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-   -   3-prong laptop plug (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/3-prong-laptop-plug-857617/)

alohatoall Sep 2nd, 2010 01:11 PM

3-prong laptop plug
 
My new laptop has a 3-prong grounded plug, which fits into my standard 2-prong European adaptor. Is this safe, or do I need another intermediate adaptor? Thanks for the help.

Robert2533 Sep 2nd, 2010 01:48 PM

Strange, a 3-prong grounded plug on a laptop. What's the brand?

alohatoall Sep 2nd, 2010 01:51 PM

HP - the Pavilion dm4t, which I love -- 14" with an optical drive and only 4.4 lb.

jent103 Sep 2nd, 2010 02:14 PM

My old (2006) MacBook has a 3-prong plug as well. I found a 3-prong adapter at Best Buy, I think - I wouldn't feel good about leaving a prong dangling, personally.

J62 Sep 2nd, 2010 03:18 PM

HP is one of the few, if only brand of laptop that uses a grounded 3 prong plug. Almost all others use a universal 2 pronged plug.

I use my 3 prong HP plug with a 2 prong adapter in Europe frequently. The dangling prong is ground, not live voltage.

You will be just fine. 3 prong Schuko plugs fit more snugly into the corresponding outlet, so I carry one of those when I travel as well. You can get one quite cheaply - no need to pay $20 airport gift shop prices.

http://www.amazon.com/GERMAN-SCHUKO-.../dp/B001PLSXBG

pauljagman Sep 2nd, 2010 04:13 PM

I used the standard european adapter with my 3 prong netbook plug and had no issues. My netbook worked well and I didn't blow any fuses.

daveesl Sep 2nd, 2010 04:51 PM

You can pick up a 2 prong to 3 prong adapter at any hardware store, walmart, etc. The round prong is the ground. If you want to feel safe, carry a small roll of wire. Attach it to the ground screw on the adapter and tie this to any metal plumbing. Bingo, you are grounded

dave

spaarne Sep 2nd, 2010 05:36 PM

The SCHUKO plug adapter linked by J62 is grounded. The ground is the metal strip on the perimeter, not another prong. Since HP put a grounded plug on your machine you would be wise to make proper use of it instead of messing around with a Rube Goldberg scheme.

BTW, what is a <i>standard 2-prong European adaptor</i>? There are more than one type of two prong plugs in use in Europe.

spaarne Sep 4th, 2010 10:50 AM

My daughter just wrote from Milan that the Schucko plug adapters do not fit in the Italian outlets at the private home where she is staying.


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