science

SN 441011

SN 441011 is a science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand SN 441011 rather than just read about it. In short: SN 441011, until 2019 SEV 1011, is the Swiss national standard for AC power plug for domestic use and similar purposes. The plug SN 441011 Type 12 and the socket SN 441011 Type 13 are also designated internationally as Type J, and the Europlug fits in all Swiss sockets.

Key takeaways

SN 441011 belongs to science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect SN 441011 to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of SN 441011 from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

SN 441011, until 2019 SEV 1011, is the Swiss national standard for AC power plug for domestic use and similar purposes. The plug SN 441011 Type 12 and the socket SN 441011 Type 13 are also designated internationally as Type J, and the Europlug fits in all Swiss sockets. As well as Switzerland, these sockets are used in Liechtenstein.

Details

The plug-in system defined in the standard for 250 V / 440 V alternating voltage at 50 Hz is structured to be “hierarchically downward compatible”. This means that sockets designed for 16 amps also accept plugs for 10 amps, but not the other way around, and that 2- or 3-pole (single-phase) plugs can also be used with 5-pole (three-phase) sockets. The Euro plug (2.5 A) also fits into all 4 socket types. In all versions with three or five contact pins (Types 12/13, 15, 23 and 25) the middle pole is the protective contact. Although the contact pins are of the same length, the protective contact is in advance because the sockets for the neutral conductor and phase conductor(s) are sunk deeper in the socket. The offset arrangement of the contacts ensures reverse polarity protection (with a socket, the phase conductor is on the right and the protective conductor is at the bottom). All new sockets are equipped with protective collars. Sockets without protective collars were allowed outside of wet rooms until 2016, but existing sockets of this type can continue to be operated.

History The Swiss standard was first described in SEV 1011 (ASE1011/1959 SW10A-R). On 4 December 2009, the TK23 Technical Committee issued the new revised edition of the Swiss standard SEV 1011:2009 for 10-A plugs and 11/12 sockets to provide, among other things, improved protection against contact with partially insulated pins can. As of 1 January 2013, imports into Switzerland of Type 11 and Type 12 plugs are only permitted with partially insulated plug pins. After the year 2016, only sockets type 13 with a recessed socket hole may be brought onto the market. From the Type 12 proposed in 1937 and introduced in 1953, the international standard IEC 60906-1 was derived in 1986, on which only the national standards of Brazil (NBR 14136 or Type N) and South Africa (SANS 164-2) are based. Despite the great similarity, these are not compatible with SN 441011, as the polarity has been reversed in IEC 60906-1 and the earthing contact is only 3 mm offset from the center line instead of 5 mm. (A combined socket, which accepts both plugs according to SN 441011 and IEC 60906-1, would, however, be easy to implement, since a further hole for the earthing contact with the smaller distance would only have to be added opposite the previous central hole.) The hexagonal shape of the Euro plug (2.5 A) is also derived from the Swiss standard. This differs only slightly from the connector Type 11 (10 A).

Types

Sockets

Plugs

Standard documents The Swiss standard is described in SN 441011 "Plugs and sockets for household use and similar purposes", which contains the following standard sheets:

SN 441011-1: Description of the systems with risk analysis and national deviations from the IEC 60884 series SN 441011-2-1: Standard sheets and construction specifications for plug-in devices with degrees of protection IP20 and IP55 SN 441011-2-2: Multiple and intermediate adapters, extension cables, socket strips as well as travel and fixed adapters SN 441011-2-3: Advices Products according to the outdated standard SEV 1011:2009 may only be manufactured or imported until 28 February 2022. Until 2019, SEV 1011:2009 (ASE1011 / 1959 SW10A-R) was the relevant standard. On 4 December 2009, the technical committee TK23 published the new, revised edition of the then standard SEV 1011:2009 for 10 A plugs and sockets of type 11/12 in order to offer, among other things, improved protection against contact with partially insulated connector pins can. From 1 January 2013, the import of Type 11 and Type 12 plugs into Switzerland will only be permitted with partially insulated pins. After 2016, only Type 13 sockets with a recessed socket hole may be brought onto the market.

Dimensions

Hexagonal shape All single-phase connectors have a hexagonal shape. The left and right side of the connector are formed by surfaces that are at 45° relative to the horizontal plane. Dimensions of the protective collar for sockets Collars of sockets according to T11 and T21 are at least 16 mm (+1 mm) wide, those according to T13 and T23 at least 21 mm (+2 mm) wide. All collars of these types are at least 36.5 mm long. Those of three-phase sockets have a dimension of 37.2 (± 0.7) × 39.5 (± 1) mm. Protective collar depth for sockets With single-phase sockets (T11, T13, T21, T23) the protective collar is 13 mm (+5 mm) deep, with three-phase sockets (T15, T25) 17.5 mm (+1 mm) deep. Dimensions of the connector Ungrounded T11 and T21 plugs are between 13 mm and 14.5 mm wide, while grounded T12 and T23 plugs are between 17 mm and 20 mm wide. All these plugs are between 35 mm and 36 mm long. Three-phase plugs have a dimension of 35.4 (± 0.7) × 30 (± 0.7) mm. Pin length of the connector The pins are 19 mm (± 0.5 mm) long on all types. The length of the insulation on the connector pins is 8 mm (± 0.25 mm). Diameter of the pins and the openings The pins of the 10 A connector are 4 mm (± 0.06 mm) in diameter. The diameter of the openings in the sockets is 4.5 mm (+0.2 mm). The pins of the 16 A plugs are rectangle 4 (± 0.06) x 5 (± 0.06) mm wide, the corresponding openings are rectangle 4.5 (+0.2) x 5.5 (+0.2) mm wide. Distance between conductors In both the 10 A and 16 A versions, the distance between the phase conductor and the neutral conductor is 19 mm (± 0.15 mm). The protective conductor is offset by 5 mm (± 0.1 mm). In the three-phase plugs and sockets (T15 and T25), L2 and L3 are offset by 8 mm (± 0.1 mm) from the protective conductor, i.e. the distance between L1 and L2 or between N and L3 is 13 mm.

Development

Origins The 10 A series has been gradually standardized:

T12 in 1937. T11 in 1952. T13 in 1953. T15 in 1979. Then the 16 A variant (types 21, 23, 25) was introduced in 1997.

Elimination of historical safety issues with types 11, 12 and 13

… excerpt ends here. Continue reading the full article.

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with SN 441011

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what SN 441011 claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to SN 441011 before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about SN 441011 ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of SN 441011

In research: SN 441011 appears in science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses SN 441011 in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: SN 441011 is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Mains power connectors, Standards of Switzerland, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for SN 441011 outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study SN 441011 in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what SN 441011 means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain SN 441011 out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is SN 441011 in simple terms?

Why does SN 441011 matter?

Because it connects several science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study SN 441011?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on SN 441011.