🚀 go-pugleaf

On 2008-11-08, john downie2 <bluestar@mail.invalid> 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?

No.  If the power 'brick' has three pins, it has been designed to require 
three connectors.

> 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?

"Only" an earth?  Sheesh!

> 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.

Assuming that your existing power brick can accomodate Japanese mains 
voltage and frequency, you will need an earthed Japanese plug to fit the 
Japanese mains socket.  Which sounds like what the technical services 
department are trying to convince you of.

I think Japan uses 100V mains at either 50 or 60 Hz depending on location.

-- 
-- ^^^^^^^^^^
--  Whiskers 
-- ~~~~~~~~~~

"Whiskers" <catwheezel@operamail.com> wrote in message 
news:slrnghbb69.bnl.catwheezel@ID-107770.user.individual.net...
> On 2008-11-08, john downie2 <bluestar@mail.invalid> 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?
>
> No.  If the power 'brick' has three pins, it has been designed to require
> three connectors.
>
>> 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?
>
> "Only" an earth?  Sheesh!
>
>> 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.
>
> Assuming that your existing power brick can accomodate Japanese mains
> voltage and frequency, you will need an earthed Japanese plug to fit the
> Japanese mains socket.  Which sounds like what the technical services
> department are trying to convince you of.
>
> I think Japan uses 100V mains at either 50 or 60 Hz depending on location.
>
> -- 
> -- ^^^^^^^^^^
> --  Whiskers
> -- ~~~~~~~~~~

If the "power brick" is a switch-mode converter (not an iron cored 
transformer) some types automatically adjust to anywhere between 100 - 240V, 
check the specification label as this information should be clearly marked.

Most PSUs of this type are double insulated and do not require an earth, 
they only have a 3-pin plug because the regulations in the country of use 
say that all wall sockets must be 3-pin (there wouldn't be much point in 
supplying items with a 2-pin plug that didn't fit anything). Carefully 
examine the mains lead, if its round then it contains 3 wires and must be 
earthed, if the mains lead is flat so you can tell the outer covering is 
over a pair of wires side by side then there is obviously no third wire for 
an earth. 

On 2008-11-08, ian field <gangprobing.alien@ntlworld.com> wrote:
> "Whiskers" <catwheezel@operamail.com> wrote in message 
> news:slrnghbb69.bnl.catwheezel@ID-107770.user.individual.net...
>> On 2008-11-08, john downie2 <bluestar@mail.invalid> 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?
>>
>> No.  If the power 'brick' has three pins, it has been designed to require
>> three connectors.
>>
>>> 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?
>>
>> "Only" an earth?  Sheesh!
>>
>>> 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.
>>
>> Assuming that your existing power brick can accomodate Japanese mains
>> voltage and frequency, you will need an earthed Japanese plug to fit the
>> Japanese mains socket.  Which sounds like what the technical services
>> department are trying to convince you of.
>>
>> I think Japan uses 100V mains at either 50 or 60 Hz depending on location.
>
> If the "power brick" is a switch-mode converter (not an iron cored 
> transformer) some types automatically adjust to anywhere between 100 - 240V, 
> check the specification label as this information should be clearly marked.

True enough.

> Most PSUs of this type are double insulated and do not require an earth, 
> they only have a 3-pin plug because the regulations in the country of use 
> say that all wall sockets must be 3-pin (there wouldn't be much point in 
> supplying items with a 2-pin plug that didn't fit anything). 

I took the OP to mean that the brick itself has three pins in the orifice 
to which the incoming mains lead is connected.  That suggests that the 
makers of it expected it to be earthed.  

Both the laptop power bricks in use in this room (one HP, one Toshiba) have
three metal pins for the mains lead to connect to - and /do/ require an
earthed mains lead and socket.  The arrangement is sometimes described as 
a 'cloverleaf' connector; more officially an IEC-320 type C5
<http://www.maplin.co.uk/images/full/qn62.jpg> and 
<http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=218969>.  The two-pin type
with no earth is a 'figure-of-eight' or IEC-320 type C7.

Here in the UK, double-insulated appliances can be fitted with a mains 
lead that has a plastic 'earth' pin - whose functions are to open the 
shutters on the other two holes in the socket, and to ensure correct 
connection of the 'live' and 'neutral' pins.  But mere presence of a metal 
earth pin on the plug cannot be taken as evidence of an earth connection, 
of course!

> Carefully 
> examine the mains lead, if its round then it contains 3 wires and must be 
> earthed, if the mains lead is flat so you can tell the outer covering is 
> over a pair of wires side by side then there is obviously no third wire for 
> an earth. 

