Electrical certification for imported goods

[Mainlander]

This is quite a big can of worms IMO

It used to be in NZ that everything imported into the country was
supposed to have some kind of electrical certification or approval, I
think this is so of Australia as well.

As an example I have here a PDL plugbox, made in Christchurch NZ, carries
a type approval number N/10224. Since the company is well known one would
have a reasonable degree of certaintly about the approval number, as one
would about HPM stuff.

Now, more common example these days. Go to Bunnings and buy an Elto brand
4 way plugbox for $1. It carries a type approval number Qxxxx. The
product is manufactured in China. There is no indication whatsoever of
who or what granted this type approval number or what it actually means.

When every tom dick and harry is importing electrical stuff mass produced
in some far flung corner of Asia rebranded to the supplier's name, how
can we be sure that it meets electrical safety standards? One is pretty
much buying such gear sight unseen. Given the quality of some of the
products made in third world countries it is a reasonable question I
feel.

--
Full featured open source Win32 newsreader - Gravity 2.70
http://sourceforge.net/projects/mpgravity/

 

[Phil Allison]

"Mainlander" <*@*.*>

It used to be in NZ that everything imported into the country was
supposed to have some kind of electrical certification or approval, I
think this is so of Australia as well.

** Not everything by a long chalk - only those on the prescribed list.

As an example I have here a PDL plugbox, made in Christchurch NZ, carries
a type approval number N/10224. Since the company is well known one would
have a reasonable degree of certaintly about the approval number, as one
would about HPM stuff.

** Any N,Q,V,S,T or W number can be traced to the maker/importer and test
lab.

You just need to approach the relevant authority in the state with the
initial letter.

Now, more common example these days. Go to Bunnings and buy an Elto brand
4 way plugbox for $1. It carries a type approval number Qxxxx. The
product is manufactured in China. There is no indication whatsoever of
who or what granted this type approval number or what it actually means.

** See above. Q = Queensland.

When every tom dick and harry is importing electrical stuff mass produced
in some far flung corner of Asia rebranded to the supplier's name, how
can we be sure that it meets electrical safety standards?

** In general you cannot be sure - but only hope.

One is pretty much buying such gear sight unseen. Given the quality of some
of the
products made in third world countries it is a reasonable question I
feel.

** Most electronic items require no safety inspection before going on sale
in Australia. OTOH The UK, Europe and the USA have good inspection/approval
systems for all items.

Items that are marketed world wide will have been inspected and approved
in nearly all cases.

BTW Only a few samples are checked - later production can be
different.




............. Phil

 

[Rod Speed]

Mainlander <*@*.*> wrote in message
news:MPG.1a6a81bafed1cc7098a401@news.paradise.net.nz...

This is quite a big can of worms IMO

Yum, very tasty...

It used to be in NZ that everything imported into the country was
supposed to have some kind of electrical certification or approval,

Nope.

I think this is so of Australia as well.

Nope.

As an example I have here a PDL plugbox, made in Christchurch
NZ, carries a type approval number N/10224. Since the company
is well known one would have a reasonable degree of certaintly
about the approval number, as one would about HPM stuff.

Now, more common example these days. Go to Bunnings
and buy an Elto brand 4 way plugbox for $1. It carries a
type approval number Qxxxx. The product is manufactured
in China. There is no indication whatsoever of who or what
granted this type approval number or what it actually means.

Hardly the end of civilisation as we know it any time soon.

When every tom dick and harry is importing electrical
stuff mass produced in some far flung corner of Asia
rebranded to the supplier's name, how can we be
sure that it meets electrical safety standards?

You cant. Welcome to the real world.

One is pretty much buying such gear sight unseen.

Nope.

Given the quality of some of the products made in third
world countries it is a reasonable question I feel.

You're always welcome to never touch a single product
manufactured outside your pathetic excuse for a country.

 

[Bruce Simpson]

On Sat, 10 Jan 2004 21:40:51 +1300, Mainlander <*@*.*> wrote:

This is quite a big can of worms IMO

It used to be in NZ that everything imported into the country was
supposed to have some kind of electrical certification or approval, I
think this is so of Australia as well.

