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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions |  | 9 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Jul. 31, 2017 | Sep. 30, 2017 | Sep. 30, 2016
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows, Captions [Line Items] |  |  |
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities |  | $ 1,787 | $ 1,932
Investing activities |  |  |
Capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment |  | (351) | (346)
Cash received from (paid for) acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired |  | 0 | 1
Payments for (Proceeds from) Businesses and Interest in Affiliates |  | 0 |
Sales (purchases) of short-term investments - net |  | (621) | (29)
Investments in affiliates |  | 0 | 0
Return of capital contributions from affiliates |  | 0 | 0
Loans to affiliates |  | 0 | 0
Repayments of loans from affiliates |  | 0 | 0
Proceeds from sale of consolidated subsidiary | $ 600 | 600 | 0
Other - net |  | (63) | 3
Net cash used in investing activities |  | (435) | (371)
Financing activities |  |  |
Proceeds from borrowings |  | 1,000 | 633
Payments on borrowings |  | (553) | (666)
Proceeds from borrowings from affiliates |  | 0 | 0
Payments on borrowings from affiliates |  | 0 | 0
Capital contributions from affiliates |  | 0 | 0
Return of capital contributions to affiliates |  | 0 | 0
Other intercompany financing activities |  | 0 | 0
Cash dividends paid |  | (803) | (780)
Payments of Distributions to Affiliates |  | 0 |
Exercise of employee stock options |  | 59 | 60
Repurchase of shares |  | (789) | (567)
Payments Related to Tax Withholding for Share-based Compensation |  | (21) | (18)
Other - net |  | (8) | (5)
Net cash used in financing activities |  | (1,115) | (1,343)
Effect of currency on cash |  | 11 | 8
Total increase (decrease) in cash |  | 248 | 226
Cash at the beginning of the period |  | 543 | 268
Cash at the end of the period |  | 791 | 494
Guarantors [Member] |  |  |
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows, Captions [Line Items] |  |  |
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities |  | 802 | (285)
Investing activities |  |  |
Capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment |  | (75) | (75)
Cash received from (paid for) acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired |  |  | 1
Payments for (Proceeds from) Businesses and Interest in Affiliates |  | (92) |
Sales (purchases) of short-term investments - net |  | 0 | 2
Investments in affiliates |  | 0 | (120)
Return of capital contributions from affiliates |  | 20 | 47
Loans to affiliates |  | 0 | (655)
Repayments of loans from affiliates |  | 46 | 0
Proceeds from sale of consolidated subsidiary |  | 0 |
Other - net |  | 2 | 30
Net cash used in investing activities |  | (99) | (770)
Financing activities |  |  |
Proceeds from borrowings |  | 0 | 611
Payments on borrowings |  | (297) | (240)
Proceeds from borrowings from affiliates |  | 965 | 1,059
Payments on borrowings from affiliates |  | (352) | (1,658)
Capital contributions from affiliates |  | 90 | 1,370
Return of capital contributions to affiliates |  | 0 | 0
Other intercompany financing activities |  | (290) | (81)
Cash dividends paid |  | 0 | 0
Payments of Distributions to Affiliates |  | (803) |
Exercise of employee stock options |  | 0 | 0
Repurchase of shares |  | 0 | 0
Payments Related to Tax Withholding for Share-based Compensation |  | (4) | (4)
Other - net |  | (1) | (3)
Net cash used in financing activities |  | (692) | 1,054
Effect of currency on cash |  | 0 | 0
Total increase (decrease) in cash |  | 11 | (1)
Cash at the beginning of the period |  | 4 | 7
Cash at the end of the period |  | 15 | 6
Other subsidiaries [Member] |  |  |
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows, Captions [Line Items] |  |  |
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities |  | 2,365 | 2,392
Investing activities |  |  |
Capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment |  | (213) | (209)
Cash received from (paid for) acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired |  |  | 0
Payments for (Proceeds from) Businesses and Interest in Affiliates |  | 92 |
Sales (purchases) of short-term investments - net |  | (621) | (31)
Investments in affiliates |  | (90) | (1,370)
Return of capital contributions from affiliates |  | 0 | 0
Loans to affiliates |  | (4,754) | (6,457)
Repayments of loans from affiliates |  | 3,816 | 4,501
Proceeds from sale of consolidated subsidiary |  | 270 |
