Author Topic: Oscilloscope comes with no ground power cable?  (Read 5240 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline xinsnakeTopic starter

  • Newbie
  • Posts: 4
  • Country: au
Oscilloscope comes with no ground power cable?
« on: May 28, 2019, 08:50:03 pm »
Hi everyone, I am a new forum member here, and I am fairly new to electronics ;)

I bought a Hantek DSO4104B from AliExpress and the scope is great with everything working as expected.

The question I have is that the scope comes with a power cable with no ground (i.e. only 2 pins on the plug for 240v AC). Is this normal and should I use a power cord with proper 3 pins? My understanding is that having only 2 pins on the power plug makes the scope floating which can be a safety risk, after watching Dave's video about how not to destroy your scope...  ;D

Thanks!!
 

Offline Roeland_R

  • Regular Contributor
  • *
  • Posts: 62
  • Country: nl
Re: Oscilloscope comes with no ground power cable?
« Reply #1 on: May 28, 2019, 09:21:14 pm »
When your wall outlet has ground springs your scope is grounded using the showed connector.
 

Offline rstofer

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 9964
  • Country: us
Re: Oscilloscope comes with no ground power cable?
« Reply #2 on: May 28, 2019, 09:29:11 pm »
It looks like the ground pin is removable.  I may not be seeing it right (old age) but it looks like there is a ground pin in the package.
 

Online wraper

  • Supporter
  • ****
  • Posts: 17952
  • Country: lv
Re: Oscilloscope comes with no ground power cable?
« Reply #3 on: May 28, 2019, 09:30:55 pm »
This plug has earth connection, actually 2 of those. You on the other side of the earth just don't understand it.
 
The following users thanked this post: janoc, Dave, Yansi, boffin, newbrain, xinsnake

Online Benta

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 6420
  • Country: de
Re: Oscilloscope comes with no ground power cable?
« Reply #4 on: May 28, 2019, 09:58:20 pm »
This plug has earth connection, actually 2 of those. You on the other side of the earth just don't understand it.

Yep. This type of plug is standard for 230 V equipment almost all over the world, aka "Schuko".
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schuko

It has earth, both on the side clips as well as in the "hole".


 
The following users thanked this post: newbrain, xinsnake

Offline techman-001

  • Frequent Contributor
  • **
  • !
  • Posts: 748
  • Country: au
  • Electronics technician for the last 50 years
    • Mecrisp Stellaris Unofficial UserDoc
Re: Oscilloscope comes with no ground power cable?
« Reply #5 on: May 28, 2019, 10:34:04 pm »
Hi everyone, I am a new forum member here, and I am fairly new to electronics ;)

I bought a Hantek DSO4104B from AliExpress and the scope is great with everything working as expected.

The question I have is that the scope comes with a power cable with no ground (i.e. only 2 pins on the plug for 240v AC). Is this normal and should I use a power cord with proper 3 pins? My understanding is that having only 2 pins on the power plug makes the scope floating which can be a safety risk, after watching Dave's video about how not to destroy your scope...  ;D

Thanks!!

That's a USA power plug in your picture yet your ID shows youre in Australia ? the Australian plug is totally different. Did you not get a Australian IEC cable and three pin plug with the unit ?
 
The following users thanked this post: xinsnake

Offline xinsnakeTopic starter

  • Newbie
  • Posts: 4
  • Country: au
Re: Oscilloscope comes with no ground power cable?
« Reply #6 on: May 28, 2019, 10:45:38 pm »
LOL Thanks for clarifying. I always thought the ground pin is like a pin... :D
 

Offline xinsnakeTopic starter

  • Newbie
  • Posts: 4
  • Country: au
Re: Oscilloscope comes with no ground power cable?
« Reply #7 on: May 28, 2019, 10:47:16 pm »
Hi everyone, I am a new forum member here, and I am fairly new to electronics ;)

I bought a Hantek DSO4104B from AliExpress and the scope is great with everything working as expected.

The question I have is that the scope comes with a power cable with no ground (i.e. only 2 pins on the plug for 240v AC). Is this normal and should I use a power cord with proper 3 pins? My understanding is that having only 2 pins on the power plug makes the scope floating which can be a safety risk, after watching Dave's video about how not to destroy your scope...  ;D

Thanks!!

That's a USA power plug in your picture yet your ID shows youre in Australia ? the Australian plug is totally different. Did you not get a Australian IEC cable and three pin plug with the unit ?

It is a EU plug I guess and yes I am in Australia which means my power socket doesn't have the top and bottom connector for ground. I am now using an Australian cable to connect the scope. :) Thanks!
 
The following users thanked this post: newbrain

Offline xinsnakeTopic starter

  • Newbie
  • Posts: 4
  • Country: au
Re: Oscilloscope comes with no ground power cable?
« Reply #8 on: May 28, 2019, 10:48:36 pm »
This plug has earth connection, actually 2 of those. You on the other side of the earth just don't understand it.

Yep. This type of plug is standard for 230 V equipment almost all over the world, aka "Schuko".
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schuko

It has earth, both on the side clips as well as in the "hole".

