Is it normal that a socket only gives electricity when the plug is plugged in one way?
I bought this type F to type G power adapter for using my Norwegian laptop etc in UK.
It only works if I put the charger plug in one way into the adapter, but if I switch it around so that the different legs of the plug go into the other entry holes in the adapter, then it does not work.
Is this normal? Did I get a defective power adapter?
Best Answer
No it is not normal.
Lack of earthing will not normally stop a device from working, neither will live-neutral reversal.
I think by far the most likely explanation is the adaptor is faulty and/or poorly made barely making contact one way round and failing to make it the other way round.
Also "type C" is a vague description. Can you take a photo of the plug on your laptop charger?
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Why will the plug of an electrical device only plug in one way?
The plug has two flat 1.5 mm thick blades, measuring 15.9 \u2013 18.3 mm in length and spaced 12.7 mm apart. Type A plugs are generally polarised and can only be inserted one way because the two blades do not have the same width.Why is there electricity when I plug in?
When something is plugged in, or turned on, some of that very fast, hot electricity transfers from the outlet into the appliance, light, computer or whatever. A rapid draw on available power occurs, resulting in a brief spark. This is normal and no more threatening than a mini-jolt of static electricity.Does socket use electricity when nothing plugged in?
The answer is that an empty plug socket isn't using any electricity, because the current doesn't flow unless there's a plug completing the circuit and an appliance switched on. So you really don't have to go round turning every socket to the off position, even when it's a socket in an empty room.Why is only one side of my double socket working?
First of all, check if you have switched outlet. Most homes have duplex outlets that allow you to plug two devices into them at once. A half-hot (or switched) outlet is a duplex outlet that only has one plug permanently \u201con\u201d while the other half is turned on and off by an ordinary wall switch.Why Do Plugs and Sockets Spark?
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Answer 2
It's not normal--the plug should work in either orientation. Since it doesn't, I imagine that there is some lack of contact occurring inside the adapter, perhaps because your plug pins are a bit bent or misaligned.
If you have another adapter, try it. If not, you can plug your Type C plug directly into the Type G outlet if you first defeat the safety shutters by pressing something thin and plastic into the ground slot of the outlet. Yes, this isn't approved by the Coast Guard or the Queen, but try it anyway just to test out what's happening. Those of us who need to do this a lot sometimes use much simpler adapters that do the above slightly more elegantly:
Note that the above only applies to non-grounded plugs. Grounded plugs require a full-fledged adapter.
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