Hi, this may seem like a very daft Q to be posting , but I have looked at previous threads and can't find the answer...is the standard canadian plug 2-pin or 3-pin (with earth)? I can only find the non-earthed (2-pin) travel adapters in the UK shops. I have a laptop (with earthed plug) that will work on 110V but am confused as to what adapter I will need don't want to blow anything up!

As i remember it's 2 pin

Standard Canadian plugs and recptacles are three pin, although it is still common to see two pin plugs on lamps and some small appliances.

Cheers
Steve

Cheers steve,
so will I need a three-pin travel adapter for earthed appliances?
physics is not my strong point

I stand corrected, the one i saw was in an old house with a lamp on the end. Just checked online and Hangmans right

Does the power cord entering the laptop from the transformer only have two wires?(the bit you actualy plug into the PC, not the bit that goes into the wall)

If so the groundless one is probably OK. The laptop will be designed to live without earthing (double insulated), otherwise you would be in jeapordy anytime you used it without the cord in.

Not exactly mine either but I would think you would be pretty safe in assuming that three pin is the way to go.

It appears that grounded three pin receptacles have been mandated since 1965 so I'd guess you are going to see mostly that type unless you're in homes built before then and not rewired yet.

Cheers
Steve

Thanks for the help !
it's got three wires, so I guess I will need a 3 pin one for earthed appliances...

crikey..I hope my accomodation will be a bit more modern than that!
this confirms I will need the 3 pin 'earthed' adapter- does anyone know where I could get one on the UK high street? All the ones I have seen are the 2-pin type.
em

Hi...

this site might help you...

http://users.pandora.be/worldstandards/electricity.htm

I'm sure that you'll know the voltage in Canada is {for the most part} 110v
yet certain things in the home are 220 {washing machines etc}, but the phase is different too, I think we have 50 cycle here and 60 in N.America or the other way around, although that isn't critical for most things.

As to the wiring most things {think 99%} of household electrics and electronics are the flat 2 pin plugs, even though the socket on the wall will have an earth {third socket} on it, I can't think of anything other than stuff you might use outside {strimmers, lawn mowers} that actually might have the third pin. I think the logic is that 110v is safer, less likely to kill you, but add to that most circuits have ground fault breakers that would {almost} immediately cut the power if something went wrong.

Hope the above helps...

Canada Bob.
PS... don't take the telly, unless it's dual voltage and NTSC compatible, some are, most aren't... same with the vcr and dvd players... yer alright with the wireless though :-)