As an example I have here a PDL plugbox, made in Christchurch NZ, carries
a type approval number N/10224. Since the company is well known one would
have a reasonable degree of certaintly about the approval number, as one
would about HPM stuff.

Now, more common example these days. Go to Bunnings and buy an Elto brand
4 way plugbox for $1. It carries a type approval number Qxxxx. The
product is manufactured in China. There is no indication whatsoever of
who or what granted this type approval number or what it actually means.

When every tom dick and harry is importing electrical stuff mass produced
in some far flung corner of Asia rebranded to the supplier's name, how
can we be sure that it meets electrical safety standards? One is pretty
much buying such gear sight unseen. Given the quality of some of the
products made in third world countries it is a reasonable question I
feel.

Your worries are quite valid. About three yers ago I bought a few of
those lamp holders that take the screw-base spotlight bulbs. All of
them filed after only a few months. The insulation on the wire they
used inside the fitting became brittle with the heat and if you
attempted to swivel them (as they are designed to do) it shattered and
shorted either against the other lead or to the metal fitting itself.

These were fittings sold by The Warehouse so it was quite likely that
many people would be installing them themselves and not earthing the
metal fixture. If the phase wire happened to short to the metal while
they were being adjusted or when a builb was being replaced then I
hate to think of the consequences.

I rang The Warehouse to report the problem -- pointing out that it was
definitely not a single-unit problem and that all the fittings I'd
bought had suffered the same fate. They were not at all worried and
simply suggested that if I were passing I could return the faulty
units for replacement or a refund.

Shudder!

--
you can contact me via http://aardvark.co.nz/contact/

 

[~misfit~]

Rod Speed wrote:

<a pile of shit ending with....>

You're always welcome to never touch a single product
manufactured outside your pathetic excuse for a country.

Rod Speed the aussie arsehole ay? Posting in nz.comp. One of the most
disliked men in all the hardware groups of the world. I've seen people post
things like "You think this guy's a wanker? Have you read anything by Rod
Speed?"

All opinion, no facts.
--
~misfit~

 

[K & S]

On Sat, 10 Jan 2004 21:40:51 +1300, Mainlander &lt;*@*.*&gt; wrote:

This is quite a big can of worms IMO

It used to be in NZ that everything imported into the country was
supposed to have some kind of electrical certification or approval, I
think this is so of Australia as well.

As an example I have here a PDL plugbox, made in Christchurch NZ, carries
a type approval number N/10224. Since the company is well known one would
have a reasonable degree of certaintly about the approval number, as one
would about HPM stuff.

Now, more common example these days. Go to Bunnings and buy an Elto brand
4 way plugbox for $1. It carries a type approval number Qxxxx. The
product is manufactured in China. There is no indication whatsoever of
who or what granted this type approval number or what it actually means.

When every tom dick and harry is importing electrical stuff mass produced
in some far flung corner of Asia rebranded to the supplier's name, how
can we be sure that it meets electrical safety standards? One is pretty
much buying such gear sight unseen. Given the quality of some of the
products made in third world countries it is a reasonable question I
feel.

The Standards here are a Utter Joke I should know I have to service this
Crap..

 

[Jay]

Bruce Simpson wrote:

Your worries are quite valid. About three yers ago I bought a few of
those lamp holders that take the screw-base spotlight bulbs. All of
them filed after only a few months. The insulation on the wire they
used inside the fitting became brittle with the heat and if you
attempted to swivel them (as they are designed to do) it shattered and
shorted either against the other lead or to the metal fitting itself.

These were fittings sold by The Warehouse so it was quite likely that
many people would be installing them themselves and not earthing the
metal fixture. If the phase wire happened to short to the metal while
they were being adjusted or when a builb was being replaced then I
hate to think of the consequences.

I rang The Warehouse to report the problem -- pointing out that it was
definitely not a single-unit problem and that all the fittings I'd
bought had suffered the same fate. They were not at all worried and
simply suggested that if I were passing I could return the faulty
units for replacement or a refund.

Shudder!

I once had an outside light made by PDL in Christchurch.
The enclosure was so poorly ventilated that bulbs would overhead
and eventually explode. It carried a NZ approval number.
The worst part was when the bulb exploded then you might be showered
with glass splinters.

I contacted PDL about this but they were not very interested.
They didn't offer a replacement unit. Perhaps I should have contacted
the approval authority but I was selling the house anyhow.

