Argentinian IRAM 2073 – Argentina and Uruguay

All Morvan Trading main leads and Argentine plugs are tested and approved guaranteeing the highest quality. We currently use a Longwell LP-24 on these.

Argentina designed its own plug type based on an originally North American design (now deprecated there), and coincidentally the same format as that adopted by Australia.

Originally only using 10A plugs and sockets, Argentinians would ignore the rating or use imported plugs for higher-current electrical appliances. Due to safety concerns of current overload of the 10A Argentinian plug, or non-standard types, a 20A version was added, which follows the same format but is larger.

Some sockets have ‘protección aumentada‘, which means they have safety shutters on live a neutral to prevent insertion of conductive objects in the apertures.

Contact our friendly technical team for more information call us on 01264 353489 or click here to contact us

Sending equipment to Buenos Aires, Patagonia, or even Montevideo but need a power cable?

Based on years of experience and continuous research we can offer the correct plug for every country in South America.

Are Argentina plugs same as Europe?

The Argentinian plug is used solely in Argentina and Uruguay and has three flat pins. Sockets are identical loayout to the plugs, although some may also include round apertures to accept unearthed European plugs with 4mm diameter pins.

Differences between Australian and Argentinian plugs

Compared to Australia, in Argentina the line and neutral pins on the plug do not have insulated sleeves. The pins are also longer, L+N 18.5mm and E 22.0mm E, compared to L+N 16.9mm and E 19.8mm. These are the same dimensions as the Chinese plug. However, Argentina has reversed polarity (the live and neutral are wired the other way around) so Australian and Chinese types are not suitable. Only IRAM-approved plugs may be used in the Argentine Republic.

Contact our friendly technical team for more information call us on 01264 353489 or click here to contact us

The IRAM 2073 standard in full is Grounded bipolar plugs for residential use 10A and 20A − 250 V AC.

Nominal voltage in general settings, e.g. the home or office, is 220V 50Hz. The standard includes the voltage range 220-250V AC to include older plugs that may have different ratings to the standardised 220V.

The standard covers 10A Argentina and 20A Argentina plugs; we stock both as rewireable, but only the 10A as moulded.

In addition, plugs must also conform to IRAM 2006 (unless contradictory to 2073). They must be easy to plug in, and have bodies easy to hold and not be shorter than 15mm. Use in explosive environments or with corrosive gases is specifically excluded. The pins to be rounded and/or chamfered, spaced at 120 degrees, line and neutral tangentially with the earth or ground radially. Ground and neutral pins mut be clearly identified with the letters ‘E’ and ‘N’. See table 1 of the standard, or our ‘Where are they used?’ tab for dimensions.

For 3 pin unearthed plugs, the standard is IRAM 2063: Bipolar electrical ungrounded plug, for 10 A, 250 V of alternating current, for household and similar uses. IRAM 2071 is largely identical to 2073, save the earth pin, and adds a restriction against shipboard use

A related standard is IRAM 2158, which covers pvc insulated power cable.

Contact our friendly technical team for more information call us on 

 or click here to contact us

Plugs, sockets, and cables are tested and certified by IRAM, the Instituto Argentino de Racionalización de Materiales. The organisation dates from May 1935 and was renamed in 1996 to the Instituto Argentino de Normalización y Certificación, but is still known as IRAM. They issue standards to ensure consumer safety through product quality, and enforce compliance with the IRAM seal. Their ‘S’ mark also covers lot approval.

The equivalent Uruguayan approval body is UNIT, the Instituto Uruguayo de Normas Técnicas, but we can only currently offer IRAM approvals.

Our technical team are more than happy to help with any safety, regulatory or exporting enquiries you may have.

Contact our friendly technical team for more information call us on 01264 353489 or click here to contact us