🚀 go-pugleaf

On Sat, 08 Nov 2008 22:16:47 -0000, Whiskers <catwheezel@operamail.com> wrote:

> On 2008-11-08, catchme <someone@somewhere.net> wrote:
>> john downie2 wrote:
>>> my brother wishes wishes to take an Acer Aspire One mini-notebook to japan,
>>> from London, u.k. .
>>>
>>> He already has in his house a lead with a japanese type mains plug on one
>>> end and the normal type two pin femail type plug (the same as often goes
>>> into radios, etc) that will go into the computer transformer.
>>>
>>> But we see that the Aspire One has an additional *third* hole alongside the
>>> usual two hole plug that goes into the computer transformer. The three holes
>>> forming a triangle shape.
>>>
>>> Is it alright to use our existing two hole Japanese type lead and then only
>>> use *two* out of the three pins coming from the aspire transformer, please?
>>>
>>> My guess is that the third hole is only an *earth* connection. although this
>>> might be an additional safety feature, our main concern is whether it might
>>> do any damage to use the two pin only lead?
>>>
>>> I have emailed the technical services department and the spares department,
>>> but neither will answer the question, only want to sell me one of their
>>> three hole leads. Thanks for your advice.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>> yes, the 3rd hole is a ground, but while the voltage in Japan is
>> similiar to North America (despite Japan only having 2 leads), i dont
>> know what the voltage is in the UK.
>> Japan runs 110v. on a 60a circuit, whereas Canada does 120.
>
> UK standard domestic mains runs at 240V 50 Hz and most houses have been
> wired with "13 Amp ringmains" since the '60s.  Our standard 13 Amp plugs
> and sockets have three pins; there are no standard 2-pin plugs that fit
> the 3-pin mains sockets - which require a third pin to open the shutters
> in the 'live' and 'neutral' holes before anything can be inserted into
> them (the earth pin being longer than the other two).  Appliances which
> don't need an earth connection can be fitted with plugs having a plastic
> 'earth pin' (which presumably saves manufacturers money).

And costs you money when you stand on one and snap the pin off.  Even worse when it's a wall wart.

> Japan's mains apparently runs at 100V, 50 or 60 Hz, and the plugs and
> sockets are only superficially similar to those used in the US.  They seem
> to be rated at 10 12 or 15 Amps.  (60 Amps would be pretty nasty if things
> went a little awry, even if a 6 KW fire might be useful).

Our UK ring mains are 6kW too, why are you surprised?

   Three-pin
> earthed sockets are apparently not as common as might be desired.  See
> <http://www.powercords.co.uk/standard.htm#JAPAN>
> <http://www.powercords.co.uk/pc123.htm>
>



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