Acquisition Integration Charges - Transaction Costs (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Acquisition Integration Charges and Transaction Costs [Line Items]
Severance Costs	$ 177	$ 112
Acquisition Integration Charges
Business segment acquisition integration pretax charges	4	42	$ 129
Transaction costs [Abstract]
Total acquisition integration charges and transaction costs before income taxes	4	47	154
Income Tax Effect on Acquisition Integration Charges	1	16	52
Total acquisition integration charges and transaction costs after income taxes	$ 3	$ 31	$ 102
Per ordinary share - diluted	$ 0.01	$ 0.07	$ 0.21
Electrical Products [Member]
Acquisition Integration Charges
Business segment acquisition integration pretax charges	$ 3	$ 25	$ 66
Electrical Systems and Services [Member]
Acquisition Integration Charges
Business segment acquisition integration pretax charges	1	15	51
Hydraulics [Member]
Acquisition Integration Charges
Business segment acquisition integration pretax charges	0	2	12
Total business segments [Member]
Acquisition Integration Charges
Business segment acquisition integration pretax charges	4	42	129
Corporate [Member]
Acquisition Integration Charges
Corporate acquisition integration charges	$ 0	5	25
Restructuring activities related to the acquisition and integration of Cooper Industries plc [Member]
Acquisition Integration Charges and Transaction Costs [Line Items]
Severance Costs		1	69
Transaction costs [Abstract]
Other Restructuring Costs		$ 19	$ 26