Is it normal for someone to purchase a MacBook charger that has a grounding wire sticking out of it?

In the US, the genuine Apple power adapter has only a very small two-prong adapter built into it. It has become known as a "duckhead". It is not grounded. It is removable.

The additional accessory you can buy is 1.8 meter "Apple Power Adapter Extension Cable" US$20:

https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MK122LL/A/power-adapter-extension-cable?fnode=8b

As you can see, it has a molded three prong plug, which will provide a proper ground PROVIDED the outlet is properly Grounded.

So the question we all are wondering, "Where did you get that?"

That item CAN work in the US. The appropriate way to deploy it is to connect the ground wire to the screw on the outlet cover plate, which is supposed to be grounded.

This is an enormous pain in the neck, and presumes you are willing carry a screwdriver with you whenever you want to plug in your charger.

If it were mine, I would spend the US$20 and get one with a three-prog plug. Safer and more convenient.

If Electrical inspectors in the US could completely outlaw the use of two-prong plugs, they would. All new installations and repairs must result in properly grounded three-prong outlets.

Grant Bennet-Alder wrote:

That item CAN work in the US. The appropriate way to deploy it is to connect the ground wire to the screw on the outlet cover plate, which is supposed to be grounded.

This is an enormous pain in the neck, and presumes you are willing carry a screwdriver with you whenever you want to plug in your charger.

If it were mine, I would spend the US$20 and get one with a three-prog plug. Safer and more convenient.

If Electrical inspectors in the US could completely outlaw the use of two-prong plugs, they would. All new installations and repairs must result in properly grounded three-prong outlets.

I don't know if it's strictly needed. The majority of Apple power adapters in the US employ 2 prong ungrounded blades. The Mac I got was a 2001 iBook G3, and the package included one of the long cables with only a two-prong plug. My 2005 iBook G4 did come with a 3 prong cable. Later Macs only had the folded two-blade duckhead on the power adapter and no extension cord.

As far as Japan goes - they're primarily 2 blade compatible with US plugs at 100V. They seem to have a combination of 2 and 3 prong outlets.

https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2225.html

That cord is simply NOT an Apple product. Whatever and wherever you bought it it’s fake, not genuine Apple.

Where did you get that cable? I don’t know if Apple makes such cables, although it is possible. Such cables are necessary in some cases. Some places (old houses or some countries) may not have grounded outlets so you would need the extra wire for the ground.

Is it an official Apple charger and packaging from a sealed package? I've never seen Apple provide a two prong wire plug before, although this could be a regional variant. At least it looks like the ground wire was manufactured at the factory and not a hack job.

Hi,

I think it's normal.