What are these holes for on this European travel adaptor?












18















I have a standard European travel adaptor. What are the two circled holes on the top and bottom for?



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    18















    I have a standard European travel adaptor. What are the two circled holes on the top and bottom for?



    image










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      18












      18








      18


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      I have a standard European travel adaptor. What are the two circled holes on the top and bottom for?



      image










      share|improve this question
















      I have a standard European travel adaptor. What are the two circled holes on the top and bottom for?



      image







      europe electronic-items power gear






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      edited Jan 17 at 21:36







      D Manokhin

















      asked Jan 14 at 19:14









      D ManokhinD Manokhin

      1,375429




      1,375429






















          4 Answers
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          active

          oldest

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          41














          All the middle holes are there for accepting various types of ground (earth) pins.



          Specifically, the top two holes are there for British plugs (BS 546, BS 1363), while the bottom two are there for Brazilian, Danish and Swiss plugs. As always, Wikipedia has the gory details:



          https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AC_power_plugs_and_sockets






          share|improve this answer



















          • 8





            The lower part of the upper hope looks like it would accept a US plug.

            – phoog
            Jan 14 at 20:11











          • Or the upper hole, rather. A grounded US plug is NEMA 5-15P. The ungrounded analog of that plug (NEMA 1-15P) lacks the pin that would go into the hole in question, but the blades would fit into the inner part of the outer holes on the bottom of the image.

            – phoog
            Jan 14 at 22:22








          • 4





            If this adapter accepts a Danish grounded plug, the ground pin would surely go in one of the top two holes, probably the topmost.

            – Henning Makholm
            Jan 14 at 22:42








          • 8





            It's not entirely accurate to decribe BS546 plugs as "British". Obviously, it is a British standard but these plugs have been obsolete in the UK for decades. A friend of mine had to use them in a university hall of residence 25 years ago and they were staggeringly anachronistic even then. They are used in various other countries, though.

            – David Richerby
            Jan 14 at 23:52






          • 2





            @DavidRicherby the 2A version is still used on lighting circuits and the 5A and 15A for stage lighting (at least dumb incandescent lamps) in the UK. But as regards travel, you're right that they're more common in Commonwealth countries

            – Chris H
            Jan 15 at 9:39





















          43














          That is not a standard socket.



          That is entirely an invention of the Chinese junk sellers.



          It has not been approved by any competent testing laboratory, and it definitely never will. This type of socket is simply trying to adapt too many kinds of plugs, at the expense of safety, and it would not be able to be listed even if it was made by a competent builder. As such, the junk sellers don't even try to make a safe product. Hence the "for export only" sticker: export it to a jurisdiction we're not responsible for.



          Use a listed adapter made for your specific plug-socket pair.



          Note that UL, CSA, TUV, SGS, NTL, ETL etc. are marks of reputable testing agencies. CE is not a testing agency, nor is it reputable, as it allows manufacturers to self-test and self-certify, which turns the mark into “Chinese Excrement.” Relevant to electrical since so most of the world harmonizes to rules like US NEC, which require electrical equipment to be certified by a recognized testing lab. CE won't ever be one, for obvious reasons.



          Hazards of cheapie multi-plug adapter by Big Clive



          John Ward on these… And his teardown.






          share|improve this answer


























          • Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.

            – JoErNanO
            Jan 16 at 19:45



















          9














          Your adapter is designed to acept a wide range of plug types, unfortunately this also tends to mean it accepts none of them well. The "for export only" label doesn't inspire confidence either.



          The holes you have circled in red are to accept the earth pins of the aforementioned wide variety of different plug types. Exactly what is hard to tell from the photo but I'm pretty sure at least UK, US and Australian plugs are supported by that hole combination.



          Depending on just how crappy the adapter in question is you may or may not find it actually provides an earth connection between the Earth contacts on the Schuko style plug and the earth pin holes in the socket.






          share|improve this answer



















          • 2





            proper British sockets have a mechanical lock that prevents anything from being inserted into the live and neutral before the (longer) grounding prong makes contact. this is probably absent here too.

            – dlatikay
            Jan 14 at 21:18








          • 3





            @dlatikay Of course it's absent - otherwise US, EU and other plugs wouldn't activate the shutters.