Thanks! I guess I need to use an Australian plug as my power socket won't have the "side clips" if I use a travel adapter for example. Thanks for clarifying!
 

Offline soldar

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 3595
  • Country: es
Re: Oscilloscope comes with no ground power cable?
« Reply #9 on: May 28, 2019, 11:17:45 pm »
Like most plugs available today, Schuko is a bad compromise. The two round pins have good current capacity and that's about it. It is not polarized and I have marked all the outlets in my house with a felt marker and all the plugs to mark the hot side. The side earth clips I do not really trust to make good contact and can get bent out of shape if caught wrong when inserting the plug. Some countries have an earth pin which goes into the hole in the plug and that seems to me to be a more reliable earth.

It is too bulky and depending on what plug and what outlet sometimes way too much force is required to pull it out. Which sometimes means you're pulling the socket out of the wall. The positive aspect of Schuko with respect to American plugs is there is now way a Schuko is falling out and disconnecting by accident.

I realize all plugs and sockets are the product of compromises when they were designed but the Shuko plug should be replaced by something better.
All my posts are made with 100% recycled electrons and bare traces of grey matter.
 
The following users thanked this post: xinsnake

Offline SparkyFX

  • Frequent Contributor
  • **
  • Posts: 676
  • Country: de
Re: Oscilloscope comes with no ground power cable?
« Reply #10 on: May 29, 2019, 12:31:24 am »
Thats a CEE 7/4, intended for most european countries and compatible to the sockets found there.
You simply got the wrong cable in the box.

I would have assumed that these do not fit into australian sockets, but anyway... ask the seller to send you the proper cable, the scope is better operated grounded, unless you really know what you are doing.
Support your local planet.
 

Offline Brumby

  • Supporter
  • ****
  • Posts: 12413
  • Country: au
Re: Oscilloscope comes with no ground power cable?
« Reply #11 on: May 29, 2019, 12:38:49 am »
Thanks! I guess I need to use an Australian plug as my power socket won't have the "side clips" if I use a travel adapter for example. Thanks for clarifying!

Travel adapters are not the sort of thing you should plan on using for everyday.  They are a convenience thing and are made for "travelling".

If the item has a regular IEC socket and you're going to be using it in Australia, there's no excuse to not get a proper power lead.  There are several members here who would toss you one or two for free if you were close enough.
 

Offline Brumby

  • Supporter
  • ****
  • Posts: 12413
  • Country: au
Re: Oscilloscope comes with no ground power cable?
« Reply #12 on: May 29, 2019, 12:42:27 am »
You simply got the wrong cable in the box.

... ... ask the seller to send you the proper cable
Indeed.

If this was a product sold to the Australian market, then the seller should provide the correct mains lead.
 

Offline KaneTW

  • Frequent Contributor
  • **
  • Posts: 811
  • Country: de
Re: Oscilloscope comes with no ground power cable?
« Reply #13 on: May 29, 2019, 01:17:40 am »
Out of all sockets I was exposed to, I like Schuko the most. Maybe the French etc. 3-pin variant is a bit better due to polarization, but I don't know of any pluggable appliances that require correctly polarized voltages.
 
The following users thanked this post: newbrain

Offline kcs

  • Regular Contributor
  • *
  • Posts: 162
Re: Oscilloscope comes with no ground power cable?
« Reply #14 on: May 29, 2019, 01:43:30 am »
It is not polarized
Why would an average home user need a polarized socket? What equipment used at home requires polarized connection?

The side earth clips I do not really trust to make good contact and can get bent out of shape if caught wrong when inserting the plug.
I have yet to face such a case when a good quality socket is being used. Actually, I have never heard this complaint before.

It is too bulky
Compared to what? I would say it is not bulky compared to British or Australian plugs.

sometimes way too much force is required to pull it out. Which sometimes means you're pulling the socket out of the wall.
If everything is properly done and good quality products are used, it is never the problem.
 
The following users thanked this post: newbrain

Offline KaneTW

  • Frequent Contributor
  • **
  • Posts: 811
  • Country: de
Re: Oscilloscope comes with no ground power cable?
« Reply #15 on: May 29, 2019, 02:28:03 am »
Agreed. I've never seen the earth clip get bent or the socket pulled out of the wall. British/Aus plugs are gigantic and American plugs are a walking safety hazard.
 

Offline vk6zgo

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 7855
  • Country: au
Re: Oscilloscope comes with no ground power cable?
« Reply #16 on: May 29, 2019, 05:15:07 am »
 British plugs are large, but Australian ones are not much different in size to a Schuko.

Some manufacturers used to supply Schuko plugs packed up with their equipment, (because that's how the factory packaged them).
The local branch just chucked in a separate box full of Oz standard IEC cables.

I guess they thought we would just dispose of the EU ones, but we always needed IECs, so we cut off the existing plugs & wired Oz plugs on, getting extra cables just for the cost of a plug.

That's why I know the relative sizes.

