Electricity evolved in different countries differently.
This was not a problem earlier. But now a days, with travellers and goods sales/shipments to different countries, it is important to address. we need a global power outlet & plugs to be designed. If the new products start using, people will start adapting slowly.
Challenges[]
There are two challenges here. Physical & Electrical adaption
1) Physical: There are 14 power outlets (A-N)
Ref:http://www.iec.ch/worldplugs/
2) Electrical: world uses 100V,110V,115V,120V,127V,220V,230V,231V,240V
Ref:http://kropla.com/electric2.htm
New mobile adaptors (and few other power adaptors) support 110-240V. But we still have devices with only LOCAL voltage support. (Though these are relatively energy efficient as compared to 110-240V adaptors) Note: It is not possible to change grid voltage/frequency in any country. we need to live with them.
Using one of the existing power outlet/plug as the <universal> helps in avoiding one another connector. But none of them support more than one voltage.
Proposals[]
If I group the electric voltages, 100V,110V,115V,120V,127V can be one group and 220V,230V,231V,240V can be other group.
It is pretty easy to design equipment to work with in the group (If not universal like 100-240) so the new power outlet shall have one neutral, zone-1 phase, zone-2 phase. Few possible options (excluding Earth point described below):
Option-1[]
(3 points: neutral, zone-1 phase, zone-2 phase)
In this option, power plug of universal power plug will fit in either of the plug.
Option-2[]
(3 points: neutral, zone-1 phase, zone-2 phase) In this option, power plug of universal power plug will have flexible phase connector.
option-3[]
(4 points: neutral, zone-1 phase, zone-2 phase, universal phase)
outlet to have one more point for universal. hence this will be connected to phase (zone-1/zone-2)
Eg: In a zone-1 country, In power outlet, this universal point will be connected to zone-1 phase
In a zone-2 country, In power outlet, this universal point will be connected to zone-2 phase
Carry Weights[]
None of the existing plugs are designed to carry weights.
But many applications cameup to keep weights on power outlets (example: plug computers, mobile adaptors, WiFi Extenders, battery chargers, VoIP cameras, Mosquito bats, Rechargeable Torch lights...)
The new power outlet shall be designed to carry weights. i.e. outlet provide supports to carry
Multiple designs depending on target weight (as far as physical and electical properties of plug are maintained)
eg: a VoIP camera can directly sit (permanantly though) on wall socket. this socket can provide
one example below:
This design makes the outlet electric points also need to be sliding.
we need to comeup with better designs .....