            – user29850
            Jan 14 at 22:14






          • 1





            The plug into the outlet side of the adapter does not have an earth ground prong, so this is definitely circumventing grounding. Plugging a device with a grounded plug into a non-grounded outlet is always unsafe, regardless of adapter quality.

            – trognanders
            Jan 14 at 22:48








          • 13





            Schuko style plugs don't use a pin for earthing, they use side contacts. Those side contacts appear to be present on the OPs adapter, whether they are actually connected properly is another matter of course.

            – Peter Green
            Jan 14 at 23:14






          • 2





            This would not suit Australian plugs. The power and neutral in Australian plugs are flat and at an angle. This adapter doesn't look it supports that geometry. And that is without going on about how bad the earth hole looks like.

            – Peter M
            Jan 15 at 2:53



















          3














          Various grounding pins.



          Check Wikipedia on plugs and sockets, to see the variation.



          I guess it makes a lot of sense to place the holes similar to what people are used to, and as far as I remember from that list (it's been a while since I spend hours reading through it), all plugs have the grounding pin placed symmetrically in relation to the live pins. And that has resulted in that layout.






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            4 Answers
            4






            active

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            4 Answers
            4






            active

            oldest

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            active

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            active

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            41














            All the middle holes are there for accepting various types of ground (earth) pins.



            Specifically, the top two holes are there for British plugs (BS 546, BS 1363), while the bottom two are there for Brazilian, Danish and Swiss plugs. As always, Wikipedia has the gory details:



            https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AC_power_plugs_and_sockets






            share|improve this answer



















            • 8





              The lower part of the upper hope looks like it would accept a US plug.

              – phoog
              Jan 14 at 20:11











            • Or the upper hole, rather. A grounded US plug is NEMA 5-15P. The ungrounded analog of that plug (NEMA 1-15P) lacks the pin that would go into the hole in question, but the blades would fit into the inner part of the outer holes on the bottom of the image.

              – phoog
              Jan 14 at 22:22








            • 4





              If this adapter accepts a Danish grounded plug, the ground pin would surely go in one of the top two holes, probably the topmost.

              – Henning Makholm
              Jan 14 at 22:42








            • 8





              It's not entirely accurate to decribe BS546 plugs as "British". Obviously, it is a British standard but these plugs have been obsolete in the UK for decades. A friend of mine had to use them in a university hall of residence 25 years ago and they were staggeringly anachronistic even then. They are used in various other countries, though.

              – David Richerby
              Jan 14 at 23:52






            • 2





              @DavidRicherby the 2A version is still used on lighting circuits and the 5A and 15A for stage lighting (at least dumb incandescent lamps) in the UK. But as regards travel, you're right that they're more common in Commonwealth countries

              – Chris H
              Jan 15 at 9:39


















            41














            All the middle holes are there for accepting various types of ground (earth) pins.



            Specifically, the top two holes are there for British plugs (BS 546, BS 1363), while the bottom two are there for Brazilian, Danish and Swiss plugs. As always, Wikipedia has the gory details:



            https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AC_power_plugs_and_sockets






            share|improve this answer



















            • 8





              The lower part of the upper hope looks like it would accept a US plug.

              – phoog
              Jan 14 at 20:11











            • Or the upper hole, rather. A grounded US plug is NEMA 5-15P. The ungrounded analog of that plug (NEMA 1-15P) lacks the pin that would go into the hole in question, but the blades would fit into the inner part of the outer holes on the bottom of the image.

              – phoog
              Jan 14 at 22:22








            • 4





              If this adapter accepts a Danish grounded plug, the ground pin would surely go in one of the top two holes, probably the topmost.

              – Henning Makholm
              Jan 14 at 22:42








            • 8





              It's not entirely accurate to decribe BS546 plugs as "British". Obviously, it is a British standard but these plugs have been obsolete in the UK for decades. A friend of mine had to use them in a university hall of residence 25 years ago and they were staggeringly anachronistic even then. They are used in various other countries, though.

