aussie240, your not seriously proposing this as acceptable?
I'm just illustrating a common practice. I can't say I've ever heard of someone receiving a shock from it though.
I certainly don't approve of removing the earth pin of the US 120v 3 pin plug to get it to fit. Removing the earth connection to anything makes me rather uncomfortable.
One thing that does surprise me is the bureaucrats who like to ban everything haven't done so with the incandescent light socket. Just take the bulb out and there's 240V exposed for anyone to touch. After all, someone might remove a bulb and put their fingers in....I'm just waiting for a lawsuit to appear from someone lacking in common sense there. I know HPM make what they call a 'safety lampholder' which works on the principal of no connection made to the pins unless they're pushed in. But someone can still push the pins in by their fingers if they so wish. And what of the E14 and E27 light socket that is permeating Australia in Chinese and European light fittings? The screw base of the light bulb is often uncovered just below the glass...easy to touch, with say a coin, a key or a paperclip. There's no guarantee that it will always be connected to the neutral.
