Install a US wall socket in Australia

[rzy6cn]

As all my cables all from US and China, I am considering changing one of my wall sockets into US standard socket like this:

 

 

Based on my knowledge, I think it is illegal to replace it myself. I will need a certified electrician to help me replace it.

 

Can anyone tell me if the US socket is compatible with the Australian Standard wall-mounted box? Is it legal to replace a US power socket in an Australian house?

 

Edited 15/04/22

 

If is not legal to install this to the wall. Is it legal to use a powerboard like this in Australia?

 

 

I can ask a certified electrician to make a cable of AU plug and connect the board to the wall and then plug my US plugs into the powerboard.

Edited April 14, 2022 by rzy6cn

[Monkeyboi]

My understanding of the regulations is that it would be illegal to install a socket in Australia that doesn't comply with the relevant Australian electrical standards.  Obviously there are special exceptions to this like transformer isolated shaver universal sockets in bathrooms.

 

In short the answer I believe would be no you can't legally install US wall outlets in Australia.

[stereo coffee]

The answer is to purchase a step down transformer, or transformers  rated to slightly higher approx 25% more than  the current you require,  This one  https://www.jaycar.co.nz/1000w-240-120v-isolated-stepdown-transformer/p/MF1086 has high current capability, whereas this one is much lower  https://www.jaycar.co.nz/120w-240-120v-isolated-stepdown-transformer/p/MF1080

 

The transformer converts Australian mains voltage 230V AC- 240V AC   to USA voltage 115VAC - 120VAC

You can then use a USA style power board like this one to power your equipment running from the lower AC voltage ALWAYS provided by the transformer. https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/tripp-lite/RS1215-20/467947

 

First thing to do is work out how much current your equipment draws. looking at your equipment rear panels, add all the wattages to arrive at a total. As example in my own system I have some USA components, 2 sony CD players.  I dedicate a step down transformer to power these specific devices, current draw with my gear is less than 1 amp, so I only need a smaller transformer, vs your situation that may require higher current.  Obviously there are savings if your current draw is low, as you only then need a smaller transformer.  

 

Edited April 6, 2022 by stereo coffee

[rantan]

 

if you really must do it, try contacting your insurance company first and tell them what you are planning. Their response could be very interesting.

 

With respect, I really cannot believe why you would even consider doing this to accommodate some power cables.

Edited April 6, 2022 by rantan

[muon*]

Get the cables changed to AU plugs and checked by a qualified person.

[Weka]

I suspect that the OP is powering 230V equipment with 110V NEMA plug cables so a stepdown transformer is not a solution.

 

And, yes it would be illegal to install a 110V NEMA duplex style wall socket to 230V mains in NZ or Australia. I doubt any licensed electrician would be prepared to do so as they would leave themselves open to severe censure from the regulating bodies and criminal charges if found out.

 

What's this pre-occupation with using US style plugs? Why not fit AU/NZ certified & compliant Furutech F-11 or IsoTek plugs. These are readily available from various suppliers.

 

[Monkeyboi]

14 hours ago, rzy6cn said:

As all my cables all from US and China, I am considering changing one of my wall sockets into US standard socket like this:

 

 

27 minutes ago, Weka said:

I suspect that the OP is powering 230V equipment with 110V NEMA plug cables so a stepdown transformer is not a solution.

 

And, yes it would be illegal to install a 110V NEMA duplex style wall socket to 230V mains in NZ or Australia. I doubt any licensed electrician would be prepared to do so as they would leave themselves open to severe censure from the regulating bodies and criminal charges if found out.

 

What's this pre-occupation with using US style plugs? Why not fit AU/NZ certified & compliant Furutech F-11 or IsoTek plugs. These are readily available from various suppliers.

 

 

I'm assuming @rzy6cn has purchased his power cables fitted off with US plugs and possibly has quite a few of them, hence the desire to fit US wall outlets. 

 

As @Weka suggested, have the US plugs swapped out for Australian standard 3 pin plugs.  Have the plugs swapped out by a licensed electrician and have them tested and tagged to AU/NZ standards.  It may very well be an economical alternative provided all the other components in the cables are compliant.

[rockeater]

4 hours ago, Monkeyboi said:

As @Weka suggested, have the US plugs swapped out for Australian standard 3 pin plugs.  Have the plugs swapped out by a licensed electrician and have them tested and tagged to AU/NZ standards.  It may very well be an economical alternative provided all the other components in the cables are compliant.

 

But if you have Anaconda Power Snakes at $3000 a piece and you modify them with Australian plug, they are no longer original and lose 2/3 of their value.

Heat-shrink is very important (if not the most important part of any ready-made cable; power or signal) and cutting it - even to see what's inside - makes the cable lose most of its value. It might be, - although I am not an expert on this - because the most of that value is in its mystery of its construction and materials. Once revealed it just isn't quite the same.