              – David Richerby
              Jan 14 at 23:52






            • 2





              @DavidRicherby the 2A version is still used on lighting circuits and the 5A and 15A for stage lighting (at least dumb incandescent lamps) in the UK. But as regards travel, you're right that they're more common in Commonwealth countries

              – Chris H
              Jan 15 at 9:39
















            41












            41








            41







            All the middle holes are there for accepting various types of ground (earth) pins.



            Specifically, the top two holes are there for British plugs (BS 546, BS 1363), while the bottom two are there for Brazilian, Danish and Swiss plugs. As always, Wikipedia has the gory details:



            https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AC_power_plugs_and_sockets






            share|improve this answer













            All the middle holes are there for accepting various types of ground (earth) pins.



            Specifically, the top two holes are there for British plugs (BS 546, BS 1363), while the bottom two are there for Brazilian, Danish and Swiss plugs. As always, Wikipedia has the gory details:



            https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AC_power_plugs_and_sockets







            share|improve this answer












            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer










            answered Jan 14 at 20:02









            jpatokaljpatokal

            115k18354515




            115k18354515








            • 8





              The lower part of the upper hope looks like it would accept a US plug.

              – phoog
              Jan 14 at 20:11











            • Or the upper hole, rather. A grounded US plug is NEMA 5-15P. The ungrounded analog of that plug (NEMA 1-15P) lacks the pin that would go into the hole in question, but the blades would fit into the inner part of the outer holes on the bottom of the image.

              – phoog
              Jan 14 at 22:22








            • 4





              If this adapter accepts a Danish grounded plug, the ground pin would surely go in one of the top two holes, probably the topmost.

              – Henning Makholm
              Jan 14 at 22:42








            • 8





              It's not entirely accurate to decribe BS546 plugs as "British". Obviously, it is a British standard but these plugs have been obsolete in the UK for decades. A friend of mine had to use them in a university hall of residence 25 years ago and they were staggeringly anachronistic even then. They are used in various other countries, though.

              – David Richerby
              Jan 14 at 23:52






            • 2





              @DavidRicherby the 2A version is still used on lighting circuits and the 5A and 15A for stage lighting (at least dumb incandescent lamps) in the UK. But as regards travel, you're right that they're more common in Commonwealth countries

              – Chris H
              Jan 15 at 9:39
















            • 8





              The lower part of the upper hope looks like it would accept a US plug.

              – phoog
              Jan 14 at 20:11











            • Or the upper hole, rather. A grounded US plug is NEMA 5-15P. The ungrounded analog of that plug (NEMA 1-15P) lacks the pin that would go into the hole in question, but the blades would fit into the inner part of the outer holes on the bottom of the image.

              – phoog
              Jan 14 at 22:22








            • 4





              If this adapter accepts a Danish grounded plug, the ground pin would surely go in one of the top two holes, probably the topmost.

              – Henning Makholm
              Jan 14 at 22:42








            • 8





              It's not entirely accurate to decribe BS546 plugs as "British". Obviously, it is a British standard but these plugs have been obsolete in the UK for decades. A friend of mine had to use them in a university hall of residence 25 years ago and they were staggeringly anachronistic even then. They are used in various other countries, though.

              – David Richerby
              Jan 14 at 23:52






            • 2





              @DavidRicherby the 2A version is still used on lighting circuits and the 5A and 15A for stage lighting (at least dumb incandescent lamps) in the UK. But as regards travel, you're right that they're more common in Commonwealth countries

              – Chris H
              Jan 15 at 9:39










            8




            8





            The lower part of the upper hope looks like it would accept a US plug.

            – phoog
            Jan 14 at 20:11





            The lower part of the upper hope looks like it would accept a US plug.

            – phoog
            Jan 14 at 20:11













            Or the upper hole, rather. A grounded US plug is NEMA 5-15P. The ungrounded analog of that plug (NEMA 1-15P) lacks the pin that would go into the hole in question, but the blades would fit into the inner part of the outer holes on the bottom of the image.

            – phoog
            Jan 14 at 22:22







            Or the upper hole, rather. A grounded US plug is NEMA 5-15P. The ungrounded analog of that plug (NEMA 1-15P) lacks the pin that would go into the hole in question, but the blades would fit into the inner part of the outer holes on the bottom of the image.

            – phoog
            Jan 14 at 22:22






            4




            4





            If this adapter accepts a Danish grounded plug, the ground pin would surely go in one of the top two holes, probably the topmost.

