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PlansAboutSupportIsraeli plugs, adapters, splitters and timers in English.
On the label or sign
teka
US English
Plug
UK English
Plug
A teka is the male connector on an appliance lead.
A grounded Israeli teka has three round pins in a triangle. Some low-power double-insulated products use a two-pin Type C plug.
Do not call the wall outlet a teka because the wall outlet is a sheka.
On the label or sign
sheka / beit teka
US English
Outlet or receptacle
UK English
Socket
A sheka is the female wall or portable socket.
A sheka receives the plug. Modern Israeli wall sockets use Type H geometry and may include safety shutters.
Do not ask for a teka when the needed part is the wall socket called a sheka.
On the label or sign
teka Yisraeli
US English
Israeli Type H plug
UK English
Israeli Type H plug
A teka Yisraeli is Israel's distinctive grounded plug system. The current household standard covers plugs and sockets up to 16 A and 250 V.
The current Type H plug has three round pins in a triangle. Older photographs may show obsolete flat-pin forms.
Do not buy a generic European grounded adapter and assume the adapter is Israeli Type H.
On the label or sign
teka eropi du-pini
US English
Type C Europlug
UK English
Type C Europlug
A teka eropi du-pini is an unearthed plug with two thin round pins. Compatible low-power or double-insulated devices may use Type C.
Modern Israeli Type H sockets accept Type C Europlugs. Type C provides no earth connection.
Do not use a two-pin Europlug to defeat the earth requirement of an appliance designed for grounding.
On the label or sign
ha'araka
US English
Grounding
UK English
Earthing
Ha'araka is the protective earth connection. The third Type H pin or an earth conductor or symbol identifies the connection.
A two-pin travel adapter does not preserve an appliance's earth connection.
Do not assume a two-pin adapter keeps the grounding required by the appliance.
On the label or sign
mat'em teka
US English
Plug adapter
UK English
Travel adaptor
A mat'em teka is a mechanical adapter between plug shapes. The package should state the source and destination plug types.
A plug adapter changes physical fit only. Equipment marked for 100 to 240 V and 50/60 Hz normally needs only physical plug compatibility in Israel.
Do not expect a mat'em teka to change 120 V to 230 V.
On the label or sign
mamir metakh / sanai
US English
Voltage converter or transformer
UK English
Voltage converter or transformer
A mamir metakh or sanai changes voltage when correctly specified. Check the input, output, watt or VA rating, and frequency limits on the label.
Israel's domestic supply is 230 V, 50 Hz. A North American appliance marked for 120 V only needs an appropriate converter or transformer, or should not be used.
Do not call every plug adapter a sanai because an adapter does not convert voltage.
On the label or sign
mefatsel
US English
Plug splitter or multiway adapter
UK English
Plug splitter or multiway adaptor
A mefatsel is a compact device that turns one outlet into multiple sockets. A mefatsel often plugs directly into the wall without a flexible lead.
A mefatsel may be T-shaped, cube-shaped, or another direct-plug form. Extra sockets do not increase the circuit or device rating.
Do not treat the socket count as permission to exceed the circuit or device rating.
On the label or sign
rav-sheka
US English
Power strip
UK English
Extension block
A rav-sheka has multiple sockets on a flexible cord. Some models also have a switch or USB outputs.
A switch alone does not make a rav-sheka a surge protector.
Do not call a rav-sheka a surge protector unless the product states that protection.
On the label or sign
kevel ma'arikh / ma'arikh
US English
Extension cord
UK English
Extension lead
A kevel ma'arikh is a cable with a plug and one or more outlet ends.
A kevel ma'arikh extends reach. An ordinary extension lead is not permanent fixed wiring and is not automatically suitable for wet conditions.
Do not use a kevel ma'arikh as permanent wiring or in wet conditions.
On the label or sign
tof / galgelet kevel
US English
Extension reel
UK English
Cable reel
A tof or galgelet kevel is a long extension cable wound on a reel. A reel often has several outlets.
A cable reel is not automatically rated for outdoor use or full load while coiled. Follow the product instructions.
Do not assume every reel is outdoor-rated or safe at full load while coiled.
On the label or sign
mafsek
US English
Switch
UK English
Switch
A mafsek opens or closes a circuit or controls an appliance. The word can describe a wall switch, an inline switch, or a strip switch.
Mafsek does not always mean circuit breaker.
Do not translate every mafsek as circuit breaker because many are ordinary switches.
On the label or sign
sha'on Shabbat
US English
Sabbath timer or plug-in timer
UK English
Sabbath timer or plug-in timer
A sha'on Shabbat is a mechanical or digital timer that switches power automatically on a preset schedule. Plug-in and fixed water-heater versions exist.
