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My laptop has a three prong grounded plug. Does it need the ground pin?

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6

1

I recently bought a minivan that has 110V power outlets. I'd like to use my laptop in the van sometimes (not as the driver, of course), but my laptop has a three prong grounded plug, and the outlet is two prong.

What problems might I experience if I use a cheater plug (three prong to two prong adapter)? Why does a laptop need earth ground?

laptop power-supply

share|improve this question

edited Nov 25 '11 at 14:45

wizlog

9,7701359109

asked Nov 25 '11 at 14:28

Jim HunzikerJim Hunziker

66911219

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Fast forward to 2017. I'm having this same issue. I have a laptop that has three prongs, obviously two for the current exchange, and the bottom pin for grounding. I have a particularly acute phobia with electrical appliances, and plugging things in, and out of sockets because I've been electrocuted when I was younger. I'm not entirely certain nor' am I willing to flip my plug upside down, or surgically remove the grounding from the power-cord... but as far as I've researched on many sites, and communities.. it seems to appear safe.
  
  – Jen
  Mar 15 '17 at 18:25
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

6

1

I recently bought a minivan that has 110V power outlets. I'd like to use my laptop in the van sometimes (not as the driver, of course), but my laptop has a three prong grounded plug, and the outlet is two prong.

What problems might I experience if I use a cheater plug (three prong to two prong adapter)? Why does a laptop need earth ground?

laptop power-supply

share|improve this question

edited Nov 25 '11 at 14:45

wizlog

9,7701359109

asked Nov 25 '11 at 14:28

Jim HunzikerJim Hunziker

66911219

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Fast forward to 2017. I'm having this same issue. I have a laptop that has three prongs, obviously two for the current exchange, and the bottom pin for grounding. I have a particularly acute phobia with electrical appliances, and plugging things in, and out of sockets because I've been electrocuted when I was younger. I'm not entirely certain nor' am I willing to flip my plug upside down, or surgically remove the grounding from the power-cord... but as far as I've researched on many sites, and communities.. it seems to appear safe.
  
  – Jen
  Mar 15 '17 at 18:25
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

I recently bought a minivan that has 110V power outlets. I'd like to use my laptop in the van sometimes (not as the driver, of course), but my laptop has a three prong grounded plug, and the outlet is two prong.

What problems might I experience if I use a cheater plug (three prong to two prong adapter)? Why does a laptop need earth ground?

laptop power-supply

share|improve this question

edited Nov 25 '11 at 14:45

wizlog

9,7701359109

asked Nov 25 '11 at 14:28

Jim HunzikerJim Hunziker

66911219

share|improve this question

edited Nov 25 '11 at 14:45

wizlog

9,7701359109

asked Nov 25 '11 at 14:28

Jim HunzikerJim Hunziker

66911219

share|improve this question

edited Nov 25 '11 at 14:45

wizlog

9,7701359109

asked Nov 25 '11 at 14:28

Jim HunzikerJim Hunziker

66911219

edited Nov 25 '11 at 14:45

wizlog

9,7701359109

edited Nov 25 '11 at 14:45

wizlog

9,7701359109

asked Nov 25 '11 at 14:28

Jim HunzikerJim Hunziker

66911219

asked Nov 25 '11 at 14:28

Jim HunzikerJim Hunziker

66911219

2 Answers
2

active

oldest

votes

3

You wouldn't experience any problems except in the rare case that your laptop has an internal short from a live power line conductor to an exposed metal part of the laptop.

The ground plug is purely for safety and has no effect on the proper
operation of an electrical appliance. It accomplishes two things.
First, it assures that the plug is inserted with the proper
orientation so that the hot wire of the socket is connected in a
predictable way to the appliance. Second, the safety ground wire is
typically used in appliances that have a conductive case and the case
is connected to the safety ground. If a short circuit were to occur
inside the appliance, any current will be passed through ground,
rather than through the body of someone who touches the conductive
case.

The laptop will work just fine if the ground plug is removed or if
the hot wire and neutral wire are reversed.