Just goes to show that shodddy products made in NZ with an approval
number are not much different from shoddy products made in China
without an approval number.

 

[Richard Malcolm-Smith]

Now, more common example these days. Go to Bunnings and buy an Elto brand
4 way plugbox for $1. It carries a type approval number Qxxxx. The
product is manufactured in China. There is no indication whatsoever of
who or what granted this type approval number or what it actually means.

Actually, does anyone know of a good plugboard that will actually hold the plugs
in properly? All the ones you seem to get now are cheap ones where when you put
the plug in it takes all sorts of force, and it sounds like you break something,
then they drop out at the slightest provocation - I opened one and the only
thing holding the plug in was a piece of metal with slots in it for the pins to
go into. Very crappy.

 

[Rod Speed]

Some gutless fuckwit sheep raper desperately cowering behind
~misfit~ &lt;~misfit~@his_desk.com&gt; wrote in message
newsZPLb.7499$9k7.149261@news.xtra.co.nz...
just what you'd expect from a gutless fuckwit sheep raper.

 

[E.]

~misfit~ wrote:

Rod Speed wrote:

a pile of shit ending with....

You're always welcome to never touch a single product
manufactured outside your pathetic excuse for a country.


Rod Speed the aussie arsehole ay? Posting in nz.comp. One of the most
disliked men in all the hardware groups of the world. I've seen people post
things like "You think this guy's a wanker? Have you read anything by Rod
Speed?"

All opinion, no facts.
--
~misfit~


He actually made it into the unofficial canb.general FAQ.

Q. "I talk Gibberish and my penis is chafed. What am I doing wrong?"
A. A common problem. You need to adjust your rod speed.

E.

 

[Mainlander]

In article &lt;oZPLb.7499$9k7.149261@news.xtra.co.nz&gt;, ~misfit~@his_desk.com
says...

Rod Speed wrote:

a pile of shit ending with....

You're always welcome to never touch a single product
manufactured outside your pathetic excuse for a country.

Rod Speed the aussie arsehole ay? Posting in nz.comp.

aus.electronics

--
Full featured open source Win32 newsreader - Gravity 2.70
http://sourceforge.net/projects/mpgravity/

 

[dickydoo]

The average shopper buys on price. Queues at checkouts in the Warehouse and
Kmart's are larger than Noel Lemmings ,Bond &amp; Bond etc.
We always buy Australian products as they are
1/3 rd cheaper than N.Z made a good example is products made by Hills
compared to the NZ equivalent So why be patriotic ? Look at vegetables and
fruit prices from Australia.At the end of the day NZ manufacturers and
growers miss out thru sheer greed.

 

In article &lt;MPG.1a6a81bafed1cc7098a401@news.paradise.net.nz&gt;, *@*.*
says...

This is quite a big can of worms IMO

It used to be in NZ that everything imported into the country was
supposed to have some kind of electrical certification or approval, I
think this is so of Australia as well.

As an example I have here a PDL plugbox, made in Christchurch NZ, carries
a type approval number N/10224. Since the company is well known one would
have a reasonable degree of certaintly about the approval number, as one
would about HPM stuff.

Now, more common example these days. Go to Bunnings and buy an Elto brand
4 way plugbox for $1. It carries a type approval number Qxxxx. The
product is manufactured in China. There is no indication whatsoever of
who or what granted this type approval number or what it actually means.

When every tom dick and harry is importing electrical stuff mass produced
in some far flung corner of Asia rebranded to the supplier's name, how
can we be sure that it meets electrical safety standards?

Read all about it.

http://www.ess.govt.nz/product/electrical_appliance_safety_regime.asp

 

[Mainlander]

In article &lt;4CZLb.7939$9k7.154384@news.xtra.co.nz&gt;, dickydoo@xtra.co.nz
says...

The average shopper buys on price. Queues at checkouts in the Warehouse and
Kmart's are larger than Noel Lemmings ,Bond &amp; Bond etc.
We always buy Australian products as they are
1/3 rd cheaper than N.Z made a good example is products made by Hills
compared to the NZ equivalent So why be patriotic ? Look at vegetables and
fruit prices from Australia.At the end of the day NZ manufacturers and
growers miss out thru sheer greed.

