Mod the Power Adapter

The problem is that the style of socket fitted to the power brick is rated to carry 13 amps. It's extremely likely that someone could use the cable from the AA1 to plug a kettle in, just because it fits, so it has to be heavy enough to cope with that current, or the manufacturer could end up being sued. If Acer had use the 5 amp 'figure 8' connector, they could have used a much lighter cable. The only legal way to use a lighter cable is to buy the right plug, wire it with a 5 amp cable, then permanently GLUE the plug into the socket so it cannot be unplugged from the brick. In this case an earth/ground core is NOT required, because the power brick is 'double insulated', there is no earth connection inside it. (I've cut a dead one apart to prove it)

Keith

 

Ok, understand why this cable must be as thick as it is.

But I understood this right? Use the mickey mouse connector with a thinner cable without earth? But if one side is open, then the other side (at the power brick) can be oben as well. This would mean It's not dangerous to plug an figure 8 cable - if the 3rd pole (earth connect, wich is open then) is sealed?

Is it possiple to open the power brick without destroying it? My first thought was to replace the mickey mouse square plate at the brick with a figure 8 one - which has the same size. But I guess the housing will brake.

 

Use a dremel type rotary cutting tool around the horizontal joint, it's glued all the way round, but there's no components right behind the seam. Just don't go too far through.

Keith

 

OK, perhaps I am being unduly cautious but I still wouldn't do it myself. Since there are no exposed metal parts on the power supply itself (although it does have a metal tip), there should be no shock risk from that unless it is damaged. However, there is a small risk that a short inside the power supply would result in a shock risk from an exposed metal component on the computer.

I accept that this is not likely, but it is possible and for that reason, I would not recommend removing the earth. Unearthed equipment will never be as safe as earthed equipment, but sometimes the risk is low and I believe that this is the case here.

 

I solved this way.
I think that ground is necessary if you have radio-interference but due to the plastic case (power-supply and netbook) does not affect electrical security.
The stuff is removeable so i think there are no warranty issues.

 

My wife's Dell Mini adapter is nice. The dc side of it would have to be a little longer or it'll drive you crazy. I lost my power adapter and had to use it for a bit.

 

Hey, looks great. Where did you get this adapter from? Selfdone? How?

 

It's self-made......
Components:
a little plastic box black-painted
two female plugs made by cutted metal tubes
an old dismantled ac plug
two short pieces of wire
a lot of bi-component glue

In the picture you can't see it, but there is also a power switch and a led (optional, of course.... )

 

I found a shop selling these adapters:

http://lauwe.de/index.cgi?session=5d98e ... do=details

http://lauwe.de/index.cgi?session=5d98e ... do=details

But a bit to pricy for me.

 

So, when i look at the adaptors for all my laptops and other mobile devices, most all of them have no earth wire going to the mains. They just have 2 wires, one positive, one negative. The exceptions are the AAO, and my HP Vista full-size laptop, which both use 3 wired cable from the brick to the mains.

So, question: how essential is that earth wire? If most devices can function fine without it, why does the AAO "need" it??

 

The purpose of the earth on electrical equipment is primarily to protect users from the risk of an electric shock. On equipment that draws a high current and has exposed metal parts such as a kettle, having an earth may well be a matter of life or death if there is a short which results in the metal becoming live (this is AC remember so there is no positive or negative, the wires are live and neutral). For standalone electrical equipment with no exposed metal parts, the earth would serve little purpose except in the unlikely circumstance that the case is badly damaged.

In the case of most chargers and power supplies, the only exposed metal part is the plug tip, although they may plug into something with exposed metal parts. In this case the shock risk is present but low and the chargers draw a very low current as well. Consequently, many manufacturers don't bother with an earth and, as long as the charger/PSU is well-constructed, they aren't likely to be dangerous. Why Acer decided to include an earth isn't clear, but all my laptop chargers (two Acers, three Macs and a Toshiba) have an earth as well so they aren't alone in choosing to do this.

 

Thanks for the response.
Nevertheless, it's a little weird to think that the AAO (almost entirely plastic) has a hulking 3 wire power cord, whereas my Nokia n810 (almost entirely aluminum to the touch) has a skimpy little 2-wire power cord (no earth). Sure, I appreciate there are current-draw differences, yadda, yadda....

 

http://www.buy.com/prod/cables-unli...-notebook-power-cord/q/loc/101/203067168.html

What about this as an alternative to the power cord. It looks like it works to me. What do you all think?

 

I too was annoyed by the girth of the wrapped up AC Cord, so i found a 1 foot long 3 pin cord in my junk bin,

works great, i have the original one on my desk at work, and just keep the shortie with my power supply in my laptop bag. i find 1foot plus thr 5 or 6 foot they put on the dc side works fine! \

i think 1' long 3prong clover//club cords can be found on ebay.

 

I just got this from Buy.com today. It works great and it a space saver in my laptop bag. As an added bonus the 2 prong also works with my and my wife;s thinkpads. Saving space all around. Great product.

 

I purchased a spare lead, shortened it & fitted a US style 3 pin plug. Much more compact than the UK type.
Sadly, this does not fit in some Thai & Cambodian sockets which only have 2 pins.

My next move will be to fit a 2 pin Euro style connector, which can be persuaded to fit many other sockets, including UK, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia & Singapore..
However, I need a lighter weight lead. All the leads with the cloverleaf section seem to have a cable that's about the same size as a 3 kw kettle lead, rather than something similar to my shaver lead.

 

is there a UK and a EU version for this??

 

I'm thinking I may pick up this one.
Can anyone vouch for its quality or reliability?

 

Looks interesting, but is it any smaller & lighter than the standard unit?

 

I think this is the best solution.

http://www.amazon.com/NOTEBOOK-POWER-CO ... 09&sr=8-24