To answer the title of you're question, you may not want to remove the grounding pin because "If the customer alters the product in any way, then all warantees are
void. It is, by definition, the customer's fault, whether there are
technical reasons or not."

share|improve this answer

edited 7 mins ago

Jamie Hanrahan

18.7k34279

answered Nov 25 '11 at 14:35

wizlogwizlog

9,7701359109

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Assuming that this three wire cord plugs into an external power brick with no exposed metal pieces, you shouldn't have any problems.
  
  – Fiasco Labs
  Nov 25 '11 at 17:27
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  The appliance itself doesn't care which conductor is hot. The "neutral" is properly called the "grounded conductor." Both the hot and neutral carry the same amount of current while the device is in operation, and because the power source is AC, the direction of the current is changing either 50 or 60 times per second (depending on what part of the world you're in). What can be an issue is if you have a single throw switch on your device and you end up breaking the neutral, because the "hot" conductor will still feed energy into the device with the switch off, creating a shock hazard.
  
  – Craig
  Dec 11 '16 at 5:09
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  The ground prong has absolutely nothing to do with the case where the laptop is "trying to draw too much power", as claimed in your first paragraph. Your second paragraph, though, is correct. I am editing the answer accordingly.
  
  – Jamie Hanrahan
  8 mins ago
  
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @Craig Some appliances DO care which conductor is "hot". Particularly devices that handle audio on unbalanced connections (i.e. the vast majority of consumer audio devices - including laptops).
  
  – Jamie Hanrahan
  4 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

-1

Your laptop might have a "tingly" sensation coming from a tiny current that runs trough the metallic parts of its case. This is normally solved by plugging it in "backwards".

If your heart is sane and your fingers are dry, this will not be more than a minor annoyance. There are entire countries that do not have grounding...

share|improve this answer

answered Nov 25 '11 at 14:49

DennisDennis

40.8k7101136

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Is Thailand one of those countries? thelocal.se/32990/20110404/#
  
  – Aki
  Nov 25 '11 at 15:12
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Yes, it is. But there is an abysmal difference between water running through an ungrounded 220 V electric coil and not grounding a 12 V - 24 V laptop. I live in Paraguay. My shower is grounded. The rest of the house is not...
  
  – Dennis
  Nov 25 '11 at 15:25
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  My old laptop does that, and I live in a country with three-pin plugs and grounding ....
  
  – Alan B
  Nov 25 '11 at 17:04
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @Dennis and for a good reason too. I have a friend that lived in Peru for a while. His story about the near death experience by shower and his wife trying to figure out how to pull his spasming body out of the shower stall was not something I'd like to experience.
  
  – Fiasco Labs
  Nov 25 '11 at 17:24
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Downvoting for safety reasons.
  
  – Christopher Hostage
  Mar 15 '17 at 19:24
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

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3

You wouldn't experience any problems except in the rare case that your laptop has an internal short from a live power line conductor to an exposed metal part of the laptop.

The ground plug is purely for safety and has no effect on the proper
operation of an electrical appliance. It accomplishes two things.
First, it assures that the plug is inserted with the proper
orientation so that the hot wire of the socket is connected in a
predictable way to the appliance. Second, the safety ground wire is
typically used in appliances that have a conductive case and the case
is connected to the safety ground. If a short circuit were to occur
inside the appliance, any current will be passed through ground,
rather than through the body of someone who touches the conductive
case.

The laptop will work just fine if the ground plug is removed or if
the hot wire and neutral wire are reversed.

To answer the title of you're question, you may not want to remove the grounding pin because "If the customer alters the product in any way, then all warantees are
void. It is, by definition, the customer's fault, whether there are
technical reasons or not."

share|improve this answer

edited 7 mins ago

Jamie Hanrahan

18.7k34279

answered Nov 25 '11 at 14:35

wizlogwizlog

9,7701359109

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Assuming that this three wire cord plugs into an external power brick with no exposed metal pieces, you shouldn't have any problems.
  
