DOES YOUR POWER CORD COMPLY?

[Gee Emm]

Remember kids; plugs & sockets are known as 'Scheduled Items' as per AS 4417.2 (appendix B )

And as such, must be certified as electrically safe.

 

in the 2009 edition refer to clauses B2.10 Cord extension socket, B2.34 Outlet device

I'm not sure if this is still the current version.

You can check.

 

Either way, all 'Scheduled Items' (there is quite a few items on the list) must be certified as electrically safe.

'Electrically safe' doesn't mean someone said they were OK to use.

It means they have they been certified safe by a relevant 3rd party.

[Gee Emm]

4 minutes ago, Marc said:

 

Others are telling us that even if a product has the RCM label, that it still needs to be submitted locally for certification.

 

Getting local certification is how you get to use the RCM label/logo

 

When you submit a product for certification. All relevant parts of that item are also assessed, against there relevant standards.

Edited May 26, 2023 by Gee Emm

[075Congo]

Just looking at my brand new FURUTECH FI-AU3112-N1(G) power plug. No RCM symbol anywhere but a "NSW26696" on the plug. The system seems confusing or confused.

[Guest]

2 minutes ago, Gee Emm said:

Getting local certification is how you get to use the RCM label/logo

 

If only it were as simple as that. Sadly, as we have discovered, there is blatant misuse of the logo.
Ie. It's stamped or printed at the manufacturer level with no such certification taking place.

[Gee Emm]

16 minutes ago, Marc said:

 

If only it were as simple as that. Sadly, as we have discovered, there is blatant misuse of the logo.
Ie. It's stamped or printed at the manufacturer level with no such certification taking place.

 

OK. Let me say it differently/more correctly.

Getting local certification is how you get to 'legitimately' use the RCM label/logo

 

There are gazillions of incorrectly labelled oversees (mostly) inferior products on the market posing as compliant products.

All in the name of saving money/cheating to sell an inferior/sometimes illegal product.

 

Sometimes when this happens, wallwarts/battery chargers/batteries catch fire and burn your house down.

 

These cheaper products put the local company out of business because it is not a fair/level playing field.

 

You cannot sue an Asian company if a crap product you bought on ebay burns your house down.

But you can sue a local company if they do the wrong thing.

 

There are no innocents here. We have all bought a product on Ebay et al, and being ignorant (or not caring) of its not compliant nature.

 

We all want cheaper things, and sometimes we get what we pay for.

 

Safety isn't free, and sometimes it isn't cheap.

But it is necessary;

and people need to stop complaining about the price of 'safe/compliant' electrical product.

 

Just to finish:

There is a hierarchy of responsibility re importing...

If you bring the cheap/non compliant product into the country; via ebay, post etc.

You are the one who is responsible for that product.

And if it goes belly up, you are responsible; not the guy overseas you bought it from.

 

Think about that.

 

[Guest]

Agree entirely. Another example. This week a new (Asian-sourced) product was announced to the market, and an Australian distributor was appointed. Said distributor has embarked on the process of local certification before they make it available to the market. They have done this at their own cost with no support from the manufacturer whatsoever in regard to the cost of this process.

 

At the same time, the manufacturer has decided not to make that distribution exclusive, and appointed at least two other "distributors". Neither of those two is going through the certification process to the best of the first distributor's knowledge (and based on history). So it means that technically, if the product receives certification, which is expected, only products supplied by the first distributor will actually have this approval, and the others, in theory, will not as there are no guarantees of the supply chain and that the products sold by the other two distributors are identical right through the supply chain. Messy!

[Gee Emm]

Hi Marc

 

Here is the rub...

 

IF the product (or part of the product) is deemed a 'Scheduled Item' as per AS 4417.2 (appendix B )

It must be by law subject to relevant certification.

Certification for 'Scheduled Items' is 'required'; not 'optional'.

 

Remember there is a hierarchy of responsibility re importing...

