Travel Technology - US 2 Prong Electrical Plug with Notch: Problems Finding Extension Cord to Fit

Hello,

I travel extensively throughout Asia. Given the unpredictable location of power outlets in hotel rooms, I'm interested in bringing my own extension cord with me whenever I travel overseas. I would like to find an extension cord that I can attach to the appropriate country plug adapter and then to the wall. I'm looking for an extension cord with at least 3 sockets on it, which I can then plug in all of my US electrical devices (laptop, phone, iPad, etc).

However I'm having problems finding an extension cord that will fit into typical plug adapter. As many of you know, in the United states, most plugs are two prong flat style. However one of these prongs has a notch in it, which is slightly wider than the adjacent prong. This wider prong causes problems whenever I try to plug this into my Asian plug adapters (particularly in India). Here is a photo of the typical American style two prong plug with a notch:
http://tinyurl.com/cfmpdl5

The two prong notched style is particularly maddening to use in places like China where a two prong plug is commonly used, but where the American style wider notched plugs won't fit. Here is a picture of the Chinese style. Have you ever tried to plug your American style two prong wide notched plug into one of these? Well it usually doesn't fit. http://tinyurl.com/cb7lthg

So what I'm looking for is an extension cord with a prong that looks like this. Ideally something that is at least 6 feet long with at least 2 other american style 2 prong extensions on it. http://tinyurl.com/d728tqs

Does anyone know of where I can find something like this? Surely other travellers must have come across the same problem? I've looked online extensively and at my local home depot and walmart but could find nothing.

Any help would be appreciated.

What you have there is a NEMA 1-15 polarized plug.
IMHO the easiest 'fix' is to snip or grind the 'ears/tabs' off them so they fit regular outlets. They do make adapters for them but why add more bulk when 5 minutes with a pair of heavy duty wire cutters or a file/dremel will do the same thing.

The notched plugs are used on grounded outlets and devices where the polarity is determined for safety- your best bet would be to either find an ungrounded outlet, or get a ground plug adapter like this:

http://www.amazon.com/45086-3-Prong-2-Prong-Electrical-Adapter/dp/B00166TT3G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1343412329&sr=8-1&keywords=ground+plug+adapter

Keep in mind though that ground is there for a reason, and going from grounded plug devices to an ungrounded outlet could be a potential hazard.

Of course, even better would be to buy better quality plug adapters that allow for grounded plugs to be used. It sounds like your plug adapter may just be of a lower quality.

You will never find an extension cord that has notched sockets and a plain plug. At least not a UL listed one in the US, which is what most places will sell. To do so would defeat the safety intentions of the notched sockets.

I just checked my box of travel adapters, and every U.S. plug adapter I have accepts polarized plugs and converts these into non-polarized plugs that should work in the sockets mentioned in the OP. This problem seems so trivially easy to solve, I wonder if I'm missing something....

I just checked my box of travel adapters, and every U.S. plug adapter I have accepts polarized plugs and converts these into non-polarized plugs that should work in the sockets mentioned in the OP. This problem seems so trivially easy to solve, I wonder if I'm missing something....

Same here. And I'm just buying the cheap $5 adapters at Fry's. Every single one has the ability to accept a polarized and 3 prong cable.

Thanks to everyone who replied. Since there is some confusion on the nature of my request, I thought I'd take a photograph of the cords, plugs and adapters that I already have.

Here is the front view of one of the many Asian adapters that I have (the one shown fits Hong Kong style 3 prong outlets). As you can see, the height of each of the pins to receive a US style extension cord are exactly the same, so most notched plugs won't fit. http://s15.postimage.org/6yhkwljmj/image.jpg

Now I had a typical US style notched extension cord laying around and here is a snapshot of me trying to plug the extension cord into the Hong Kong adapter. As you can see, it won't fit. http://s15.postimage.org/ijwci1uhn/image.jpg

Finally thanks for the suggestion to use a 3 prong to 2 prong adapter from Amazon. I actually bought one of these a while ago for the same purpose. But if you look closely the 2 prong side of the adapter has pins that are not the same height. Because of this it is impossible to fit into the Hong Kong style adapter.
http://s17.postimage.org/4vc7m1q5r/image.jpg

Now I hope its clear what the situation is: basically trying to find a US style extension cord that will fit easily into one of these Asian style adapter plugs (which basically requires that the two pins be the same height without notching).

Why don't you correct the REAL problem and get an adapter that accepts plugs and cords with the appropriate polarization? It will be easier to find, safer to use, and probably no more expensive? Asking us to look for a cord that doesn't meet industry safety standards just so you can use an improperly designed adapter plug doesn't seem like a good use of our time....

Edited to add photos:

http://s18.postimage.org/jjqtvs4xj/THE_PLUG.jpg

http://s14.postimage.org/56e1nz42o/IT_WORKS.jpg

I pulled out my adapters for four different countries. All were identical and all worked with polarized plugs.

Edited again to add links to the adapters I use:

http://www.frys.com/product/2586471

http://www.frys.com/product/2586511 <-- I don't have this one to test, but I presume it is the same

http://www.frys.com/product/479195

http://www.frys.com/product/479185

http://www.frys.com/product/479215

I use a set like this (http://www.amazon.com/Lenmar-AC5-World-Travel-Adapter/dp/B00013BL18) that accepts US polarized plugs. It also has a non-polarized two prong adapter that works in Japan and other countries that typically don't have polarized outlets.

What elcheapodeluxe said.

Polarized plugs are there to ensure that the hot prong on the plug connects to the hot terminal in the outlet, and neutral to neutral. Running hot through the neutral lead could be a great way to give yourself a nasty shock.

What elcheapodeluxe said.

Polarized plugs are there to ensure that the hot prong on the plug connects to the hot terminal in the outlet, and neutral to neutral. Running hot through the neutral lead could be a great way to give yourself a nasty shock.

Although, anything that can deal with international 220/240 has to deal with two hot phases anyway....

Heck - maybe the OP should buy one of these (http://www.craftsman.com/craftsman-premium-5-piece-steel-file-set/p-00931323000P) - but I'd still recommend just replacing the adapter.

Although, anything that can deal with international 220/240 has to deal with two hot phases anyway....

Heck - maybe the OP should buy one of these (http://www.craftsman.com/craftsman-premium-5-piece-steel-file-set/p-00931323000P) - but I'd still recommend just replacing the adapter.

How so? Where the usual line-to-neutral voltage is 230 (let's pick a happy medium) there's still a hot and neutral. The two-hots-makes-240 is a North American thing (and possibly elsewhere).

How so? Where the usual line-to-neutral voltage is 230 (let's pick a happy medium) there's still a hot and neutral. The two-hots-makes-240 is a North American thing (and possibly elsewhere).

Is it? I stand corrected. I always figured their 240 was like our 240, a +120 and a 180 degree phase -120. I figured that's why connectors such as the continental europe and italy power plugs aren't keyed.

Nope, one side is neutral, it's just that Euro appliances aren't allowed to rely on one being neutral.

Reversing the polarity isn't a safety hazard per se, it just removes a layer of protection should a path to a conductor open up. For example, a lamp typically just switches the "hot" side, so sticking your finger into a lamp socket that is switched off could still give you a shock if the polarity is backwards and you have a path to ground.