  – Fiasco Labs
  Nov 25 '11 at 17:27
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  The appliance itself doesn't care which conductor is hot. The "neutral" is properly called the "grounded conductor." Both the hot and neutral carry the same amount of current while the device is in operation, and because the power source is AC, the direction of the current is changing either 50 or 60 times per second (depending on what part of the world you're in). What can be an issue is if you have a single throw switch on your device and you end up breaking the neutral, because the "hot" conductor will still feed energy into the device with the switch off, creating a shock hazard.
  
  – Craig
  Dec 11 '16 at 5:09
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  The ground prong has absolutely nothing to do with the case where the laptop is "trying to draw too much power", as claimed in your first paragraph. Your second paragraph, though, is correct. I am editing the answer accordingly.
  
  – Jamie Hanrahan
  8 mins ago
  
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @Craig Some appliances DO care which conductor is "hot". Particularly devices that handle audio on unbalanced connections (i.e. the vast majority of consumer audio devices - including laptops).
  
  – Jamie Hanrahan
  4 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

3

You wouldn't experience any problems except in the rare case that your laptop has an internal short from a live power line conductor to an exposed metal part of the laptop.

The ground plug is purely for safety and has no effect on the proper
operation of an electrical appliance. It accomplishes two things.
First, it assures that the plug is inserted with the proper
orientation so that the hot wire of the socket is connected in a
predictable way to the appliance. Second, the safety ground wire is
typically used in appliances that have a conductive case and the case
is connected to the safety ground. If a short circuit were to occur
inside the appliance, any current will be passed through ground,
rather than through the body of someone who touches the conductive
case.

The laptop will work just fine if the ground plug is removed or if
the hot wire and neutral wire are reversed.

To answer the title of you're question, you may not want to remove the grounding pin because "If the customer alters the product in any way, then all warantees are
void. It is, by definition, the customer's fault, whether there are
technical reasons or not."

share|improve this answer

edited 7 mins ago

Jamie Hanrahan

18.7k34279

answered Nov 25 '11 at 14:35

wizlogwizlog

9,7701359109

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Assuming that this three wire cord plugs into an external power brick with no exposed metal pieces, you shouldn't have any problems.
  
  – Fiasco Labs
  Nov 25 '11 at 17:27
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  The appliance itself doesn't care which conductor is hot. The "neutral" is properly called the "grounded conductor." Both the hot and neutral carry the same amount of current while the device is in operation, and because the power source is AC, the direction of the current is changing either 50 or 60 times per second (depending on what part of the world you're in). What can be an issue is if you have a single throw switch on your device and you end up breaking the neutral, because the "hot" conductor will still feed energy into the device with the switch off, creating a shock hazard.
  
  – Craig
  Dec 11 '16 at 5:09
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  The ground prong has absolutely nothing to do with the case where the laptop is "trying to draw too much power", as claimed in your first paragraph. Your second paragraph, though, is correct. I am editing the answer accordingly.
  
  – Jamie Hanrahan
  8 mins ago
  
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @Craig Some appliances DO care which conductor is "hot". Particularly devices that handle audio on unbalanced connections (i.e. the vast majority of consumer audio devices - including laptops).
  
  – Jamie Hanrahan
  4 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

You wouldn't experience any problems except in the rare case that your laptop has an internal short from a live power line conductor to an exposed metal part of the laptop.

The ground plug is purely for safety and has no effect on the proper
operation of an electrical appliance. It accomplishes two things.
First, it assures that the plug is inserted with the proper
orientation so that the hot wire of the socket is connected in a
predictable way to the appliance. Second, the safety ground wire is
typically used in appliances that have a conductive case and the case
is connected to the safety ground. If a short circuit were to occur
inside the appliance, any current will be passed through ground,
rather than through the body of someone who touches the conductive
case.

The laptop will work just fine if the ground plug is removed or if
the hot wire and neutral wire are reversed.