Other - net |  | (29) | (27)
Net cash used in investing activities |  | (1,529) | (3,593)
Financing activities |  |  |
Proceeds from borrowings |  | 0 | 0
Payments on borrowings |  | (6) | (18)
Proceeds from borrowings from affiliates |  | 28 | 192
Payments on borrowings from affiliates |  | (87) | (41)
Capital contributions from affiliates |  | 198 | 1,370
Return of capital contributions to affiliates |  | (20) | (47)
Other intercompany financing activities |  | 3 | (77)
Cash dividends paid |  | 0 | 0
Payments of Distributions to Affiliates |  | (809) |
Exercise of employee stock options |  | 0 | 0
Repurchase of shares |  | 0 | 0
Payments Related to Tax Withholding for Share-based Compensation |  | (3) | (2)
Other - net |  | (3) | (2)
Net cash used in financing activities |  | (699) | 1,375
Effect of currency on cash |  | 11 | 8
Total increase (decrease) in cash |  | 148 | 182
Cash at the beginning of the period |  | 446 | 235
Cash at the end of the period |  | 594 | 417
Eaton Corporation plc [Member] |  |  |
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows, Captions [Line Items] |  |  |
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities |  | 528 | (158)
Investing activities |  |  |
Capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment |  | 0 | 0
Cash received from (paid for) acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired |  |  | 0
Payments for (Proceeds from) Businesses and Interest in Affiliates |  | 0 |
Sales (purchases) of short-term investments - net |  | 0 | 0
Investments in affiliates |  | (90) | (1,250)
Return of capital contributions from affiliates |  | 0 | 0
Loans to affiliates |  | 0 | 0
Repayments of loans from affiliates |  | 0 | 0
Proceeds from sale of consolidated subsidiary |  | 0 |
Other - net |  | 0 | 0
Net cash used in investing activities |  | (90) | (1,250)
Financing activities |  |  |
Proceeds from borrowings |  | 0 | 0
Payments on borrowings |  | 0 | 0
Proceeds from borrowings from affiliates |  | 1,917 | 3,333
Payments on borrowings from affiliates |  | (822) | (637)
Capital contributions from affiliates |  | 0 | 0
Return of capital contributions to affiliates |  | 0 | 0
Other intercompany financing activities |  | 0 | 0
Cash dividends paid |  | (803) | (780)
Payments of Distributions to Affiliates |  | 0 |
Exercise of employee stock options |  | 59 | 60
Repurchase of shares |  | (789) | (567)
Payments Related to Tax Withholding for Share-based Compensation |  | 0 | 0
Other - net |  | 0 | 0
Net cash used in financing activities |  | (438) | 1,409
Effect of currency on cash |  | 0 | 0
Total increase (decrease) in cash |  | 0 | 1
Cash at the beginning of the period |  | 1 | 0
Cash at the end of the period |  | 1 | 1
Eaton Corporation [Member] |  |  |
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows, Captions [Line Items] |  |  |
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities |  | (296) | (17)
Investing activities |  |  |
Capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment |  | (63) | (62)
Cash received from (paid for) acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired |  |  | 0
Payments for (Proceeds from) Businesses and Interest in Affiliates |  | 0 |
Sales (purchases) of short-term investments - net |  | 0 | 0
Investments in affiliates |  | (108) | 0
Return of capital contributions from affiliates |  | 0 | 0
Loans to affiliates |  | (29) | (287)
Repayments of loans from affiliates |  | 303 | 1,288
Proceeds from sale of consolidated subsidiary |  | 330 |
Other - net |  | (36) | 0
Net cash used in investing activities |  | 397 | 939
Financing activities |  |  |
Proceeds from borrowings |  | 1,000 | 22
Payments on borrowings |  | (250) | (408)
Proceeds from borrowings from affiliates |  | 1,873 | 2,815
Payments on borrowings from affiliates |  | (2,904) | (3,453)
Capital contributions from affiliates |  | 0 | 0
Return of capital contributions to affiliates |  | 0 | 0
Other intercompany financing activities |  | 287 | 158
Cash dividends paid |  | 0 | 0
Payments of Distributions to Affiliates |  | 0 |
Exercise of employee stock options |  | 0 | 0
Repurchase of shares |  | 0 | 0
Payments Related to Tax Withholding for Share-based Compensation |  | (14) | (12)
Other - net |  | (4) | 0
Net cash used in financing activities |  | (12) | (878)
Effect of currency on cash |  | 0 | 0
Total increase (decrease) in cash |  | 89 | 44
Cash at the beginning of the period |  | 92 | 26
Cash at the end of the period |  | 181 | 70
