Many of the plug and socket pairs cover a lot of countries. The handy map below shows what regions use what (although Thailand’s type O seems to be absent; you’ll find A, B, C, F, and O there).

Spark plugs are an integral part of your engine, but they need to be replaced every so often. We'll tell you how to find out and what socket size you'll need.

Side view of a typical BS1363 plug, showing the longer earth pin and insulated live and neutral pins. The BS1363 socket has three rectangular receptacles for pins.

In a nutshell, plugs and sockets differ from region to region and even country to country because, at the time they were being developed, no one really saw any reason to make them all the same ...

Overloading your plug sockets with multiple electric appliances can be tempting, but just because your extension lead can squeeze in four plugs doesn't mean it's safe to do so. Some appliances require ...

Spark plugs are an integral part of your engine, but they need to be replaced every so often. We'll tell you how to find out and what socket size you'll need.