Hahaha poor sheeple..,HPM is making stuff in China now.


--
Full featured open source Win32 newsreader - Gravity 2.70
http://sourceforge.net/projects/mpgravity/

 

[IRO]

In article &lt;btpkab$a4ell$1@ID-69072.news.uni-berlin.de&gt;,
"Rod Speed" &lt;rod_speed@yahoo.com&gt; wrote:

Some gutless fuckwit sheep raper desperately cowering behind
~misfit~ &lt;~misfit~@his_desk.com&gt; wrote in message
newsZPLb.7499$9k7.149261@news.xtra.co.nz...
just what you'd expect from a gutless fuckwit sheep raper.

Ah well, it's not really a problem.....another name for the Kill File.

--
~IRO

 

[Allan]

So this stuff I have from Jaycar that has a a N on it, is that from the
Northern Territory?
Even though its all China made.?


"Phil Allison" &lt;philallison@optusnet.com.au&gt; wrote in message
news:3fffc15e$0$27236$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au...

"Mainlander" &lt;*@*.*


It used to be in NZ that everything imported into the country was
supposed to have some kind of electrical certification or approval, I
think this is so of Australia as well.


** Not everything by a long chalk - only those on the prescribed
list.



As an example I have here a PDL plugbox, made in Christchurch NZ,
carries
a type approval number N/10224. Since the company is well known one
would
have a reasonable degree of certaintly about the approval number, as one
would about HPM stuff.


** Any N,Q,V,S,T or W number can be traced to the maker/importer and test
lab.

You just need to approach the relevant authority in the state with the
initial letter.



Now, more common example these days. Go to Bunnings and buy an Elto
brand
4 way plugbox for $1. It carries a type approval number Qxxxx. The
product is manufactured in China. There is no indication whatsoever of
who or what granted this type approval number or what it actually means.


** See above. Q = Queensland.




When every tom dick and harry is importing electrical stuff mass
produced
in some far flung corner of Asia rebranded to the supplier's name, how
can we be sure that it meets electrical safety standards?


** In general you cannot be sure - but only hope.



One is pretty much buying such gear sight unseen. Given the quality of
some
of the
products made in third world countries it is a reasonable question I
feel.


** Most electronic items require no safety inspection before going on
sale
in Australia. OTOH The UK, Europe and the USA have good
inspection/approval
systems for all items.

Items that are marketed world wide will have been inspected and
approved
in nearly all cases.

BTW Only a few samples are checked - later production can be
different.




............ Phil

 

[Brian Goldsmith]

"Allan" &lt;allanaws@hotmail.com&gt; wrote

So this stuff I have from Jaycar that has a a N on it, is that from the
Northern Territory?
Even though its all China made.?


**** N refers to New South Wales where the original certification took
place.There should also be a number associated with the "N".
Brian Goldsmith.

 

[Phil Allison]

"Allan" &lt;allanaws@hotmail.com&gt;

So this stuff I have from Jaycar that has a a N on it, is that from the
Northern Territory?

** N = NSW.

Even though its all China made.?

** Depends what stuff.

Is there a tick in front of the N ???

N prefix numbers are also given to "C tick" approved items most of
which are not on the prescribed list.

Australia has not yet adopted compulsory electrical safety approval as
is the case in Europe so C tick and safety approval can exist separately.





........... Phil

 

[Fred Martin]

IRO &lt;iro.spring@paradise.dot.net.dot.enzee&gt; wrote in message
news:iro.spring-BA0736.14265412012004@copper.ipg.tsnz.net...

Ah well, it's not really a problem.....another name for the Kill File.

No one actually gives a flying red fuck what some
gutless sheep raper claims to read or not read, cretin.

 

[~misfit~]

Fred Martin wrote:

IRO &lt;iro.spring@paradise.dot.net.dot.enzee&gt; wrote in message
news:iro.spring-BA0736.14265412012004@copper.ipg.tsnz.net...

Ah well, it's not really a problem.....another name for the Kill
File.

No one actually gives a flying red fuck what some
gutless sheep raper claims to read or not read, cretin.

Flying red fuck huh? Is that when you get your dick stuck in a red kangaroo?
--
~misfit~