Trouble Finding 230V "AU" (type I) Outlet Strip to ship to US - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: rleyden
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 05, 2017, 06:42:22 am
content: I've found recently that I can purchase Chinese lab and test equipment wired for 220-230V for a small fraction of the equivalent US 120V models. For example, I just ordered a stirrer hot plate for $50 versus several hundred from a 120V model. Typically they ship to the US with a "AU" plug (type I). I set up a 220V outlet in my workshop with a NEMA 6-20 socket (one prong turned 90 deg ). However 220V outlets/plugs in the US tend to be expensive and geared for high current. All of my new toys are less than 1000 watts, even 6 amps is overkill. Rather than rewire each plug I would rather get an "AU" outlet strip and make only one change. I've searched eBay and even google.au. The Australians don't seem to want to send these to the US. I'm sure they are mostly made in China anyway. None of searches seem to give me what I need (Banggood for example). I suspect there is some kind of location/IP filtering or maybe I just have the wrong search term. Simple 6 way outlet strips in the US w/o surge protection go for a little a few dollars. Anything less than $20 w/shipping would be welcome.

author: dave_k
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2017, 11:18:30 am
content: Maybe make your own using some Nema 10-50 outlets .. ?

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2017, 11:45:27 am
content: Universal Power Strip is what you are looking for on Amazon etc. You don't want to buy one from Australia not only are they way over priced (the decent ones) you will pay a hideous amount for shipping.Australia is also 240V not 230V.I rewire new plugs on everything I get from USA. I can do a good job and it only takes me a few minutes, you do have to check color codes however.One thing I would be more concerned with is the wiring and quality of the Chinese products your buying, if it's not a commercial level product normally sold in the USA then buyer beware. Made in China vs sold by Chinese sellers over the internet is a big difference.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2017, 01:38:49 pm
content: Just look for a Chinese one, they are the same style, and will work there. Just use a separate GFCI on the feed to the strip ( or just buy a 230VAC one and a DIN box to hold it, along with 2 5A DIN style breakers as overcurrent protection) so you are safer if something goes wrong.

author: rleyden
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 05, 2017, 06:57:58 pm
content: Quote from: Shock on March 05, 2017, 11:45:27 amThis is a helpful lead, thanks. I had seen this style but couldn't tell if the "AU" plug actually would fit. However, one of my criteria that I should have mentioned is that I want outlets that can only fit the 220V plugs on my China acquired tools. I don't want an outlet that could accept a US 2 or 3 pronged plug of some 110V tool. I doubt that I would do so by accident but someone else might. If I weren't worried about this, it would be cheaper by far to chop off the "AU" plug and use US style plugs and outlets with a red sticker.The other suggestion just to go with NEMA 10-50 is perhaps not as bad as I first thought. I only need 6 amps not 50 so I didn't price them out. The plugs and outlet are widely sold for welding so can be had for as little as $3 each. They are just big and very over sized.I did order "Bryant 5462-I NEMA 6-20R Duplex Receptacle, 250V 20A" for $1.79 plus $3 shipping on eBay (http://www.ebay.com/itm/252791904163?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT) which I gather are now rare in the US. Plugs are ~$10 each at Home Depot.It just seemed like there had to be a better way. There are about a dozen countries that use the slant pin type I (http://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plug-voltage-by-country/) including China so I find it hard to believe no one sell a single type power strip for less than $20

author: grifftech
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 07, 2017, 04:07:36 pm
content: What about the British plug?

author: Someone
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 07, 2017, 11:05:21 pm
content: They're bulky to ship so you're not going to find anything down at that budget since the shipping will be more than twice that before you cost in anything else. Yes they're available at high volume low margin shops for cheap:https://www.bunnings.com.au/hpm-6-outlet-overload-protected-powerboard-2-pack_p7052397But that assumes that you waste your time going through and handling the sale, if you want someone to pick it out and ship just one or two you'll need to get more realistic with the price to cover the labour:http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/New-HPM-6-Outlet-Surge-Protected-Powerboard-2-Pack-Board-outlets-christmas-/322313672369

author: rleyden
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 08, 2017, 08:01:47 am
content: Quote from: Someone on March 07, 2017, 11:05:21 pmThat probably explains it. Thanks for the links anyway.I think more and more US hobbyists will be tempted to order technical equipment made primarily for the Chinese domestic market that has become large enough that redesign for the US market, if done at all, jacks up the price. In some cases, the labeling and/or plug is changed with loss of function. I was looking at a hot air rework gun that had the plug changed for 110V without changing the heating element with the result of only getting half the wattage rating. In another case, I asked one eBay seller if they could modify their equipment for 110V. He said "get a transformer".Changing over a few pieces of expensive equipment is no big deal. However, I can foresee the day when most of the small stuff with be 220V-50hz. But our outlets are wrong. I'm reminded of the Beatles movie "A Hard Days Night". The boys are wondering why a computer won't work. The answer, "A British plug". A comment on the decline of the British empire

author: sleemanj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 08, 2017, 10:16:05 pm
content: New Zealand and Australia, and to an extent China are the same (but China can be variable, and they put the ground pin at the top when mounted vertically, which ostensibly makes more sense actually).Unfortunately unlike from China, NZ and AU shipping is going to be expensive to get one to you. For example, for about 950g to the US from NZ at the cheapest, untracked rate we have, would be $24 USD in shipping alone.Comapre to from China, where you can get a 4 way universal with free shipping for probably half that (Random Search Result Link, Not A Recommendation)