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member] |  |  |
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows, Captions [Line Items] |  |  |
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities |  | (1,612) | 0
Investing activities |  |  |
Capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment |  | 0 | 0
Cash received from (paid for) acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired |  |  | 0
Payments for (Proceeds from) Businesses and Interest in Affiliates |  | 0 |
Sales (purchases) of short-term investments - net |  | 0 | 0
Investments in affiliates |  | 288 | 2,740
Return of capital contributions from affiliates |  | (20) | (47)
Loans to affiliates |  | 4,783 | 7,399
Repayments of loans from affiliates |  | (4,165) | (5,789)
Proceeds from sale of consolidated subsidiary |  | 0 |
Other - net |  | 0 | 0
Net cash used in investing activities |  | 886 | 4,303
Financing activities |  |  |
Proceeds from borrowings |  | 0 | 0
Payments on borrowings |  | 0 | 0
Proceeds from borrowings from affiliates |  | (4,783) | (7,399)
Payments on borrowings from affiliates |  | 4,165 | 5,789
Capital contributions from affiliates |  | (288) | (2,740)
Return of capital contributions to affiliates |  | 20 | 47
Other intercompany financing activities |  | 0 | 0
Cash dividends paid |  | 0 | 0
Payments of Distributions to Affiliates |  | 1,612 |
Exercise of employee stock options |  | 0 | 0
Repurchase of shares |  | 0 | 0
Payments Related to Tax Withholding for Share-based Compensation |  | 0 | 0
Other - net |  | 0 | 0
Net cash used in financing activities |  | 726 | (4,303)
Effect of currency on cash |  | 0 | 0
Total increase (decrease) in cash |  | 0 | 0
Cash at the beginning of the period |  | 0 | 0
Cash at the end of the period |  | $ 0 | $ 0

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- Definition Amount of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Also includes short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Excludes cash and cash equivalents within disposal group and discontinued operation. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82887183&loc=d3e6676-107765 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3044-108585 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
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- Definition The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of long-lived, physical assets that are used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale; includes cash outflows to pay for construction of self-constructed assets. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 13 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3213-108585 + Details
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- Definition The cash inflow from an entity that is affiliated with the entity by means of direct or indirect ownership. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 14 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3255-108585 + Details
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- Definition The cash inflow associated with the deconsolidation of a previously consolidated subsidiary or the sale of investment in consolidated subsidiaries (generally greater than 50 percent). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 12 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3179-108585 + Details
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- Definition Amount of cash inflow (outflow) from financing activities classified as other. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 8 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3095-108585 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 9 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3098-108585 + Details
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- Definition Amount of cash inflow (outflow) from long-term debt by a related party. Related parties, include, but are not limited to, affiliates, owners or officers and their immediate families, and pension trusts. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Amount of cash inflow from exercise of stock options granted under share-based compensation arrangement. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 14 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3255-108585 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2A -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=96867065&loc=SL79508275-113901 + Details
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