[metal beat]

FWIW I ran PS power receptacles in my old room for 15 years without a single issue.  The electrician that installed them said they were far better quality than any AU certified power receptacles.

 

 In my new room I still use a US PS audio power board for some US power plugs with zero issues.

 

I can sell my Valhalla PC with AU plugs in AU only - I can sell my Valhalla PC's with US plugs, anywhere in the world.

 

 And before the fire police come out and start telling me its illegal etc etc and my place will burn down - Don't bother as there is more risk from cheap Chinese AU certified power boards  - It's a rort that should be changed.

Edited April 6, 2022 by metal beat

[sir sanders zingmore]

39 minutes ago, metal beat said:

And before the fire police come out and start telling me its illegal etc etc and my place will burn down - Don't bother as there is more risk from cheap Chinese AU certified power boards  - It's a rort that should be changed.

 

Well the OP specifically asked if it was legal so please don't try to shut down people who are pointing out that it isn't

[Weka]

52 minutes ago, rockeater said:

 

But if you have Anaconda Power Snakes at $3000 a piece and you modify them with Australian plug, they are no longer original and lose 2/3 of their value...

 

 

At $3000.00 each I would expect them to be available with the option of AU/NZ plugs and looking at their website I see that is indeed the case. Why did you buy them with the wrong plugs fitted?

 

[metal beat]

16 minutes ago, sir sanders zingmore said:

 

Well the OP specifically asked if it was legal so please don't try to shut down people who are pointing out that it isn't

 

I didn't.   Perhaps you should read what I wrote.   I was talking about my real life experiences. 

 

All I said is don't bother trying to respond to myself with any disaster waiting to happen warnings as electrically it's false.

 

  Any one else contemplating anything needs to discuss with an electrician and have them test the receptacle. 

 

[metal beat]

17 minutes ago, Weka said:

 

At $3000.00 each I would expect them to be available with the option of AU/NZ plugs and looking at their website I see that is indeed the case. Why did you buy them with the wrong plugs fitted?

 

 

There is a second hand market where you can buy for a LOT less than retail.   You can also sell for little loss if you buy quality. 

 

  Adding an AU plug immediately stops that ability to sell globally.

 

 If you really luv the cables,  by all means get AU plugs put onto them.

Edited April 6, 2022 by metal beat

[rzy6cn]

8 hours ago, rantan said:

 

if you really must do it, try contacting your insurance company first and tell them what you are planning. Their response could be very interesting.

 

With respect, I really cannot believe why you would even consider doing this to accommodate some power cables.

 

Well, it is becuase I can't really get high-end quality Power Cables within a reasonable budget. 

 

 

I am connecting a Stealth V16 into my Power conditioner (Accuphase PS-1230) and the power conditioner has 8 US-standard sockets (running in 230V) to feed all my gears.

 

The cable from Wall Power socket to Power Conditioner is very important. Obviously I shouldn't use a 4000 Dollar Cable with a 1 Dollar Adapter and plug into a 5 Dollar Power socket.

 

Even if I pay extra to get an AU Standard power cable I still need to replace the AU Power Socket to a high standard one and stop using the universal power socket.

 

But the best option is to replace this one to the US Standard Power Socket for sure. I don't really need a step down transformer as all my gears runs at 220~240V.

[rzy6cn]

6 hours ago, Monkeyboi said:

 

I'm assuming @rzy6cn has purchased his power cables fitted off with US plugs and possibly has quite a few of them, hence the desire to fit US wall outlets. 

 

As @Weka suggested, have the US plugs swapped out for Australian standard 3 pin plugs.  Have the plugs swapped out by a licensed electrician and have them tested and tagged to AU/NZ standards.  It may very well be an economical alternative provided all the other components in the cables are compliant.

 

I actually only need one cable plug replaced which is the main cable connecting from the Wall Power Socket to my Power conditioner.

 

If I really can't replace the wall power socket. Probably the only solution for me is to purchase a Siltech Ruby/Ruby Mountain and replace the equivalent Furutech AU Plug.

 

Obviously, I can't swap the plug of the Stealths and Nordost Odin II, as I might lose more than 1/2 value if I do that.

[rzy6cn]

2 hours ago, metal beat said:

FWIW I ran PS power receptacles in my old room for 15 years without a single issue.  The electrician that installed them said they were far better quality than any AU certified power receptacles.

 

 In my new room I still use a US PS audio power board for some US power plugs with zero issues.

 

I can sell my Valhalla PC with AU plugs in AU only - I can sell my Valhalla PC's with US plugs, anywhere in the world.

 

 And before the fire police come out and start telling me its illegal etc etc and my place will burn down - Don't bother as there is more risk from cheap Chinese AU certified power boards  - It's a rort that should be changed.

