Grounded vs. Ungrounded Travel Adapters: Understanding the key differences & what’s best for safely using with devices
Understanding the difference between grounded and ungrounded adapters is essential for safe and effective use of electrical devices, especially when traveling. Here’s a concise overview of these two types of adapters.
What Are Grounded and Ungrounded Appliances?
Grounded Appliances
Grounded appliances have plugs with three prongs: two flat blades and one round pin. The third pin (usually round) is made of metal and serves as the grounding (or ‘earth’) connection.
The grounding feature is crucial for safety. It directs any excess electricity safely into the ground, reducing the risk of electric shock, especially with appliances that have metal casings, such as laptops and hair dryers (typically high powered devices).
Grounded plugs are necessary for high-energy appliances that require more power to operate safely. They are typically used with devices like computers, power tools, and other equipment that could pose a shock hazard if not properly grounded. If you’re planning
Our Recommendation For Travellers: If you are going to be travelling overseas with a higher powered devices that requires grounded (e.g. a hairdrier), we recommend using an earthed travel adapter such as MyTravelPal Pro, which keeps your device grounded / earthed for maximum safety. Of course it is possible to use hairdryers etc with ungrounded adapters, but note the safety implication mentioned above.
Note: MyTravelPal Pro’s earth pin for the USA / Japan can be removed in case you want to use it in with an ungrounded socket (which are present in older properties. However, we recommend using grounded 3-pin sockets where possible.
Ungrounded Appliances:
Ungrounded appliances only have two metal prongs and lack a grounding connection. This makes them simpler but technically less safe.
Without a ground connection, ungrounded adapters do not provide a safe path for excess electricity. This can lead to electric shocks if there is a fault in the appliance or wiring. Ungrounded appliances are generally lower powered - e.g. phone chargers, electric razors, curling irongs and small electronics that do not require grounding.
Our Recommendation For Travellers We recommend an ungrounded travel adapter if you are only going to be using it to power your phone, tablet, razor or any other low powered device.
When to Use Each Type
When traveling or using electrical devices, it’s crucial to check the type of plug your appliances use:
It’s advisable to choose a Grounded Adapter if your appliance has a three-prong plug where all pins are metal. This is essential for safety when using high-powered devices.
Use an Ungrounded Adapter if all your devices have two-prong plugs, or the earth pin is made of plastic (see pic below).
This is an unearthed UK plug (plastic earth pin).
Conclusion
In summary, while grounded adapters provide enhanced safety features suitable for high-energy devices, ungrounded adapters can be used for less demanding electronics. Always assess your equipment before choosing the appropriate adapter to ensure both functionality and safety during use.
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