this post was submitted on 04 Dec 2025
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you know the computer thing is it plugged in?
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i did this to myself yesterday, but on the ac side.
the universal power adapter for my homelab server didn't come with a european plug so i'm using a converter until i can source something reasonable. yesterday i was adding stuff to the cabinet and bumped the power strip.
turns out, american plugs are not only real sensitive to bumps, they also give off a lot of funny lights when they're used with 230V.
how do you guys live with these fischer-price plugs?
Not to defend US power plugs (the UK plug is clearly superior) but this sounds like a problem with your adapter. US plugs rely on the socket having enough friction to hold the plug. It's obviously not the best design decision, but I've only had issues with cheap adapters and >50 year old sockets (which are hard to find because they tend to get replaced during remodeling).
The sparks are also less of an issue with 110v.
schuko4lyfe
also, yes it's obviously an issue with the adapter in that it's one of those wall-warts you can change the plug on, except they only shipped me a us plug >:(
Get some size apropriate heatshrink and cut of the stupid US plug and take a UK or schuko plug (whichever you need) and solder that on.
unfortunately it's super low profile. i'm trying to figure out what to do about it but for now i added an extension cord.
I mean just changing the last 10cm of the power cable should not change much. And iff the plug needs to be low profile you can go with the type c plug
it's low profile in the other direction. It's one of these doohickeys, except even flatter, and connected to a bigger wall wart than this:
The friction also helps clean off the contacts for better connection.
Mine are in there pretty firmly. I assume you mean an ungrounded one, because the triple prong is sturdy as heck.
Either way, both kinds can be plenty sturdy, definitely resists bumps. I'd expect a quality issue with the adapter.
being used to all plug bodies, including two-prong, being recessed at least 18mm, means the us one feels flimsy no matter how firmly it's in the adapter...
oh also this was a wall-wart style power adapter that should probably not have been a wall-wart. a bit too large for that.
my problem with european plugs is the nonstandardisation between horizontal and 45 degree outlets.
shits. mess and a headache
the standard is that you need to accommodate both configurations. most device manufacturers don't realise this.