European double sockets

The back box is a 'wanddose'  = pronounced like VanDozer meaning wall (wand)  box(dose)

Stecker is plug, Steckdose is wall socket or just socket.


Strom is current, or in site slang Saft == juice (it is the same - Orangensaft is orange juice you drink, 'kein saft' == "no juice" means there is no power )


The circular holes are indeed still common though for double sockets you will also now encounter a shape that is the over lap of 2 circles - not a fig of 8, but more like a routed slot.
heir ist     some example 

To explain the types- Hohlwand == hollow wall is plaster board walls

.Doppel - is double

Schalter is switch

and anything with

Feucht (prononunce like foykht ) is for damp atmospheres, kitchens cellars and  baths.


I suspect the trade suppliers expect you to open an account, the likes of Bauhaus, (the website linked above), are more like Wickes or B and Q, and will sell to anyone with a valid bank card or money, useful if you get stuck and need a small thing in a hurry. Get the locals to pre-order the big stuff.


Some cautions, you will not need T and E or earth sleeving, all final circuit cables have the CPC the same size as the live, and you will see a lot more 3 phase (drei fase , pronounced like dry fa-ah-ser ) in domestic than you would here. 3 phases at 16A each is a typical cooker circuit. Lights and power are often mixed, but more circuits, often 16A RCBO radials  and singles and flexiconduit are common in masonary.


I cannot comment on current working practices, but back in the early 2000s in Berlin, it all started early in the morning and was pretty fast moving . Equally they would only work agreed hours and then drop everything and go home.

The back box is a 'wanddose'  = pronounced like VanDozer meaning wall (wand)  box(dose)

Stecker is plug, Steckdose is wall socket or just socket.


Strom is current, or in site slang Saft == juice (it is the same - Orangensaft is orange juice you drink, 'kein saft' == "no juice" means there is no power )


The circular holes are indeed still common though for double sockets you will also now encounter a shape that is the over lap of 2 circles - not a fig of 8, but more like a routed slot.
heir ist     some example 

To explain the types- Hohlwand == hollow wall is plaster board walls

.Doppel - is double

Schalter is switch

and anything with

Feucht (prononunce like foykht ) is for damp atmospheres, kitchens cellars and  baths.


I suspect the trade suppliers expect you to open an account, the likes of Bauhaus, (the website linked above), are more like Wickes or B and Q, and will sell to anyone with a valid bank card or money, useful if you get stuck and need a small thing in a hurry. Get the locals to pre-order the big stuff.


Some cautions, you will not need T and E or earth sleeving, all final circuit cables have the CPC the same size as the live, and you will see a lot more 3 phase (drei fase , pronounced like dry fa-ah-ser ) in domestic than you would here. 3 phases at 16A each is a typical cooker circuit. Lights and power are often mixed, but more circuits, often 16A RCBO radials  and singles and flexiconduit are common in masonary.


I cannot comment on current working practices, but back in the early 2000s in Berlin, it all started early in the morning and was pretty fast moving . Equally they would only work agreed hours and then drop everything and go home.