How Does A CEE Plug Work?

The two most common connectors are the red ones for three-phase alternating current with neutral and protective conductor and a nominal voltage of 400 volts. On the other hand, the blue connector type, the camping plug, has an outer conductor and neutral and protective conductor and is designed for a voltage of 230 volts. Officially, these are called “L+N+PE-6h connectors”. L stands for the current-carrying conductor, N for the earthed neutral conductor and PE is the protective conductor, which is placed at a position of 6 o’clock, i.e. at the bottom.

When designing the connectors, the developers placed emphasis on optimal current transmission through large contact surfaces between the pins of the plug and the sockets of the receptacle. Slotted brass sleeves with steel tension springs are used for the sockets. As a result, the entire shell surface is effective for current transfer and, at the same time, undesirable heating at high current loads is avoided. The production of the plugs is standardised, so that no plugs are commercially available that do not meet the high European safety requirements. In addition, the plugs are more robust than standard household Schuko plugs, they are splash-proof and can be permanently loaded with 16 amperes of current.