Why aren't MacBook and iPhone adapters grounded/earthed?

[ric22]

They used to be. I have Apple duckhead connectors that are, both corded and cordless. I know you can still buy the corded variety that are grounded/earthed, but the small cordless ones no longer are. What gives? The most pathetic of penny pinching? Or some other reason?

 

[haralds]

Apple devices are DC devices. Grounding would not add to their safety and would increase bulk - and yes, also cost.

 

[Blue Quark]

I have the three-prong version myself, and that's what I always use.

 

[waziazi]

Convenience. Plus I don’t think things this digital need a ground. Everything apple
Makes in this space is junk. All kinds of innovative Chinese adapters and cables out there much cheaper and much higher quality

 

[leman]

Convenience. Plus I don’t think things this digital need a ground. Everything apple
Makes in this space is junk. All kinds of innovative Chinese adapters and cables out there much cheaper and much higher quality

You are joking, right? Did you look at Apple chargers tear down later? The amount of electronics in there is higher than in most Chinese phones. Not to mention that they use proper insulation.

 

[ric22]

Apple devices are DC devices. Grounding would not add to their safety and would increase bulk - and yes, also cost.

The former duckhead connector that is grounded appears much the same size and weight?

 

[ric22]

I have the three-prong version myself, and that's what I always use.

In the UK all our plugs are three prong, but the removed the grounding, for unspecified reasons here (except on the duckhead with the long lead).

 

[ric22]

You are joking, right? Did you look at Apple chargers tear down later? The amount of electronics in there is higher than in most Chinese phones. Not to mention that they use proper insulation.

The adapters Apple make do seem to be very very high quality (despite little use of GaN to date), which is why it's weirder that the duckhead connectors they currently supply appear to be junk.

 

[leman]

The adapters Apple make do seem to be very very high quality (despite little use of GaN to date), which is why it's weirder that the duckhead connectors they currently supply appear to be junk.

I dint know about US connectors, but the stuff they have in Europe seems to work well. Small chargers are not grounded but then again, they never are. Apple does offer grounded option for larger chargers.

 

[martin2345uk]

In the UK all our plugs are three prong, but the removed the grounding, for unspecified reasons here (except on the duckhead with the long lead).

So the third pin on our Apple plugs here doesn’t serve a purpose (other than opening the socket holes for the other two pins)?

 

[ric22]

I dint know about US connectors, but the stuff they have in Europe seems to work well. Small chargers are not grounded but then again, they never are. Apple does offer grounded option for larger chargers.

When you say grounded option, you mean in continental Europe they sell cordless duckheads that ground, still?

Small chargers- like the old 5w one, came with a plastic earth/ground pin, so you knew it wouldn't be grounded. But the new 20w one, for example, has a metal earth/ground pin, so it's a surprise that the pin is aesthetic and not hooked up internally.

 

[ric22]

So the third pin on our Apple plugs here doesn’t serve a purpose (other than opening the socket holes for the other two pins)?

Yep, weirdly. (Except on the corded duckhead, that still hasn't lost the functionality, but is no longer included with laptops, which is disappointing.)

 

[leman]

When you say grounded option, you mean in continental Europe they sell cordless duckheads that ground, still?

No, but they never did, at least not that I remember. Cordless connector adaptors were never grounded here. Only laptop charger adaptors with a cord are grounded.

 

[theluggage]

In the UK all our plugs are three prong, but the removed the grounding, for unspecified reasons here (except on the duckhead with the long lead).

Yep, weirdly. (Except on the corded duckhead, that still hasn't lost the functionality, but is no longer included with laptops, which is disappointing.)

The adapters should all be designed to be perfectly safe using a 2-prong plug without a ground pin.
Outside the UK - in the US for example - the earth pin is optional, two-pin plugs are ubiquitous and you can make nice, compact 2-pin adapters/duckheads with folding pins - so all the adapters will be built to the required standard to ensure that they are safe without a ground pin.

It's just that here in the UK all plugs have to have a ground pin - even if it's only a dummy - because inserting the ground pin is what opens the shutters protecting the live contacts. Good for safety, bad news for nice compact adapters.

No, but they never did, at least not that I remember. Cordless connector adaptors were never grounded here. Only laptop charger adaptors with a cord are grounded.

None of the UK one-piece "duckheads" I can find - accumulated over the last decade or so from Macs and iDevices - have the ground pins connected - and even if there are exceptions they're all interchangeable between Mac, iPod, iPad etc. bricks so Apple would be asking for trouble if they made a brick that required a ground pin but took standard duckheads.