            – Henning Makholm
            Jan 14 at 22:42







            If this adapter accepts a Danish grounded plug, the ground pin would surely go in one of the top two holes, probably the topmost.

            – Henning Makholm
            Jan 14 at 22:42






            8




            8





            It's not entirely accurate to decribe BS546 plugs as "British". Obviously, it is a British standard but these plugs have been obsolete in the UK for decades. A friend of mine had to use them in a university hall of residence 25 years ago and they were staggeringly anachronistic even then. They are used in various other countries, though.

            – David Richerby
            Jan 14 at 23:52





            It's not entirely accurate to decribe BS546 plugs as "British". Obviously, it is a British standard but these plugs have been obsolete in the UK for decades. A friend of mine had to use them in a university hall of residence 25 years ago and they were staggeringly anachronistic even then. They are used in various other countries, though.

            – David Richerby
            Jan 14 at 23:52




            2




            2





            @DavidRicherby the 2A version is still used on lighting circuits and the 5A and 15A for stage lighting (at least dumb incandescent lamps) in the UK. But as regards travel, you're right that they're more common in Commonwealth countries

            – Chris H
            Jan 15 at 9:39







            @DavidRicherby the 2A version is still used on lighting circuits and the 5A and 15A for stage lighting (at least dumb incandescent lamps) in the UK. But as regards travel, you're right that they're more common in Commonwealth countries

            – Chris H
            Jan 15 at 9:39















            43














            That is not a standard socket.



            That is entirely an invention of the Chinese junk sellers.



            It has not been approved by any competent testing laboratory, and it definitely never will. This type of socket is simply trying to adapt too many kinds of plugs, at the expense of safety, and it would not be able to be listed even if it was made by a competent builder. As such, the junk sellers don't even try to make a safe product. Hence the "for export only" sticker: export it to a jurisdiction we're not responsible for.



            Use a listed adapter made for your specific plug-socket pair.



            Note that UL, CSA, TUV, SGS, NTL, ETL etc. are marks of reputable testing agencies. CE is not a testing agency, nor is it reputable, as it allows manufacturers to self-test and self-certify, which turns the mark into “Chinese Excrement.” Relevant to electrical since so most of the world harmonizes to rules like US NEC, which require electrical equipment to be certified by a recognized testing lab. CE won't ever be one, for obvious reasons.



            Hazards of cheapie multi-plug adapter by Big Clive



            John Ward on these… And his teardown.






            share|improve this answer


























            • Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.

              – JoErNanO
              Jan 16 at 19:45
















            43














            That is not a standard socket.



            That is entirely an invention of the Chinese junk sellers.



            It has not been approved by any competent testing laboratory, and it definitely never will. This type of socket is simply trying to adapt too many kinds of plugs, at the expense of safety, and it would not be able to be listed even if it was made by a competent builder. As such, the junk sellers don't even try to make a safe product. Hence the "for export only" sticker: export it to a jurisdiction we're not responsible for.



            Use a listed adapter made for your specific plug-socket pair.



            Note that UL, CSA, TUV, SGS, NTL, ETL etc. are marks of reputable testing agencies. CE is not a testing agency, nor is it reputable, as it allows manufacturers to self-test and self-certify, which turns the mark into “Chinese Excrement.” Relevant to electrical since so most of the world harmonizes to rules like US NEC, which require electrical equipment to be certified by a recognized testing lab. CE won't ever be one, for obvious reasons.



            Hazards of cheapie multi-plug adapter by Big Clive



            John Ward on these… And his teardown.






            share|improve this answer


























            • Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.

              – JoErNanO
              Jan 16 at 19:45














            43












            43








            43







            That is not a standard socket.



            That is entirely an invention of the Chinese junk sellers.



            It has not been approved by any competent testing laboratory, and it definitely never will. This type of socket is simply trying to adapt too many kinds of plugs, at the expense of safety, and it would not be able to be listed even if it was made by a competent builder. As such, the junk sellers don't even try to make a safe product. Hence the "for export only" sticker: export it to a jurisdiction we're not responsible for.



            Use a listed adapter made for your specific plug-socket pair.



