided into seven parts:^[6]

SANS 164-0: General and Safety Requirements^[7]

This incorporates IEC 60884 for definitions and general requirements.

SANS 164-1 and -3 (BS 546) plugs

SANS 164-1: Conventional System, 16 A 250 V^[8]

This is identical to the BS 546 15 ampere plug and socket, although in South Africa it is rated for 16 A for compatibility with the IEC 60898 standard current ratings.

SANS 164-2: Conventional System, 16 A 250 V^[9]

This specifies the IEC 60906-1 plug system, both 2-pin unearthed and 3-pin earthed. In the standard since the 1990s, it is the "preferred standard" since 2013.^[10] The sockets are compatible with the SANS 164-5 Europlug which is already in common use in South Africa.

SANS 164-3: Conventional System, 6 A 250 V^[11]

This is identical to the BS 546 5 ampere plug and socket, although it is rated for 6 A in South Africa for compatibility with the IEC 60898 standard current ratings.

SANS 164-4: Dedicated System, 16 A 250 V^[12]

These plugs and sockets, unique to South Africa,^[2] are similar to the SANS 164-1 connectors, but have the earth pin flattened on one side to prevent conventional plugs from being inserted into dedicated sockets. Dedicated plugs are, however, compatible with conventional sockets.

These receptacles are commonly used for uninterruptible, isolated or otherwise filtered power. They come in three varieties, with corresponding colours. Although the standard does not define their use, some are common:^[2]

• Red, flat on top: Generic "special power", commonly used for computers and other electronics
• Blue, flat rotated 53° clockwise: commonly used for uninterruptible power
• Black, flat rotated 53° counterclockwise: commonly used for transformer-isolated power

SANS 164-5: Two-pole, non-rewireable plugs, 2,5 A 250 V AC, with cord, for connection of class II equipment^[13]

These plugs are identical to the CEE7/16 Europlug. Only plugs are defined; they are to be used with SANS 164-2 or 164-6 sockets.^[6]

SANS 164-6: Two-pole systems, 16 A 250 V AC, for connection of class II equipment^[14]

These plugs are the CEE-7/17 unearthed type, compatible with CEE 7/1 (unearthed), CEE 7/3 (Schuko), and CEE 7/5 (French style) sockets. Corresponding unearthed sockets are also defined, which include features to prevent the insertion of earthed CEE 7/4, 7/6 and 7/7 plugs. South Africa resolves the problem with Schuko's unreliable earthing by forbidding its use on devices which require earthing.

The last two categories allow many European electrical devices to be imported directly.

Images

• 
  Three different South African wall plates, showing different combinations of the old SANS 164-1 (BS46) and new SANS 164-2 (IEC 60906-1) sockets.
• 
  SANS 164-1 16 A (BS546 15 A) wall socket
• 
  SANS 164-1 16 A (BS546 15 A) plug and socket
• 
  SANS 164-3 6 A (BS546 5 A) wall socket
• 
  SANS 164-3 6 A (BS546 5 A) plug and socket
• 
  SANS 164-2 (IEC 60906-1) quadruple socket

References