3-Prong Adapter Revisited

Tue. Aug. 07, 2007

Since my original post on the tingle sensation, several of you asked us to follow up with information on how you can purchase a 3-prong adapter at a discount if you are experiencing the tingle sensation. So that we can properly address all customers who are experiencing the tingle sensation, we are re-opening the survey about on this topic. This new survey will run from now until August 21. Again, if you're interested, you can access the survey here.

Customers in the United States who complete the survey and indicate that they are interested in purchasing a 3-prong adapter at a discount should hear from Dell within 3 - 5 days after completing the survey. Regions outside the United States will handle requests a bit differently, but Dell reps from your location will contact you to discuss options.

I do want to reiterate that this tingle issue is not something that is specific to Dell, or even to notebooks in general. This tingle sensation is not harmful to users and does not damage internal components in the notebook.

So, why are we re-opening the survey? The first time we ran the survey, we failed to capture e-mail addresses. Later, when I issued an update to the original post, the reality is that only a fraction of the customers who initially completed the survey responded to my update. The only way for us to rectify this is to run the survey again.

I want to apologize to customers who already completed the survey the first time. I'm also sorry for being the reason that many customers have had to wait this long to hear from us.

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Only published comments... Tuesday, August 07, 2007 04:00 PM
by Lionel Menchaca, Chief Blogger
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Matt said:

You know what would give me a "tingle sensation"? If you delivered the notebook I ordered on June 27.

Signed,

A Customer 

August 7, 2007 7:21 PM
Glen T said:

I just bought a Toshiba A200 notebook last week. It has a power supply that is smaller than a cigarette package, and almost as light. And, it has a three prong power supply.

So why is my Inspiron 9400 power supply twice as big, twice as heavy and ungrounded?

I think that Dell has waited long enough for this issue to have died (along with the 9400 line).

August 7, 2007 10:08 PM
Lionel Menchaca, Chief Blogger said:
Glen T.: It wasn't Dell who slowed this process down, it was entirely my fault—and for that, I am sorry.
August 7, 2007 10:08 PM
Mayanja said:
I think the 3-prong plug should come back. It's also gone in Europe, and it's just not right. How much extra would it cost anyway to maintain it?
August 8, 2007 1:25 AM
Nathan said:

I have a couple of Toshiba's with 2-prong adaptors. They have worked fine for years and years. Grounding will help you if something is broken, but a working 2-prong system is better.

Having just 2-prongs is really important when you travel internationally. Some countries have odd and inconvenient grounding systems. I'm looking at you Germans with your "Type F" (2-pin, side clip earth).

Now if the standard 65-watt adaptor could take a 2-prong or a 3-prong mains lead, we would all be happy with just one product.
 

August 8, 2007 10:54 AM
Glen T said:

Nathan:

You can easily turn a three prong adapter into a two prong adapter by buying a three to two plug adapter with a ground lead on it! I have a couple of these.

But, you can't turn a two prong adapter into a three prong!!!!

August 8, 2007 6:09 PM
Nathan said:
Glen T:

I don't believe it is safe to use a 3-to-2 prong adepter unless you make sure the plate-screw is grounded and screw/unscrew it every time you move. 3-to-2 prong adaptors are not even legal in all countries (like Canada, AFAIR).

I was saying that Dell should make the standard adaptor certified for 2 prong and include a 2-prong mains lead. They should also provide a 3-prong mains lead for it as well, for people who get tingle. That would mean one product would make everyone happy.
 

Providing 2 to-the-wall cords (one 2 and one 3 prong) for the same power brick would be cheap.


 

August 9, 2007 1:07 PM
Steve said:
Are current laptops shipping with 3 prong adaptors and if not, are there plans to do so in the future?
August 10, 2007 3:11 PM
Nathan said:
Steve,

I believe that all current Dell laptops ship with a 3-prong adaptor b/c of the tingle whiners.

I think that Dell should make an adaptor that will run with either a 2-wire/2-prong or a 3-wire/3-prong lead to the mains outlet. You now have to pay $70 to get a 2-prong adaptor.
August 11, 2007 1:23 PM
Glen T said:

I believe that all current Dell laptops ship with a 3-prong adaptor b/c of the tingle whiners.

So, Dell has redesigned their entire notebook line to put back the ground that runs from the notebook to the power supply -- virtually overnight? They have changed out all the connectors mounted on all notebooks to three prong? Can you substantiate this claim??

If this were true, then that would be good news. But I don't think that it is.

Maybe Lionel can shed some light...

August 13, 2007 9:40 AM
Matt said:

This thread is old and moldy, but to answer Glen T's question: Nothing would have to be redesigned on the laptop. The adapter connections on ALL laptops are only two-conductor (positive and negative), with ground connected to negative. This is DC (direct current), all ready converted by the AC adapter. 3-prong only becomes an issue in the adapter brick itself, which will have a 3-prong connection on the brick for the cable whose other end plugs into the wall outlet.

March 24, 2008 6:53 PM

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