            Note that UL, CSA, TUV, SGS, NTL, ETL etc. are marks of reputable testing agencies. CE is not a testing agency, nor is it reputable, as it allows manufacturers to self-test and self-certify, which turns the mark into “Chinese Excrement.” Relevant to electrical since so most of the world harmonizes to rules like US NEC, which require electrical equipment to be certified by a recognized testing lab. CE won't ever be one, for obvious reasons.



            Hazards of cheapie multi-plug adapter by Big Clive



            John Ward on these… And his teardown.






            share|improve this answer















            That is not a standard socket.



            That is entirely an invention of the Chinese junk sellers.



            It has not been approved by any competent testing laboratory, and it definitely never will. This type of socket is simply trying to adapt too many kinds of plugs, at the expense of safety, and it would not be able to be listed even if it was made by a competent builder. As such, the junk sellers don't even try to make a safe product. Hence the "for export only" sticker: export it to a jurisdiction we're not responsible for.



            Use a listed adapter made for your specific plug-socket pair.



            Note that UL, CSA, TUV, SGS, NTL, ETL etc. are marks of reputable testing agencies. CE is not a testing agency, nor is it reputable, as it allows manufacturers to self-test and self-certify, which turns the mark into “Chinese Excrement.” Relevant to electrical since so most of the world harmonizes to rules like US NEC, which require electrical equipment to be certified by a recognized testing lab. CE won't ever be one, for obvious reasons.



            Hazards of cheapie multi-plug adapter by Big Clive



            John Ward on these… And his teardown.







            share|improve this answer














            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer








            edited Jan 16 at 1:28









            JakeGould

            1154




            1154










            answered Jan 15 at 2:20









            HarperHarper

            11.3k32255




            11.3k32255













            • Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.

              – JoErNanO
              Jan 16 at 19:45



















            • Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.

              – JoErNanO
              Jan 16 at 19:45

















            Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.

            – JoErNanO
            Jan 16 at 19:45





            Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.

            – JoErNanO
            Jan 16 at 19:45











            9














            Your adapter is designed to acept a wide range of plug types, unfortunately this also tends to mean it accepts none of them well. The "for export only" label doesn't inspire confidence either.



            The holes you have circled in red are to accept the earth pins of the aforementioned wide variety of different plug types. Exactly what is hard to tell from the photo but I'm pretty sure at least UK, US and Australian plugs are supported by that hole combination.



            Depending on just how crappy the adapter in question is you may or may not find it actually provides an earth connection between the Earth contacts on the Schuko style plug and the earth pin holes in the socket.






            share|improve this answer



















            • 2





              proper British sockets have a mechanical lock that prevents anything from being inserted into the live and neutral before the (longer) grounding prong makes contact. this is probably absent here too.

              – dlatikay
              Jan 14 at 21:18








            • 3





              @dlatikay Of course it's absent - otherwise US, EU and other plugs wouldn't activate the shutters.

              – user29850
              Jan 14 at 22:14






            • 1





              The plug into the outlet side of the adapter does not have an earth ground prong, so this is definitely circumventing grounding. Plugging a device with a grounded plug into a non-grounded outlet is always unsafe, regardless of adapter quality.

              – trognanders
              Jan 14 at 22:48








            • 13





              Schuko style plugs don't use a pin for earthing, they use side contacts. Those side contacts appear to be present on the OPs adapter, whether they are actually connected properly is another matter of course.

              – Peter Green
              Jan 14 at 23:14






            • 2





              This would not suit Australian plugs. The power and neutral in Australian plugs are flat and at an angle. This adapter doesn't look it supports that geometry. And that is without going on about how bad the earth hole looks like.

              – Peter M
              Jan 15 at 2:53
















            9














            Your adapter is designed to acept a wide range of plug types, unfortunately this also tends to mean it accepts none of them well. The "for export only" label doesn't inspire confidence either.



            The holes you have circled in red are to accept the earth pins of the aforementioned wide variety of different plug types. Exactly what is hard to tell from the photo but I'm pretty sure at least UK, US and Australian plugs are supported by that hole combination.



