Australian Electricity - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: German_EE
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2016, 10:54:56 am
content: Found this and just had to sharehttp://cdn3.image.bored.com/thumbnails/workers-who-really-failed-safety-training/asset_25019__big_no.jpg

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2016, 10:56:33 am
content: Do all Australian outlets have a switch, like in the UK?

author: DTJ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2016, 11:06:42 am
content: Jut about all Aussie wall outlets (or GPOs = General Purpose Outlets) have switches.There are sockets available without switches. The only place I've seen switch-less outlets used is on boxed equipment that needs a mains outlet or in roof spaces or ceilings where they might provide power to an exhaust fan or electrical door opener etc.

author: Muttley Snickers
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 07, 2016, 11:08:21 am
content: Quote from: HighVoltage on February 07, 2016, 10:56:33 amPretty much for general purpose outlets, some remotely switched sockets such as those used for bathroom fans and some light fittings don't have them, for caravan and mobile homes from memory it is compulsory that they be double pole cutting both the active and neutral in case of lead reversal.

author: crispy_tofu
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2016, 11:13:26 am
content: Quote from: AS/NZS 3000:2007with the exceptions being:A single switch may be used for the control of two socket-outlets located immediately adjacent to each otherA socket-outlet that is switched by the insertion and withdrawal of the plug shall be deemed to meet the requirements (auto-switching)A socket-outlet that is rated at not more than 10 A, installed for the connection of a fixed or stationary appliance or a luminaire and that is not readily accessible for other purposes, need not be controlled by a switch

author: HAL-42b
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2016, 11:25:42 am
content: Seems like the Aussie code is unnecessarily strict.What possible safety benefit can this switch have? Granted it is convenient, marginally, but why does convenience have to feature in the code?

author: TerraHertz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2016, 11:33:40 am
content: I like the part where he is applying 240VAC to a US (110V) plug.True, some switchmode supplies can take either. But many appliances can't.

author: Muttley Snickers
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 07, 2016, 11:47:16 am
content: It's what your used to I suppose, I look at some other power points from overseas and think to myself damn that's a weird one, why would they even consider such a design, I suspect roles are reversed for all you Non Australians........

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 07, 2016, 12:00:46 pm
content: Quote from: HAL-42b on February 07, 2016, 11:25:42 amI've never felt there was any compromise by having a switch. In fact, I feel it has a clear benefit. When pushing a plug into the socket, on occasion you would get some arcing - especially if it was not pushed in quickly and firmly. Such situations could include people with dexterity issues or where the socket is in an awkward place (behind a lounge, for example). The result of this would be degradation of the contacts and the sparking possibly startling the person with their hand on the plug. Another safety issue is that if someone has their fingers around the front of the plug, they might possibly be in contact with the L & N pins when they make contact with the live connections in the socket. This is less of a problem with new plugs that have the insulated pins, but there are still a lot of old plugs out there.Besides, it's really convenient to be able to shut off the power easily, without having to remove the plug.Just my 2 cents.

author: DerekG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2016, 12:02:46 pm
content: Quote from: HAL-42b on February 07, 2016, 11:25:42 amLOTS. Cables wear & plugs half-come-off before coming-off. Ensuring the active is turned off before pulling out the plug adds significantly to safety.Some uninformed users think nothing of pulling plugs out with wet hands. Turning off the active adds significantly to safety.The same goes when toddlers are crawling around the floor. They can stick whatever they like into a power point with little risk of misadventure if the active is turned off at the switch.In Australia, part of a house's electrical approval (whether new or renovated) is to test all power points to ensure the active & neutral has not been transposed.

author: Someone
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2016, 10:43:02 pm
content: Quote from: Brumby on February 07, 2016, 12:00:46 pmAn example situation that has happened to me, an IEC C13 lead spontaneously set its self on fire with a lovely electrical jet coming out near the wall plug. It was very easy to isolate the problem and in the end was rather uneventful, but I would not have had a good time trying to pull the plug out while that fault current was flowing let alone the proximity of the flame to the plug.

author: Cerebus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2016, 11:15:19 pm
content: With reference to the "flat worlder" thread: Is Australian mains electricity 180? out of phase to account for the sine waves being upside down?

