Using International power plug adaptor for Noobie?
So some countries have a two plug and others have a 3 plug grounded system
But when you connect a two plug into a three plug adapter, which way do you connect?
Or does it matter?
Using International Power Plug Adaptor for Noobie?
[Deactivated] on 29/09/2020 - 07:36
Comments
So some countries have a two plug and others have a 3 plug grounded system
Correct, groups of countries use different plugs and sockets and voltages. Australia (New Zealand, China & Argentina) uses a Type I plug with either 2 pins not grounded or 3 pins: grounded.
Type E used in Europe is 2 pin but is grounded (the 3rd pin in usually in the outlet). Whereas type C used in Europe, Asia and South America is 2 pin not grounded.
But when you connect a two plug into a three plug adapter, which way do you connect? Does it matter?
Say for example a laptop with a grounded plug into an outlet with a 2 pin not grounded connection. You wouldn't experience any problems except in the rare case that a laptop has an internal short from a live power line conductor to an exposed metal part of the laptop. So no, for most uses it wouldn't matter.
Typically doesn't matter, and device will work since its AC… (check voltage/current of country vs device though)
Sometimes it does, because one of the 2 prongs is live and the other neutral. Without the offset ground or the directional prongs (Australia's 2 prongs can only be inserted one way), the device may switch off by disconnecting the live wire. If the neutral wire is disconnected instead, the device appears to be off but is still live (risky if you spill water on it etc), particularly since you don't have the ground either.
It doesn't matter. The earth is redundant as your appliance is double insulated if it's 2 pin
Firstly, check that the voltage and current type is compatible. Some devices will plug in with a convertor that will then fit into the wall plug, but will either not function because the voltage in the wall is too low or it'll fry if the voltage is too high.
If it is AC (most, if not all household powerpoints), then the the way you connect the two pins won't matter since they switch between +ve and -ve mutiple times per second.
The third wire, ground, should be obvious in that it's a different shape or it's not the same as the other two. Leave that if you've only got a two-pronged device.