32A 5-pole commando to Type J Adapter for Switzerland

CEE plugs (IEC 60309) are the rugged industrial connectors you recognise by their colour: blue for single-phase 230 volts, red for three-phase 400 volts. You'll know the blue one as the 16A commando socket on a campsite hook-up post, where it delivers up to 3.7 kW. Red goes considerably further: 11 kW at 16A and 22 kW at 32A.

Domestic three-phase is rare in the UK, so red CEE usually means a workshop, farm building, unit or event site. Where you find one, a portable charger turns it into charging as quick as a public AC point. The blue CEE charger covers campsites and single-phase sockets, while the red versions deliver 11 kW or 22 kW.

All three are adjustable from 8A upwards, so you set the current to match the supply. Voldt® connectors are IP67 rated and built for repeated outdoor use, CE, UKCA and TÜV certified with a 3-year warranty.

Yes, CEE 16A and CEE 32A sockets differ significantly in power capacity, physical dimensions, applications, and cabling. The most important distinction is the maximum current each can handle: a CEE 16A socket supports up to 16 amps, while a CEE 32A socket is designed for 32 amps. This means a CEE 32A connection can deliver nearly double the electrical power, which is essential for high-demand applications such as industrial machinery or fast charging of electric vehicles.

Physical size and compatibility

One of the most noticeable differences is the physical size of the plug and socket. A CEE 32A socket is substantially larger and sturdier than a 16A socket. The 32A version typically has an outer diameter of around 70 mm compared to approximately 50 mm for the 16A. The pins are also thicker and spaced further apart. These differences are intentional to prevent mismatching: a 32A plug will not fit a 16A socket and vice versa, improving safety for higher-power connections.

Technical capacity and cabling

A CEE 16A socket is usually used for 230V (single-phase) or 400V (three-phase) applications and can deliver up to 11 kW. The CEE 32A socket can deliver up to 22 kW, making it ideal for more power-intensive setups like the Voldt Type 2 mobile charger with CEE 32A plug. This also means thicker cabling is required — typically 6 mm² for 32A vs. 2.5 mm² for 16A — to handle the higher current safely.

Applications and installation

CEE 16A sockets are common in camping grounds, garages, or for lighter mobile uses. CEE 32A sockets are used in industry, food trucks, construction sites, or high-capacity EV chargers. Their larger size means they’re also physically more robust and often waterproof (IP44 or IP67). Proper installation in the UK must include appropriate fuses and RCDs in line with BS 7671 wiring regulations.

A CEE (commando) power outlet is fundamentally different from a regular household socket, particularly when it comes to extending charging cables for electric vehicles (EVs). While a standard socket in most European homes supplies 230V at 10–16 amps, CEE outlets are designed to handle much higher power loads—typically 400V at 16A, 32A, or even 63A. This allows them to safely deliver the higher currents required for efficient EV charging, without the overheating risks commonly associated with standard sockets when used under continuous high loads.

CEE outlets are industrial-grade connectors, easily recognized by their round, rugged design and multiple pins—for example, separate pins for three-phase power, neutral, and earth. This configuration ensures a much more stable and secure connection, which is crucial for EV charging. Normal household sockets are not built to sustain prolonged high current draw, and using them with extension cables for EV charging can result in significant voltage drop, cable overheating, or even fire hazards. That’s why CEE connections are often recommended for heavy-duty charging scenarios, especially in outdoor or semi-permanent setups.

When extending an EV charging cable using a CEE power outlet, it's vital to use a high-quality extension lead rated for the appropriate amperage. The cable should have the correct wire gauge—typically 2.5 mm² for 16A and 6 mm² for 32A—and be heat-resistant, weatherproof, and compliant with relevant safety standards. Brands like Voldt® offer mobile EV chargers and extension cables specifically designed for use with CEE 16A or 32A outlets, supporting charging speeds up to 22 kW. This setup greatly enhances safety, efficiency, and reliability compared to using standard household sockets.

Schuko is the earthed wall socket used across most of continental Europe, including Germany, the Netherlands, France and Spain. The name comes from the German Schutzkontakt, meaning protective contact, and it supplies 230 volts single-phase. British homes use the BS 1363 three-pin socket instead, so Schuko is something UK drivers meet abroad rather than at home.

Charging from a wall socket is done with a portable charger, a Mode 2 cable. The charger supplied with the car is locked at around 10 A whatever you plug it into. The Voldt® 3-pin granny charger is adjustable across 8, 10 and 13 A, so it draws up to 2.8 kW where your socket and circuit allow it, and steps down where they do not.