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 08, 2016, 01:57:55 am
content: Yeah - but we just stand on our head all the time, so it works out anyway.

author: miguelvp
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2016, 03:02:41 am
content: Quote from: Brumby on February 08, 2016, 01:57:55 amWhat is odd is that my daughter just came back from Australia and she is not standing on her head at all, I guess you adapt quickly to get back in phase.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 08, 2016, 04:19:00 am
content: Just on that, I've noticed that all the GPOs in my home have shutters on active and neutral pins. I'm not sure if this is a new requirement or not? I don't know what the exact mechanism is but I'm assuming that both pins need to be inserted simultaneously before the shutters open (as opposed to a child sticking in a screw driver into just one of the holes etc...)

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 08, 2016, 04:37:18 am
content: Just found this looking around for answers to your question...Seems the circular section rotates to cover the active and neutral completely when no plug is inserted. I presume you just position the plug against the face, then rotate to get the plug's pins to line up and push in for connection.

author: crispy_tofu
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2016, 08:04:31 am
content: Cool, so like UK sockets...According to Wikipedia:""Shuttered" socket-outlets are available, but these are not required by regulation."They don't have any references though, so it might be incorrect.

author: station240
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 08, 2016, 12:14:36 pm
content: Quote from: Someone on February 07, 2016, 10:43:02 pmI had a similiar experience with a faulty cord on 2400W electric frypan, it was making funny noises so I reached over to switch it off. At that point it exploded.After I had regained some of my hearing, I cut the thing apart to find the short, active and neutral wires welded together, about 5 cm from the plug.If not for the switch, I would have grabbed that part of the cord with my bare hands without realizing.Real nasty getting a dead short in thick 10A rated cable (I suspect it's really 15A cable).

author: Synthetase
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2016, 01:04:21 pm
content: +1 for liking switches. I got a nice shock from a German outlet when I was very young (maybe three or four?). Stuck an old piece of wire into the socket trying to 'see if it still works'. I got it in before my parents could stop me. I learnt a valuable lesson that dayAll Australian kids are taught to switch off the wall socket before inserting or removing a plug.

author: Delta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2016, 03:43:01 pm
content: How could switches possibly be a bad thing?Plugging heavy inrush current devices in to live socket can hardly be a good thing!

author: Macbeth
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2016, 04:17:07 pm
content: Quote from: Cerebus on February 07, 2016, 11:15:19 pmNot only this, but they have to wire the sockets upside down. Just look at the earth pin orientation.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 09, 2016, 07:46:38 am
content: I had an experience at a friends place: It was an old fibro home with the old wire-wound fuses. I'd just arrived there when I could smell burning plastic. The residents inside couldn't smell anything, presumably as they'd be inside the whole time and simply "got used" to the smell; I came from fresh air outside.Within minutes we tracked it down to the laundry where the tumble dryer was running. It was plugged into a power outlet with a double-adapter. The dryer was still running at full temperature. The end of the plug and the double-adapter it was plugged into had started to melt and burn (no flames yet but it wouldn't have been far off). I flicked the switch to disconnect power (rather than yank out a partially molten pile of mess). Seems like whoever had wired the fuse (it was a rental home) had used the wrong wire.A more modern example means I can switch things on/off without having to disconnect them.

author: Seekonk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 09, 2016, 09:01:46 am
content: Switches not a bad idea considering most people pull cord out by yanking on a wire. When the wire comes out of the plug socket can be turned off safely. Interesting comment on the ground pin orientation. My wife likes brass. She replaced one of the outlet covers with a brass one. For some reason she didn't put the screw back in. One day she was pulling out the plug when the outlet cover came down and shorted out the H & N. A good reason to put the ground pin up.

author: andtfoot
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 09, 2016, 03:04:58 pm
content: Quote from: German_EE on February 07, 2016, 10:54:56 amBut it's so much easier just to twist the pins to the right angle with pliers... not that I've done that before.......

author: Cubdriver
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 09, 2016, 04:33:40 pm
content: Quote from: Seekonk on February 09, 2016, 09:01:46 amIn the US my understanding is that it's now 'recommended' practice to install receptacles with the ground pin at the top, or, if horizontally mounted, with the neutral (longer) slot at the top, for just this sort of reason.I use plastic covers and generally mount them ground down, however, as I have some cords with flat plugs that have cables that exit down or down and to the side in that orientation. Were I using metal cover plates it would certainly be something to consider doing differently of course.-Pat

author: knks
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 04, 2016, 12:28:11 am
content: I like those switches. But can anyone explain, why do they disconnect only N?