As you say, the extension cords are grounded - you can see the metal contact at the end of the slot in the duckhead. That's probably some wrinkle of the regulatory requirements - I guess that something on a 6' cable could get chucked into a bath or something - although I frequently use regular 2-pin figure-8 cables for the purpose (er... I mean for extending my MacBook cable, not murdering bathers )

 

[ric22]

Having had a look at the Apple website, I've determined I have a dangerous UK/HK duckhead that is subject to a recall (from the World Travel kit I bought about 13 years ago), but I can't see the earthed/grounded duckhead anywhere, so maybe it is just a HK special and not an official item. Hmmm. Either way, I'd like to avoid the annoying buzz I feel when my MacBook is plugged in when charging via official adapters. If third-party adapters from companies like RavPower and Anker can manage it, you'd think Apple could too.

 

[Lihp8270]

In the UK all our plugs are three prong, but the removed the grounding, for unspecified reasons here (except on the duckhead with the long lead).

Have a look on the plug for a square inside a square.


Like this

Power tool double insulaton explained

Regulatory statements regarding double insulation of power tools and ways to eliminate electrical shock hazards.

www.ddmpowertools.com

It’s what’s referred to as double insulated and thus does not require an earth.

 

[ric22]

I know what double insulated means, thanks. Like I said, I don't like the annoying buzzing feeling transmitted from the case, and I've never noticed another device that has a metal earth/ground pin (rather than plastic) that isn't earthed/grounded. Simply, why? It doesn't take up much space and costs pennies.

 

[Lihp8270]

I know what double insulated means, thanks. Like I said, I don't like the annoying buzzing feeling transmitted from the case, and I've never noticed another device that has a metal earth/ground pin (rather than plastic) that isn't earthed/grounded. Simply, why? It doesn't take up much space and costs pennies.

No need for the sarcastic answer.

Particularly when you don’t really understand. Class 2 double insulated devices are safer than Class 1.

If they then add an earth it’s no longer class 2.

They may be grounded internally, if the output voltage means it’s SELV.

Unless you’ve cut an apple charger open, there’s no way you really know what it’s connected too internally

 

[ric22]

No need for the sarcastic answer.

Particularly when you don’t really understand. Class 2 double insulated devices are safer than Class 1.

If they then add an earth it’s no longer class 2.

They may be grounded internally, if the output voltage means it’s SELV.

Unless you’ve cut an apple charger open, there’s no way you really know what it’s connected too internally

It's no longer class 2 when you connect the Apple duckhead cable, but that's a technicality, right, and not less safe?

 

[pshufd]

The two-prong chargers have the prongs fold into the device so that you can put it in your pocket without worrying about poking holes in them. They are often compact and convenient and there are a lot of other companies that sell power adapters with this design. I have about 7 MagSafe 1/2 bricks and they all came with both the 2-prong piece and the 3-prong cable and I liked having the option with the brick. When I got my 2021 MacBook Pro, I noticed that it didn't have the 3-prong cable and just grabbed the cable off a MagSafe 1/2 brick from the basement. I think that they cost $19 or $29.

I'd use my 40 watt Anker USB-C charger on a trip, which is, of course, 2-prong. It is really small and light and would charge my MacBook Pro overnight easily, along with my iPhone.

 

[ric22]

I should have specified- when adapters have to have a third prong or an earth connection, as they do in many territories, why are the duckheads in those territories not wired up to utilise the earth connection they feature on the socket side?

I can see why tiny 2 prong devices in countries like the US aren't enlarged to contain a third prong/pin.

 

[pshufd]

I've noticed that you can sometimes get a buzz on Apple electronics with metal cases with the 2-prong adapter but not on the 3-prong adapter. So I prefer the three-prong for those devices if they don't have a case on them.

 

[Fozziebear40]

I'm looking for a duckhead adapter (UK 3 Pin) with the metal inside the slot to connect the earth. I know Apple chargers are safe but the sensation you get from the metal not earthed is disconcerting. I use the cable extension which gets rid of it but you have cable everywhere then, just want a short charging lead.

 

[ric22]

I'm looking for a duckhead adapter (UK 3 Pin) with the metal inside the slot to connect the earth. I know Apple chargers are safe but the sensation you get from the metal not earthed is disconcerting. I use the cable extension which gets rid of it but you have cable everywhere then, just want a short charging lead.

If you find one for sale in the UK, let me know. If I was back in Hong Kong you could doubtless buy such a thing in the electronics markets, but I'm always dubious of the quality, and would rather Apple just added the extra couple of mm depth supposedly required to add it to their non-corded adapters.

 

[amall]

I'm looking for a duckhead adapter (UK 3 Pin) with the metal inside the slot to connect the earth. I know Apple chargers are safe but the sensation you get from the metal not earthed is disconcerting. I use the cable extension which gets rid of it but you have cable everywhere then, just want a short charging lead.

Not the most elegant solution, but you could use a grounded North American duckhead along with an adapter. Or, if you're decently confident with your splicing skills, you could shorten the grounded extension cable.