Never seen a 'flat' three-conductor lead, or a round two-conductor lead?

-- 
-- ^^^^^^^^^^
--  Whiskers 
-- ~~~~~~~~~~

On Sat, 08 Nov 2008 15:14:17 -0000, Whiskers <catwheezel@operamail.com> wrote:

> On 2008-11-08, john downie2 <bluestar@mail.invalid> 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?
>
> No.  If the power 'brick' has three pins, it has been designed to require
> three connectors.
>
>> 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?
>
> "Only" an earth?  Sheesh!

Power bricks are plastic and don't need to be earthed for safety reasons.  His question, which nobody has answered yet, is whether the supply NEEDS an earth to operate correctly.

-- 
http://www.petersparrots.com    http://www.insanevideoclips.com    http://www.petersphotos.com

Stupidity is the basic building block of the universe - Frank Zappa

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.

On Sat, 08 Nov 2008 18:17:27 -0000, 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.

SIXTY amps!  Wow.  I'm glad we have more volts in the UK.

-- 
http://www.petersparrots.com    http://www.insanevideoclips.com    http://www.petersphotos.com

"A slipping gear could let your M203 grenade launcher fire when you least expect it. That would make you quite unpopular in what's left of your unit."
- Army preventive maintenance publication

"Whiskers" <catwheezel@operamail.com> wrote in message 
news:slrnghbj3g.bnl.catwheezel@ID-107770.user.individual.net...
> On 2008-11-08, ian field <gangprobing.alien@ntlworld.com> wrote:
>> "Whiskers" <catwheezel@operamail.com> wrote in message
>> news:slrnghbb69.bnl.catwheezel@ID-107770.user.individual.net...
>>> On 2008-11-08, john downie2 <bluestar@mail.invalid> 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?
>>>
>>> No.  If the power 'brick' has three pins, it has been designed to 
>>> require
>>> three connectors.
>>>
>>>> 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?
>>>
>>> "Only" an earth?  Sheesh!
>>>
>>>> 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.
>>>
>>> Assuming that your existing power brick can accomodate Japanese mains
>>> voltage and frequency, you will need an earthed Japanese plug to fit the
>>> Japanese mains socket.  Which sounds like what the technical services
>>> department are trying to convince you of.
>>>
>>> I think Japan uses 100V mains at either 50 or 60 Hz depending on 
>>> location.
>>
>> If the "power brick" is a switch-mode converter (not an iron cored
>> transformer) some types automatically adjust to anywhere between 100 - 
>> 240V,
>> check the specification label as this information should be clearly 
>> marked.
>
> True enough.
>
>> Most PSUs of this type are double insulated and do not require an earth,
>> they only have a 3-pin plug because the regulations in the country of use
>> say that all wall sockets must be 3-pin (there wouldn't be much point in
>> supplying items with a 2-pin plug that didn't fit anything).
>
> I took the OP to mean that the brick itself has three pins in the orifice
> to which the incoming mains lead is connected.  That suggests that the
> makers of it expected it to be earthed.

I'd still take it that if the original mains lead was only 2-core, even if 
there is a 3-way connector on the power brick, then you can't have live, 
neutral and an earth if there's only 2 wires in the mains lead. 3 pin 
connectors do turn up every now and then with only 2 pins actually used but 
they're not very common.

As long as the original mains lead is still with the power brick, its the 
best indication whether its safe to use without an earth or not. Of course 
with a detachable lead, if examination leaves any doubt as to whether its 2 
or 3 wires its easy enough to continuity test the earth pin. 

In article <5JkRk.106$Cn3.92@newsfe20.iad>,
   catchme <someone@somewhere.net> wrote:
> 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.

The UK is 240v. Actual spec is 230 +10/-6% to fall in line with Europe,
but it hasn't changed from the old nominal 240.

-- 
*Am I ambivalent? Well, yes and no.  

    Dave Plowman        dave@davenoise.co.uk           London SW
                  To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On Nov 8, 5:48 pm, "Dave Plowman (News)" <d...@davenoise.co.uk> wrote:
> In article <5JkRk.106$Cn3...@newsfe20.iad>,
>    catchme <some...@somewhere.net> wrote:
>
> > 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.
>
> The UK is 240v. Actual spec is 230 +10/-6% to fall in line with Europe,
> but it hasn't changed from the old nominal 240.
>
> --
> *Am I ambivalent? Well, yes and no.  
>
>     Dave Plowman        d...@davenoise.co.uk           London SW
>                   To e-mail, change noise into sound.

The answer to the original poster is yes, if the power brick will
accept as low as 100V andat 50 or 60 Hz, then everything will be fine.