The information of Worldwide Plugs and Sockets here was compiled from several sources, including the BSI publications “World Electricity Supplies” and “Electrical Plugs and Wiring.” The information is subject to change without notification. For more information, please contact us

Why can’t I just plug my laptop directly to the wall outlet? Why does it have to have this extra device that I keep dragging along with it? If you’ve inquired these questions, chances are you do not really understand the importance of AC adapters.

An AC adapter is a type of power supply. It is a device that provides power to another device, but why the redundancy?

Your DC device-your laptop, your cellular phone-needs an AC adapter because it operates on direct current. Think of DC as a different “type” of electricity. DC is usually related with low-voltage devices. Remember, the electricity in your home is 120 volts AC (if you live in the U.S.A. and most other countries). Your microwave oven, your television, and your air conditioner all need 120 volts to operate. Your laptop only needs 20 volts or less.

In this sense, an AC adapter is a power supply that converts one form of electricity to another. Therefore, we can safely say that such is also a power converter.

DC devices, or things that run on direct current, are usually those that use batteries for power. Because DC devices can run independently with the use of batteries, it is the choice of electricity for mobile applications-even your car runs on DC.

Also, because of the nature of DC (current only runs in one direction), a low-voltage DC device can have a battery, charge it, and provide power to the device all in one circuitry (which all starts from the adapter). So in this sense, an AC adapter is also a charger.

Other adapters take advantage of the fact that they are first in the circuitry by providing some sort of surge protection. If something unexpected happens to your AC electricity, the adapter breaks the current before it destroys your precious device, which means they can also function as surge protectors.

So there you have it. An AC adapter is a lot of things-a power supply, a power converter, and it can also be a charger and a surge protector. It is that important. So do not take your adapter for granted because your device greatly depends on it.

In fact, as long as the temperature of power adapter is not higher than the designed temperature, in another word, the temperature belongs to the normal range; the power adapter generally is safe! As these laptop AC adapters, it has the same problem. So, why are the power heated? What temperature range is in the normal scope? Switching power conversion efficiency can only reach about 75% -90% at present. The answer is here. Switching power efficiency is high enough, and it is still difficult to find a better conversion, Some energy lost during voltage conversion, which in addition to a small part of the loss is in the form of waves, the majority are distributed by way of heat. Higher of power, more loss of energy also more amount of heat being distributed. That is why some desktop power supply to add a fan for cooling reasons.

Therefore, while designing and producing Laptop Power adapter, It is very important to select the components that can withstand high temperature. Of course, the temperature must be controlled in the range that application environment permits. First, the conversion efficiency should be designed to be as high as possible, and secondly, components and parts of low pressure and low loss should be adopted. The third is design good heat output system. Heat exchanging area should be as large as possible. For example, generally more than 100W should have metal perforated casing, or be with cooling fan.

The AC Adapter carries through the following steps to produce the correct current and voltage to power your laptop or charge your laptop battery:

* Changes the mains voltage to a lower voltage level

* Converts the AC voltage to a DC voltage by a process called rectification

* Smooths out any voltage ripple

* Converts the voltage to the required voltage to power the laptop

The other well-known name for an AC Power Adapter is battery charger or laptop battery charger. This is an important device providing you with laptop mobility and frees you of restriction from using the power cord.

More about Computer Power Adapters

About EMC, Australia adpots self declaration in the EMC framework (Radiocommunications Act 1992). All products that fall within the scope of the framework must gain approval from the Australian communications Communications Authority for using the C-Tick Mark. Any products obtained safety mark can be accredited in New Zealand.

Type F Electrical Outlet (Schuko plug)

Type F Electrical Receptacle

Countries Using Type F Electric Plug

The Type F plug and outlet is much like the Type E, except it has two earth clips on the side rather than a female earth contact. It is commonly known as a “Schuko” plug, from the invented German word “Schukostecker” which means “protective contact plug”.

Information on The Type F Electrical Outlet

The “Schuko” plug and receptacle with side grounding contacts has a connection system which is symmetrical, allowing the live and neutral to be reversed. Type F receptacles will also accept Type C and Type E plugs.

Type G Electrical Outlet