To answer the title of you're question, you may not want to remove the grounding pin because "If the customer alters the product in any way, then all warantees are
void. It is, by definition, the customer's fault, whether there are
technical reasons or not."

share|improve this answer

edited 7 mins ago

Jamie Hanrahan

18.7k34279

answered Nov 25 '11 at 14:35

wizlogwizlog

9,7701359109

share|improve this answer

edited 7 mins ago

Jamie Hanrahan

18.7k34279

answered Nov 25 '11 at 14:35

wizlogwizlog

9,7701359109

edited 7 mins ago

Jamie Hanrahan

18.7k34279

edited 7 mins ago

Jamie Hanrahan

18.7k34279

answered Nov 25 '11 at 14:35

wizlogwizlog

9,7701359109

answered Nov 25 '11 at 14:35

wizlogwizlog

9,7701359109

-1

Your laptop might have a "tingly" sensation coming from a tiny current that runs trough the metallic parts of its case. This is normally solved by plugging it in "backwards".

If your heart is sane and your fingers are dry, this will not be more than a minor annoyance. There are entire countries that do not have grounding...

share|improve this answer

answered Nov 25 '11 at 14:49

DennisDennis

40.8k7101136

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Is Thailand one of those countries? thelocal.se/32990/20110404/#
  
  – Aki
  Nov 25 '11 at 15:12
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Yes, it is. But there is an abysmal difference between water running through an ungrounded 220 V electric coil and not grounding a 12 V - 24 V laptop. I live in Paraguay. My shower is grounded. The rest of the house is not...
  
  – Dennis
  Nov 25 '11 at 15:25
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  My old laptop does that, and I live in a country with three-pin plugs and grounding ....
  
  – Alan B
  Nov 25 '11 at 17:04
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @Dennis and for a good reason too. I have a friend that lived in Peru for a while. His story about the near death experience by shower and his wife trying to figure out how to pull his spasming body out of the shower stall was not something I'd like to experience.
  
  – Fiasco Labs
  Nov 25 '11 at 17:24
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Downvoting for safety reasons.
  
  – Christopher Hostage
  Mar 15 '17 at 19:24
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

-1

Your laptop might have a "tingly" sensation coming from a tiny current that runs trough the metallic parts of its case. This is normally solved by plugging it in "backwards".

If your heart is sane and your fingers are dry, this will not be more than a minor annoyance. There are entire countries that do not have grounding...

share|improve this answer

answered Nov 25 '11 at 14:49

DennisDennis

40.8k7101136

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Is Thailand one of those countries? thelocal.se/32990/20110404/#
  
  – Aki
  Nov 25 '11 at 15:12
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Yes, it is. But there is an abysmal difference between water running through an ungrounded 220 V electric coil and not grounding a 12 V - 24 V laptop. I live in Paraguay. My shower is grounded. The rest of the house is not...
  
  – Dennis
  Nov 25 '11 at 15:25
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  My old laptop does that, and I live in a country with three-pin plugs and grounding ....
  
  – Alan B
  Nov 25 '11 at 17:04
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @Dennis and for a good reason too. I have a friend that lived in Peru for a while. His story about the near death experience by shower and his wife trying to figure out how to pull his spasming body out of the shower stall was not something I'd like to experience.
  
  – Fiasco Labs
  Nov 25 '11 at 17:24
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Downvoting for safety reasons.
  
  – Christopher Hostage
  Mar 15 '17 at 19:24
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

Your laptop might have a "tingly" sensation coming from a tiny current that runs trough the metallic parts of its case. This is normally solved by plugging it in "backwards".

If your heart is sane and your fingers are dry, this will not be more than a minor annoyance. There are entire countries that do not have grounding...

share|improve this answer

answered Nov 25 '11 at 14:49

DennisDennis

40.8k7101136

share|improve this answer

answered Nov 25 '11 at 14:49

DennisDennis

40.8k7101136

answered Nov 25 '11 at 14:49

DennisDennis

40.8k7101136

answered Nov 25 '11 at 14:49

DennisDennis

40.8k7101136