That is; the entity who imports the product (the distributor or the manufacturer in this case?) is the entity who is responsible for the electrical safety of the product (as relevant).

 

I do not know if the said product/or part of it is classified as a 'scheduled item'.

 

Another layer; the retailer also shares some responsibility to ensure any product complies.

This is a potential out clause for manufacturers/importers, or so they think.

 

This is simple, but people make it complicated and introduce all sorts of straw man discussions to cloudy the waters.

 

Let me give a possible scenario...

 

The local distributor #1 decides to submit product for certification.

Outcome 1: Product complies without modification to all relevant standards.

Local distributor #1 is out of pocket a shipload of cash.

Everyone wins, at the expense of local distributor #1.

 

OR

 

The local distributor #1 decides to submit product for certification.

Outcome 2: Product will only comply to all relevant standards if modified.

Local distributor #1 is out of pocket a shipload of cash.

Manufacturer will not modify product.

Local distributor #1 decides not to sell product.

Manufacturer & local distributors #2,3,n don't care.

All hell breaks loose.

 

If I was local distributor #1; I would want exclusive distribution before I invested in certification.

 

OR

 

Product is certified compliant (as relevant) by manufacturer and there can be more than 1 local distributor.

 

Like I said, this is simple, but people make it complicated. Normally (always?) because of cost.

 

[Weka]

6 hours ago, 075Congo said:

Just looking at my brand new FURUTECH FI-AU3112-N1(G) power plug. No RCM symbol anywhere but a "NSW26696" on the plug. The system seems confusing or confused.

The Regulations require that a 3 pin plug (a prescribed electrical item) must display the RCM mark OR the Certificate of Approval number. The only catch with the Furutech plug is that the certificate expired in 2019 so may no longer comply.

 

 

[075Congo]

There are two "conversations" going on here. Once talks about what "should be".........all power cords sold in Australia must meet standards or not be sold........the other conversation relates to the reality........we are currently able to access any type of power cord........regulated or unregulated........and buyer beware. Chaotic.

[Gee Emm]

I think it is a single conversation.

[075Congo]

To answer Marc's "DOES YOUR POWER CORD COMPLY" my situation is as follows:  I have 2 Synergistic Research Power Cords to which I have added FURUTECH AUS/NZ Connectors at my own expense.......the original connectors fitted developed serious cracking and had been replaced.

 

Also I have 2 SR POWERCELL ONE power products ($995 USD  each) Their connectors are in good condition( no cracking)  but would not be Certifiable as meeting Australian standards. So do I send them back to the USA or spend another $310 and fit FURUTECH connectors.

 

If I contact The Cable Company in the US and advise them they sold me non-compliant products 2 years ago..........deafening silence!

[Gee Emm]

1 hour ago, 075Congo said:

If I contact The Cable Company in the US and advise them they sold me non-compliant products 2 years ago..........deafening silence!

 

AIUI; you brought them into the country, so you are responsible for their compliance locally.

[075Congo]

Well that is interesting! Maybe all the Classified Sellers need to look at the compliance issue of power cords they try to sell here on Stereonet. Cool idea!

[andyr]

37 minutes ago, Gee Emm said:

AIUI; you brought them into the country, so you are responsible for their compliance locally.

 

You would appear to have hit the nail on the head, GE!  

 

4 minutes ago, 075Congo said:

Well that is interesting! Maybe all the Classified Sellers need to look at the compliance issue of power cords they try to sell here on Stereonet. Cool idea!

 

That's probably very true, Mick.  Does this pose a problem for you, @Marc ?  (Hosting such sales.)

 

I guess we now know that:

• Synergistic Research Power Cords do not have Oz compliance
• and neither of course are any IEC power cords which have US power plugs on the other end.