            Depending on just how crappy the adapter in question is you may or may not find it actually provides an earth connection between the Earth contacts on the Schuko style plug and the earth pin holes in the socket.






            share|improve this answer



















            • 2





              proper British sockets have a mechanical lock that prevents anything from being inserted into the live and neutral before the (longer) grounding prong makes contact. this is probably absent here too.

              – dlatikay
              Jan 14 at 21:18








            • 3





              @dlatikay Of course it's absent - otherwise US, EU and other plugs wouldn't activate the shutters.

              – user29850
              Jan 14 at 22:14






            • 1





              The plug into the outlet side of the adapter does not have an earth ground prong, so this is definitely circumventing grounding. Plugging a device with a grounded plug into a non-grounded outlet is always unsafe, regardless of adapter quality.

              – trognanders
              Jan 14 at 22:48








            • 13





              Schuko style plugs don't use a pin for earthing, they use side contacts. Those side contacts appear to be present on the OPs adapter, whether they are actually connected properly is another matter of course.

              – Peter Green
              Jan 14 at 23:14






            • 2





              This would not suit Australian plugs. The power and neutral in Australian plugs are flat and at an angle. This adapter doesn't look it supports that geometry. And that is without going on about how bad the earth hole looks like.

              – Peter M
              Jan 15 at 2:53














            9












            9








            9







            Your adapter is designed to acept a wide range of plug types, unfortunately this also tends to mean it accepts none of them well. The "for export only" label doesn't inspire confidence either.



            The holes you have circled in red are to accept the earth pins of the aforementioned wide variety of different plug types. Exactly what is hard to tell from the photo but I'm pretty sure at least UK, US and Australian plugs are supported by that hole combination.



            Depending on just how crappy the adapter in question is you may or may not find it actually provides an earth connection between the Earth contacts on the Schuko style plug and the earth pin holes in the socket.






            share|improve this answer













            Your adapter is designed to acept a wide range of plug types, unfortunately this also tends to mean it accepts none of them well. The "for export only" label doesn't inspire confidence either.



            The holes you have circled in red are to accept the earth pins of the aforementioned wide variety of different plug types. Exactly what is hard to tell from the photo but I'm pretty sure at least UK, US and Australian plugs are supported by that hole combination.



            Depending on just how crappy the adapter in question is you may or may not find it actually provides an earth connection between the Earth contacts on the Schuko style plug and the earth pin holes in the socket.







            share|improve this answer












            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer










            answered Jan 14 at 20:06









            Peter GreenPeter Green

            5,9381529




            5,9381529








            • 2





              proper British sockets have a mechanical lock that prevents anything from being inserted into the live and neutral before the (longer) grounding prong makes contact. this is probably absent here too.

              – dlatikay
              Jan 14 at 21:18








            • 3





              @dlatikay Of course it's absent - otherwise US, EU and other plugs wouldn't activate the shutters.

              – user29850
              Jan 14 at 22:14






            • 1





              The plug into the outlet side of the adapter does not have an earth ground prong, so this is definitely circumventing grounding. Plugging a device with a grounded plug into a non-grounded outlet is always unsafe, regardless of adapter quality.

              – trognanders
              Jan 14 at 22:48








            • 13





              Schuko style plugs don't use a pin for earthing, they use side contacts. Those side contacts appear to be present on the OPs adapter, whether they are actually connected properly is another matter of course.

              – Peter Green
              Jan 14 at 23:14






            • 2





              This would not suit Australian plugs. The power and neutral in Australian plugs are flat and at an angle. This adapter doesn't look it supports that geometry. And that is without going on about how bad the earth hole looks like.

              – Peter M
              Jan 15 at 2:53














            • 2





              proper British sockets have a mechanical lock that prevents anything from being inserted into the live and neutral before the (longer) grounding prong makes contact. this is probably absent here too.

              – dlatikay
              Jan 14 at 21:18








            • 3





              @dlatikay Of course it's absent - otherwise US, EU and other plugs wouldn't activate the shutters.

              – user29850
              Jan 14 at 22:14






            • 1





              The plug into the outlet side of the adapter does not have an earth ground prong, so this is definitely circumventing grounding. Plugging a device with a grounded plug into a non-grounded outlet is always unsafe, regardless of adapter quality.