Both versions carry a thermal sensor in the plug. Heat build-up is the real consideration when a socket rated for intermittent use is asked to deliver hours of continuous charging, so the charger monitors the temperature at the plug and adjusts the charging current accordingly. Choose a lower setting in an older property, have the socket checked by a qualified electrician so you can charge at full current with confidence, and never charge through an extension lead or a cable reel.

Crossing the Channel changes the plug and nothing else: the Schuko version of the same charger reaches 16 A, around 3.7 kW, on continental sockets. Both sit in the Voldt® portable charger range, which spans lengths from 5 to 20 m, CE, UKCA and TÜV certified, IP67 rated and covered by a 3-year warranty.

Type G (officially BS 1363) is the British wall plug with three rectangular pins, used here and in Ireland, Malta and Cyprus. Its distinctive feature is the BS 1362 cartridge fuse built into the plug itself, rated at 13A maximum. That caps charging at up to 2.8 kW, which adds roughly 15 km of range per hour, so an overnight charge gives you around 150 km.

Charging from a wall socket is done with a portable charger, a Mode 2 cable. The Voldt® 3-pin granny charger is adjustable across 8, 10 and 13A, and a thermal sensor in the plug monitors the temperature at the connection and adjusts the current accordingly. Most UK sockets sit on a ring final circuit shared with other outlets, so have the socket checked by a qualified electrician if you charge on it regularly, and never charge through an extension lead or a cable reel.

For faster charging, a Type 2 cable covers public charge points and home wallboxes. All Voldt® chargers and cables are CE, UKCA and TÜV certified, IP67 rated and covered by a 3-year warranty.

CEE plugs (IEC 60309) are the rugged industrial connectors you recognise by their colour: blue for single-phase 230 volts, red for three-phase 400 volts. You'll know the blue one as the 16A commando socket on a campsite hook-up post, where it delivers up to 3.7 kW. Red goes considerably further: 11 kW at 16A and 22 kW at 32A.

Domestic three-phase is rare in the UK, so red CEE usually means a workshop, farm building, unit or event site. Where you find one, a portable charger turns it into charging as quick as a public AC point. The blue CEE charger covers campsites and single-phase sockets, while the red versions deliver 11 kW or 22 kW.

All three are adjustable from 8A upwards, so you set the current to match the supply. Voldt® connectors are IP67 rated and built for repeated outdoor use, CE, UKCA and TÜV certified with a 3-year warranty.

Yes, you can charge your electric car at home without a dedicated charging station by using a portable EV charging cable, such as the Voldt® Type 2 Granny charger. This type of cable plugs directly into a standard household socket (Schuko) and allows you to safely and reliably charge your electric vehicle. The typical charging capacity is up to 3.7 kW at 16A on 230V, which is suitable for overnight or daily top-up charging.

Using a mobile charger is particularly useful if you don’t have the option to install a fixed wallbox, such as in rental properties or temporary locations. Voldt® mobile chargers are designed with built-in safety features like temperature sensors, leakage current protection, and durable, weather-resistant materials. This ensures that even without a dedicated charging station, you're charging in a secure and compliant way.

However, it's important to note that charging via a household socket is generally slower than using a wallbox or public charging station. For example, a full charge on a 60 kWh battery could take over 16 hours. Still, for many drivers—especially those with shorter daily commutes—this is more than sufficient. If you need faster charging at home but still want flexibility, Voldt® also offers mobile charging cables for 3-phase power (up to 22 kW), provided your home installation supports it.

In some sockets you can, but the earth connection is the problem. A Schuko plug earths through side clips, and an older Danish Type K socket has nothing to meet them with. Newer combination sockets accept both plug types, but you cannot tell what a socket does by looking at it, and Mode 2 charging needs a working protective earth for the residual current protection to function. A native Type K plug removes the question entirely. It also removes one connection that can work loose or heat up while the charger draws 13 A for hours at a time.

Worth checking before you order: this charger fits Type K sockets and the combination sockets found in most newer Danish installations. A small number of installations built or rewired since 2008 use pure Schuko sockets, which have no hole for the Type K earth pin. If the socket you plan to charge from is Schuko, order the Schuko version of the same charger instead. Same electronics, same app, same protection, correct plug for the socket you actually have.

Yes, the Voldt® Adapter Type 2 to Type F 230V Schuko socket works with most public Type 2 charging stations, provided they are not software-restricted against adapters. In practice, the adapter is compatible with the vast majority of European EV charging points.

However, it’s recommended to check local regulations and operator rules before use. In some regions, using adapters at public stations may be limited to private purposes. Always operate within the 3.7 kW limit and use the adapter responsibly to ensure safety and compliance.