 

[075Congo]

Looking through the Classifieds under Hi Fi Cables there are 12 items from 7 different manufacturers that would be defined as non-compliant. I stopped looking once I hit EXPIRED ads.Only 1 ad mentioned that their power cord was Aust Compliant .....RAC was that brand.

[andyr]

6 minutes ago, 075Congo said:

Looking through the Classifieds under Hi Fi Cables there are 12 items from 7 different manufacturers that would be defined as non-compliant. I stopped looking once I hit EXPIRED ads.Only 1 ad mentioned that their power cord was Aust Compliant .....RAC was that brand.

 

Then again - maybe that seller thought his cord was Oz compliant ... bcoz it had a 'CE tick'?  (And it's really not!)

 

[davewantsmoore]

On 26/05/2023 at 10:29 AM, 075Congo said:

In case you are wondering what cracking in SR G-07 Power Plugs looks like.Thought I'd send them to SR in California butI spent enough on this problem

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/125648227830

[075Congo]

A 0.5m Power cord for $21 AUD with a Free Speed Pack to Australia from Fujian Sheng Quanzhoushi in China. Useful length!

[Gee Emm]

Remember kids...

 

This also applies to power supplies eg wallwarts and a whole bunch of other stuff that may be suspect.

 

I aint sayin' it is; but we all buy overseas stuff thinking it is right, or don't know even it could be wrong.

[075Congo]

Interesting a Melbourne Audio outlet selling a 1.5m power cord in either Schuko or US plugs......$3000+

[075Congo]

So going back to Page 1 the Importer of the $3400 power cable and the Company offering that product for sale in either Schuko or US plug version (not an AUS version available) faces a penalty of $85000 or breaching the regulation. WOW!!

[rantan]

2 minutes ago, 075Congo said:

offering that product for sale in either Schuko or US plug version (not an AUS version available) faces a penalty of $85000 or breaching the regulation. WOW!!

 

Sounds good to me.

If I had my way it would be 100% unlawful to import, sell ,promote or list ANY power cable with anything other than an Australian plug which has ben certified and tested here PRIOR TO SALE and show proof of this.

It's long past time that this crap was sorted.

[bob_m_54]

17 hours ago, rantan said:

 

Sounds good to me.

If I had my way it would be 100% unlawful to import, sell ,promote or list ANY power cable with anything other than an Australian plug which has ben certified and tested here PRIOR TO SALE and show proof of this.

It's long past time that this crap was sorted.

What about where the cable is used with a step down transformer. Or if it is used in a power outlet in accordance with AS/NZS 3000 para 4.4.1.1.2 "Socket-outlets—Alternative pin configurations"?

 

Although I do agree, using US plugs where there is absolutely no need to, is a bit silly..

Edited May 29, 2023 by bob_m_54
extra

[rantan]

22 minutes ago, bob_m_54 said:

What about where the cable is used with a step down transformer. Or if it is used in a power outlet in accordance with AS/NZS 3000 para 4.4.1.1.2 "Socket-outlets—Alternative pin configurations"?

 

Fair enough.

You certainly have vastly superior knowledge of electrical products and standards than I do ,but I am also sure that you get the drift of what I was saying and its underlying intent.

With deep respect I think you know where I am going with this and maybe coming up with exceptions is not ideal yeah?

[Willco]

Yes well this hoary old chestnut has has been around since Adam was a boy!--but still the Aust sites bear witness to a plethora of US plugged

Power cords. Nix seems to be undertaken nor futured to control same --so I suppose its grin and bear it until the powers that be step in.

 

If using US Terminations I presume you are aware of the Polarity difference in the + contact? ( yes yes I realise Polarity changes 50 times sec /etc)

but some folks may deem to correct or not.

 

Just also note some Hi End US Mfgs' use networking in the Mains Plug--and your fancy big buck cable may not deliver the herbs if you change this out here.

 

E.G. Shunyata for one I am aware of.

 

So we carry on regardless--Good listening!

 

Willco

Edited May 29, 2023 by Willco