Amount of expenses for special or contractual termination benefits provided to current employees involuntarily terminated under a benefit arrangement associated exit or disposal activities pursuant to an authorized plan. Excludes expenses related to one-time termination benefits, a discontinued operation or an asset retirement obligation.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 420
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
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Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)
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Acquisition Integration Charges - Restructuring Charges (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Acquisition Integration Charges [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	$ 211	$ 129
Severance costs	177	112
Restructuring activities related to the acquisition and integration of Cooper Industries plc [Member]
Acquisition Integration Charges [Line Items]
Restructuring charges		20	$ 95
Severance costs		1	69
Other restructuring costs		19	26
Electrical Products [Member]
Acquisition Integration Charges [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	44	12
Electrical Products [Member] \| Restructuring activities related to the acquisition and integration of Cooper Industries plc [Member]
Acquisition Integration Charges [Line Items]
Restructuring charges		14	53
Electrical Systems and Services [Member]
Acquisition Integration Charges [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	$ 49	29
Electrical Systems and Services [Member] \| Restructuring activities related to the acquisition and integration of Cooper Industries plc [Member]
Acquisition Integration Charges [Line Items]
Restructuring charges		$ 6	$ 42