What I like about Australian plugs is their simple construction, which still meets all the requirements.
American 240v plugs are horrifically complex things.
« Last Edit: May 29, 2019, 05:16:43 am by vk6zgo »
 

Offline Berni

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 5050
  • Country: si
Re: Oscilloscope comes with no ground power cable?
« Reply #17 on: May 29, 2019, 05:40:05 am »
I will admit that our EU plugs do have some downsides, but they are pretty good in comparison to others.

Most use the ground in the sides, but there are a few weird plugs (I think Czech and France uses them) that have a pin sticking out of the wall socket that goes into that hole. Those weird "unicorn" wall sockets are actually the superior type.
These have a better ground connection, can't get bent and are polarized for live and neutral while being the exact same size.


The fact that EU sockets are difficult to unplug is mostly due to the significant contact force on the prongs and ground. This is a good thing because it makes sure there is a solid contact since all sockets are rated for 16A 230V continuous, providing 3kW from all standard sockets rather than requiring separate special high power sockets like in the US.

And yes if a EU socket is exposed to a lot of rough handling the ground pin on the side gets caught upon plugging in and gets flattened against the bottom of the socket, making the pin non functional while the power prongs make contact. Tho since there are two ground contacts the other one still makes contact and keeps it safe.
 

Offline Jeroen3

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 4209
  • Country: nl
  • Embedded Engineer
    • jeroen3.nl
Re: Oscilloscope comes with no ground power cable?
« Reply #18 on: May 29, 2019, 06:00:33 am »
Is this topic unfolding into a flamewar whose mains sockets are best?

All of the different sockets remind me of this:
 

Offline Circlotron

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 3362
  • Country: au
Re: Oscilloscope comes with no ground power cable?
« Reply #19 on: May 29, 2019, 07:26:01 am »
This plug has earth connection, actually 2 of those. You on the other side of the earth just don't understand it.
Give us time!

 

Offline Brumby

  • Supporter
  • ****
  • Posts: 12413
  • Country: au
Re: Oscilloscope comes with no ground power cable?
« Reply #20 on: May 29, 2019, 08:57:54 am »
It is too bulky
Compared to what? I would say it is not bulky compared to British or Australian plugs.
British/Aus plugs are gigantic ...
British plugs, yes - but Australian plugs?  (channeling John McEnroe) .... You cannot be serious!


Being over-engineered and containing a fuse, it is no wonder British plugs are the size they are - but Australian Plugs are nothing like those...
British plugs are large, but Australian ones are not much different in size to a Schuko.
 

Offline Electro Detective

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 2715
  • Country: au
Re: Oscilloscope comes with no ground power cable?
« Reply #21 on: May 29, 2019, 09:59:36 am »
Locally made Australian 240v plugs and sockets (and cables) were great up till the penny pinching corporats began cheapening them up via OneHungLow.
 
Now we have on offer overpriced suss sockets with crappy switches, flimsy plastic coated halfassed plug prongs that bend if you look at them nasty etc

The newer 3 phase gear look like toys too, and unlikely they can handle a lot of plug in/out ab/use over time.
I'd like to see if a OHL rebadge 32 amp combo can handle a real 32 amp load
without sizzling, sparks n smoke  :scared:

I do like the UK 'fuse in the plug' thing,
although I don't know how or when a 13 amp fuse is going to protect an unfused soldering iron made by 'blessed by electroangels' Murphy Free manufacturer 'W'    ::)


« Last Edit: May 29, 2019, 10:32:32 am by Electro Detective »
 

Online Gyro

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 10174
  • Country: gb
Re: Oscilloscope comes with no ground power cable?
« Reply #22 on: May 29, 2019, 11:02:27 am »
Quote
I do like the UK 'fuse in the plug' thing,
although I don't know how or when a 13 amp fuse is going to protect an unfused soldering iron made by 'blessed by electroangels' Murphy Free manufacturer 'W'    ::)

That's why we have other value fuses too. 3A, 5A, and 13A are standard, with 1A, 7A(?) harder to find. Of course even a 1A fuse won't protect the soldering iron, but at least it will protect the thin cheap cable.
Best Regards, Chris
 
The following users thanked this post: mikerj

Offline mikerj

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 3382
  • Country: gb
Re: Oscilloscope comes with no ground power cable?
« Reply #23 on: May 29, 2019, 11:17:30 am »
Quote
I do like the UK 'fuse in the plug' thing,
although I don't know how or when a 13 amp fuse is going to protect an unfused soldering iron made by 'blessed by electroangels' Murphy Free manufacturer 'W'    ::)

That's why we have other value fuses too. 3A, 5A, and 13A are standard, with 1A, 7A(?) harder to find. Of course even a 1A fuse won't protect the soldering iron, but at least it will protect the thin cheap cable.

Though I would hate to guess how many plugs have the wrong value fuse in them (or a blown fuse wrapped in aluminium foil).
 
The following users thanked this post: Electro Detective

Offline Brumby

  • Supporter
  • ****
  • Posts: 12413
  • Country: au
Re: Oscilloscope comes with no ground power cable?
« Reply #24 on: May 29, 2019, 11:45:52 am »
Please - let's not go into the subject of fuse substitutes......    :scared:
 


Share me

Digg  Facebook  SlashDot  Delicious  Technorati  Twitter  Google  Yahoo
Smf