The word Shabbat does not show that every model suits every load or every halachic approach.
Do not assume every sha'on Shabbat suits the intended load or halachic approach.
On the label or sign
timer
US English
Timer or countdown timer
UK English
Timer or countdown timer
A timer is a generic timed switch. Some models count down once, while others repeat a weekly schedule.
A countdown timer and a repeating Shabbat schedule are different functions.
Do not buy a countdown timer when a repeating Shabbat schedule is required.
On the label or sign
sha'on la-dud
US English
Water-heater timer
UK English
Water-heater timer
A sha'on la-dud is a dedicated control for a storage water heater. The control may use a fixed daily schedule, a countdown, or a smart switch.
A permanently wired water heater needs its dedicated control rather than an ordinary low-rated plug timer.
Do not use an ordinary low-rated plug timer for a permanently wired water heater.
On the label or sign
mafsek otomati / ma'amat
US English
Circuit breaker or MCB
UK English
Circuit breaker or MCB
A mafsek otomati or ma'amat is a protective breaker in the distribution board. Each breaker is labelled by circuit.
A circuit breaker is a panel protection device rather than an ordinary daily appliance switch.
Do not use a panel breaker as an ordinary daily switch without understanding the installation.
On the label or sign
mafsek pakhat / pakhat
US English
RCD or GFCI-type protection
UK English
Residual-current device or RCD
A mafsek pakhat is a protective device in the electrical panel intended to reduce electric-shock risk. Israeli safety guidance says every board should have one.
The pakhat is usually a wider panel device with a test button. Not every breaker is the pakhat.
Do not call every breaker the pakhat or assume the pakhat makes damaged wiring safe.
On the label or sign
luakh khashmal
US English
Breaker panel
UK English
Consumer unit
A luakh khashmal is the distribution board containing protective devices and circuit controls. The cabinet may be inside an apartment or in a common area.
A luakh khashmal contains breakers and the pakhat. The panel is not an ordinary user control to open or modify as a DIY task.
Do not open or modify a luakh khashmal as a DIY task.
On the label or sign
magen brakim
US English
Surge-protection adapter
UK English
Surge-protection adaptor
A magen brakim is the retail term for a plug-in overvoltage or surge device. Some models include a reconnection delay.
Magen brakim literally means lightning protector. A plain power strip or switch does not automatically provide surge protection.
Do not assume every power strip or switch provides surge protection.
On the label or sign
teka/sheka mugan mayim
US English
Weather-resistant plug or socket
UK English
Weather-resistant plug or socket
A teka or sheka mugan mayim is an accessory with a stated ingress-protection design for appropriate locations. Current products may state an IP rating such as IP55.
A heavy-looking cable does not make an ordinary extension lead suitable for outdoor use.
Do not treat an ordinary extension lead as outdoor-rated because the cable looks heavy.
| English term | Look for in Israel | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Wall socket or outlet | שקעsheka | The female wall connection |
| Israeli plug | תקע ישראליteka Yisraeli | Grounded Type H |
| Plug adapter | מתאם תקעmat'em teka | Changes plug shape only |
| Voltage converter | ממיר מתחmamir metakh | Check input, output, rating and frequency |
| Compact plug splitter | מפצלmefatsel | Usually has no flexible lead |
| Power strip | רב־שקעrav-sheka | Multiple sockets on a cord |
| Extension cord or lead | כבל מאריךkevel ma'arikh | Cable with one or more outlet ends |
| Cable reel | תוףtof | Follow instructions before loading while coiled |
| Shabbat timer | שעון שבתsha'on Shabbat | Switches power on a preset schedule |
| Surge protector | מגן ברקיםmagen brakim | Do not infer protection from a switch |
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By the baba team. Checked on against 10 sources, mostly Israeli retailers, manufacturers and government pages, and updated . Products, labels and rules change, so check the pack or the office before you rely on a detail. Our methodology.
Israel uses the grounded Type H plug and socket system. The current plug has three round pins in a triangular arrangement, and modern Type H sockets also accept two-pin Type C Europlugs.
Israel's domestic supply is 230 V, 50 Hz. Equipment marked for 100 to 240 V and 50/60 Hz normally needs only physical plug compatibility, while a North American 120 V-only appliance needs an appropriate converter or transformer or should not be used.
A mefatsel is usually a compact splitter that plugs directly into an outlet. A rav-sheka is a power strip with multiple sockets on a flexible cord.
No. A rav-sheka may have only multiple sockets and a switch. Look for magen brakim when the product needs stated surge protection.
A sha'on Shabbat switches power automatically on a preset schedule. A generic timer may count down once, so check for a repeating schedule when that function is required.
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