It's that interesting overlap. How payments apply to the world of fast food chains (emphasis on the chains is for you :) ) and what they have to offer.

My travel has been mostly US/Canada/UK. Within those three countries, as well as most of continental Europe that I've seen, McDonald's is the same basic stuff, some variation, but quite similar for sure.

To theddo: in my two apartments in Shanghai over the years, I had as many as four different size plugs (UK three-pin type, two-pin US type (but with both pins same size, i.e., not polarized), European type, and a three-pin with slanted pins). And, three of these were in one apartment! I was told that China just hadn't decided on a standard, but was trending toward the European type. It was a pain buying electrical items for that apartment.

Two pin unpolarised that looks similar to US is Japanese standard. And European type? There are MANY types in Europe - all fit a low current "Europlug" but for higher current or grounded applications, require their specific plug. (Note - while all standard European sockets FIT the Europlug on some level, they do not safely/legally/to code fit in BS 1363 sockets, though with a screwdriver to push the shutters open they CAN fit and function but it's unsafe and I do NOT recommend it)

Perhaps I was lucky. In Shanghai I stayed at two different hotels, both had plugs that could fit at least the European and American standard. When I travelled out I stayed in private residencies and they to had the same plugs, but they had specific plugs around the apartment for the AC, the TV and so on.

They looked like this:
http://www.dialingnumber.com/images/china_1.jpg

I was told the lowest three pins were for the "Chinese standard" but I can't really know for sure.

I thought your comment were true for older plugs, but newer have all been adopted to the grounded Scandinavian/German plug, the Schuku. French plugs adapted this by having one of the grounds elongated to fit over the old french ground (the CEE 7/7). The Italians adopted it by having a modified Schuku were you could use the old plug and the new plug. I don't know how widespread any of these outlets are, but I'm thinking they are used for most new houses and has been available on my trips there.

I don't know were the limit for "high current" is but I think all of those a safe to use and should be grounded?

I thought the Europlug shouldn't fit the english socket at all. But that is pretty much one of few (I think that unlike the Schuku plug the Europlug would even fit and be safe to use in Swiss outlets? Is that true?).

That is correct (though I have multiple adapters for my goods I buy from HK/Canada/USA that all need the top plug.)

Yes, I know hybrid sockets and plugs are getting more common, not sure how common in real life. Schuko is a bad design and it's sad it's getting more common (bad design because a grounded plug can fit in an ungrounded socket). Too bad pretty much the entire world opposed moving to IEC 60906 (the international standard almost no one uses), it's a much better design (similar but not the same as the Swiss one).

Yes, Europlugs fit in Swiss sockets no problem - that's the reason for the hexagon shape of Europlugs - to fit in the recessed Swiss sockets. I laughed at the German guy I was staying with at a Swiss hostel, he brought his huge Schuko to Swiss adapter - to connect his Europlug phone charger. I had to show him that he didn't need it because it blocked the other sockets. He was amazed his phone charger just fit right in the Swiss sockets, LOL.

The Europlug current limit is 2.5A (600W at 240V), so Europlugs exclude hair dryers, curling irons, flat irons, etc. When mated to a BS 1363 socket, the true safe current is perhaps not even that high - different sockets fit differently. Also, remember BS 1363 is designed to be used with FUSED PLUGS and RING WIRING - it is NOT safe to force a Europlug in such a socket. But it does work.

So now the card refused thread has become a "why standardization is important" thread.

Shall we then discuss the pros/cons on why the US still uses the imperial system of measurements when the rest of the world uses the metric system? :D

Oh, so now this thread won't be moved to the Dining forum, it'll be moved to the Travel Technology forum??? :confused: :D (Seriuosly, I'm not expecting it to be moved as much as I'm wondering why it hasn't been closed yet?)

Haha :P Don't get me started on that. In the UK we murdered both lol by using a cross system. My Satnav is a good example, "New Speed Limit 70MPH", turn left in approximately 100 yards, on your right in 200 meters you will reach your final destination". We don't use metric for heights of people or weight but we use it for measurements of other things.

Since this thread has spiraled Off Topic I'm going to close it.