              – trognanders
              Jan 14 at 22:48








            • 13





              Schuko style plugs don't use a pin for earthing, they use side contacts. Those side contacts appear to be present on the OPs adapter, whether they are actually connected properly is another matter of course.

              – Peter Green
              Jan 14 at 23:14






            • 2





              This would not suit Australian plugs. The power and neutral in Australian plugs are flat and at an angle. This adapter doesn't look it supports that geometry. And that is without going on about how bad the earth hole looks like.

              – Peter M
              Jan 15 at 2:53








            2




            2





            proper British sockets have a mechanical lock that prevents anything from being inserted into the live and neutral before the (longer) grounding prong makes contact. this is probably absent here too.

            – dlatikay
            Jan 14 at 21:18







            proper British sockets have a mechanical lock that prevents anything from being inserted into the live and neutral before the (longer) grounding prong makes contact. this is probably absent here too.

            – dlatikay
            Jan 14 at 21:18






            3




            3





            @dlatikay Of course it's absent - otherwise US, EU and other plugs wouldn't activate the shutters.

            – user29850
            Jan 14 at 22:14





            @dlatikay Of course it's absent - otherwise US, EU and other plugs wouldn't activate the shutters.

            – user29850
            Jan 14 at 22:14




            1




            1





            The plug into the outlet side of the adapter does not have an earth ground prong, so this is definitely circumventing grounding. Plugging a device with a grounded plug into a non-grounded outlet is always unsafe, regardless of adapter quality.

            – trognanders
            Jan 14 at 22:48







            The plug into the outlet side of the adapter does not have an earth ground prong, so this is definitely circumventing grounding. Plugging a device with a grounded plug into a non-grounded outlet is always unsafe, regardless of adapter quality.

            – trognanders
            Jan 14 at 22:48






            13




            13





            Schuko style plugs don't use a pin for earthing, they use side contacts. Those side contacts appear to be present on the OPs adapter, whether they are actually connected properly is another matter of course.

            – Peter Green
            Jan 14 at 23:14





            Schuko style plugs don't use a pin for earthing, they use side contacts. Those side contacts appear to be present on the OPs adapter, whether they are actually connected properly is another matter of course.

            – Peter Green
            Jan 14 at 23:14




            2




            2





            This would not suit Australian plugs. The power and neutral in Australian plugs are flat and at an angle. This adapter doesn't look it supports that geometry. And that is without going on about how bad the earth hole looks like.

            – Peter M
            Jan 15 at 2:53





            This would not suit Australian plugs. The power and neutral in Australian plugs are flat and at an angle. This adapter doesn't look it supports that geometry. And that is without going on about how bad the earth hole looks like.

            – Peter M
            Jan 15 at 2:53











            3














            Various grounding pins.



            Check Wikipedia on plugs and sockets, to see the variation.



            I guess it makes a lot of sense to place the holes similar to what people are used to, and as far as I remember from that list (it's been a while since I spend hours reading through it), all plugs have the grounding pin placed symmetrically in relation to the live pins. And that has resulted in that layout.






            share|improve this answer




























              3














              Various grounding pins.



              Check Wikipedia on plugs and sockets, to see the variation.



              I guess it makes a lot of sense to place the holes similar to what people are used to, and as far as I remember from that list (it's been a while since I spend hours reading through it), all plugs have the grounding pin placed symmetrically in relation to the live pins. And that has resulted in that layout.






              share|improve this answer


























                3












                3








                3







                Various grounding pins.



                Check Wikipedia on plugs and sockets, to see the variation.



                I guess it makes a lot of sense to place the holes similar to what people are used to, and as far as I remember from that list (it's been a while since I spend hours reading through it), all plugs have the grounding pin placed symmetrically in relation to the live pins. And that has resulted in that layout.






                share|improve this answer













                Various grounding pins.



                Check Wikipedia on plugs and sockets, to see the variation.



                I guess it makes a lot of sense to place the holes similar to what people are used to, and as far as I remember from that list (it's been a while since I spend hours reading through it), all plugs have the grounding pin placed symmetrically in relation to the live pins. And that has resulted in that layout.







                share|improve this answer












                share|improve this answer



                share|improve this answer










                answered Jan 14 at 20:02









                HenrikHenrik

                2,4491415




                2,4491415






























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