Question About "Temporary Power Taps" (Power Strips)

Posted by Jack on April 15, 2008, 12:40 pm

The Phillips portable DVD player has -- for some unknown reason -- an
old-fashioned plug (equal-sized prongs). It is plugged into a
UL-approved "temporary power tap" that has the uneven-sized
receptacles, with one slot larger than the other. The strip has three
prongs and the wall has a three-prong receptacle.

Is it dangerous to plug the old-fashioned prongs into the modern
receptacle with the uneven slots? There are no other pieces of
equipment involved, just the DVD player.

Posted by ransley on April 15, 2008, 12:58 pm

On Apr 15, 11:40=A0am, Windswept@Home (Jack) wrote:

> The Phillips portable DVD player has -- for some unknown reason -- an
> old-fashioned plug (equal-sized prongs). =A0It is plugged into a
> UL-approved "temporary power tap" that has the uneven-sized
> receptacles, with one slot larger than the other. =A0The strip has three
> prongs and the wall has a three-prong receptacle.
> Is it dangerous to plug the old-fashioned prongs into the modern
> receptacle with the uneven slots? =A0There are no other pieces of
> equipment involved, just the DVD player.

I wouldnt worry its design just doesnt need a polarised plug or
ground.

Posted by on April 15, 2008, 1:19 pm

On Tue, 15 Apr 2008 16:40:27 GMT, Windswept@Home (Jack) wrote:

>The Phillips portable DVD player has -- for some unknown reason -- an
>old-fashioned plug (equal-sized prongs). It is plugged into a
>UL-approved "temporary power tap" that has the uneven-sized
>receptacles, with one slot larger than the other. The strip has three
>prongs and the wall has a three-prong receptacle.
>Is it dangerous to plug the old-fashioned prongs into the modern
>receptacle with the uneven slots? There are no other pieces of
>equipment involved, just the DVD player.

All that plug indicates is that the device is very old (not applicable
to a DVD anything) or it is "double insulated" which would be the case
here. There is no difference between which way it gets plugged in.
There is also no real "power" switch so that polarity is not an issue
either.

Similar Threads	Posted
GFI Power Strips ?	July 3, 2007, 8:06 pm
Deteriorated Power Line Coming into House from Power Meter	October 23, 2007, 10:18 am
SPICE for Power Electronics and Electric Power	April 10, 2009, 3:09 pm
Power Co. owned power lines	October 10, 2005, 12:15 am
Power for table saw question 120 or 220?	August 8, 2005, 5:50 pm
Generator question - no power	August 22, 2009, 7:15 pm
DC power adapter question ASAP	December 4, 2005, 7:53 pm
Temp Power Electrical Question	February 13, 2006, 11:35 am
Uninterruptible Power Supply question	February 25, 2007, 9:57 pm
power washing house question(s)	April 12, 2008, 6:20 pm