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Type K is used almost exclusively in Denmark and Greenland.
The Danish standard is described in DS 60884-2-D1. Unlike the similar type E plug, the grounding pin is not mounted in the receptacle, but it is on the plug itself. The U-shaped earthing pin is 14 mm long, 4 mm thick and has a 6.5 mm diameter. The line and the neutral pins of type K are round and have a 4.8 mm diameter. They are 19 mm in length and their centres are spaced 19 mm apart. The centre-to-centre distance between the earth pin and the middle of the imaginary line connecting the two power pins is 13 mm. The plug is rated at 16 A. A type C plug fits perfectly into a type K socket. The Danish socket will also accept plug types E and F: however, there is no grounding connection with these plugs because a male ground pin is required on the plug. Because of the huge amount of imported European appliances fitted with E/F plugs, the Danish government decided to make it legal to install type E or F sockets too. So, the expectation is that, in the long term, the standard European type F socket (or – but this is less likely – the less frequently used type E) will eventually replace the Danish type K socket.
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Type L is used almost exclusively in Italy, Chile and is also randomly found throughout North Africa.
The Italian grounded plug/socket standard, CEI 23-16/VII, includes two styles rated at 10 and 16 amps. Both plug top styles consist of three rounded pins placed in a straight line. They differ in terms of contact diameter and spacing, and are therefore incompatible with each other. The 10 amp version has three 4 mm round pins, measuring 19 mm in length. The centres of the line and neutral pins are spaced 19 mm apart. The distance between the centres of either of the two outer prongs and the centre of the ground pin is 9.5 mm. The 10 amp style socket also accepts type C plugs.
On the left the bipasso socket, on the right the bipasso-Schuko socket.
The 16 amp version has three 5 mm round pins, measuring 19 mm in length. The centres of the line and neutral pins are spaced 26 mm apart. The distance between the centres of either of the two outer prongs and the centre of the ground pin is 13 mm. Since both plugs are symmetrical, they can be inserted in either direction, which means they are unpolarised.
Nowadays there are also universal sockets available, of which there are two kinds: first, there is the so-called bipasso receptacle (literally: twin-gauge outlet), a very commonly used socket which accepts C plugs as well as both styles of L plugs. Second, there is the bipasso-Schuko receptacle, which even adds compatibility with plug types E & F.