 

Hahaha you know what I am concerning. I think technically there is almost no risk to replacing the power socket, the only reason stopping me doing that is the legal issue.

 

Of course a 300 Dollar+ Power socket can't be worse than AU Certified power socket.

 

Do you know if there is any good AU Socket in the market? I suppose most of the Hifi Power socket manufacturers only make US/UK/EU sockets.

 

As a trade off I probably just go buy one AU power cable and replace one AU power socket.

[rzy6cn]

2 hours ago, metal beat said:

 

There is a second hand market where you can buy for a LOT less than retail.   You can also sell for little loss if you buy quality. 

 

  Adding an AU plug immediately stops that ability to sell globally.

 

 If you really luv the cables,  by all means get AU plugs put onto them.

 

Hi

 

I noticed that you mentioned that you use Korjo power adapters for your power amp a few years ago. Are you still using them? They look much better quality than my cheap adapters.

 

I actually have a Furutech Fi-50 Plug (AU) which is quite nice. Unfortunately, Furutech does not manufacture AU power socket.

 

I would probably try to use the Adapter first and install the Fi-50 Plug on one of my cables. But I still need to find an audiophile grade AU Plug, seems no luck of finding one.

[metal beat]

8 hours ago, rzy6cn said:

 

Hi

 

I noticed that you mentioned that you use Korjo power adapters for your power amp a few years ago. Are you still using them? They look much better quality than my cheap adapters.

 

I actually have a Furutech Fi-50 Plug (AU) which is quite nice. Unfortunately, Furutech does not manufacture AU power socket.

 

I would probably try to use the Adapter first and install the Fi-50 Plug on one of my cables. But I still need to find an audiophile grade AU Plug, seems no luck of finding one.

 

Hi there 

 

I do use a Korjo us - au adapter on my power amps when using my Valhalla pc.   I also have a crystal cable pc that has au plugs,  but Valhalla is best sound.

 

 

[mitchlim]

12 hours ago, rzy6cn said:

 

Well, it is becuase I can't really get high-end quality Power Cables within a reasonable budget. 

 

 

I am connecting a Stealth V16 into my Power conditioner (Accuphase PS-1230) and the power conditioner has 8 US-standard sockets (running in 230V) to feed all my gears.

 

The cable from Wall Power socket to Power Conditioner is very important. Obviously I shouldn't use a 4000 Dollar Cable with a 1 Dollar Adapter and plug into a 5 Dollar Power socket.

 

Even if I pay extra to get an AU Standard power cable I still need to replace the AU Power Socket to a high standard one and stop using the universal power socket.

 

But the best option is to replace this one to the US Standard Power Socket for sure. I don't really need a step down transformer as all my gears runs at 220~240V.

Hi,

 

I see you use an adapter between AUS wall and Stealth V16, did you swap the Active / Natural ?

[MLXXX]

 

 

On 06/04/2022 at 10:56 PM, rzy6cn said:

I am connecting a Stealth V16 into my Power conditioner (Accuphase PS-1230) and the power conditioner has 8 US-standard sockets (running in 230V) to feed all my gears.

 

The cable from Wall Power socket to Power Conditioner is very important. Obviously I shouldn't use a 4000 Dollar Cable with a 1 Dollar Adapter and plug into a 5 Dollar Power socket.

 

Why do you consider that the cable from the wall outlet to a power conditioner is "very important"?  Is there some research that supports that view? I'd have thought that the Accuphase PS-1230 would do all that you want to achieve in terms of power supply regulation and purity.

 

Perhaps you could sell, or use somewhere else,  the 4000 dollar cable. It doesn't appear to be serving a critical function.  It is merely the last leg of mains wiring from your domestic switchboard to your power conditioner.  The power conditioner filters and regulates the supply to your audio gear. It appears to be a very expensive piece of equipment that ought to be able to combat any nasties in the incoming mains power.

[MLXXX]

On 07/04/2022 at 11:14 AM, mitchlim said:

Hi,

 

I see you use an adapter between AUS wall and Stealth V16, did you swap the Active / Natural ?

Removing the Australian wall outlet, swapping the active and neutral wiring to it, and replacing the wall outlet with swapped active and neutral would be illegal even if done by an electrician.  As for travel adaptors it wouldn't be straightforward to change their internal connections. Probably not feasible.

 

 

I note that the USA wall outlet you showed an image of was of the old-fashioned variety polarised only for a 3-pin US plug, but able to accept non-polarised  2 pin US plugs in either orientation even today.  Here is a modern USA polarised wall socket:

 

A polarised 2-pin US plug has a wider neutral pin and can only be used with a polarised socket. Non-polarised US plugs with their two narrow pins can plug in either way.

[mitchlim]

37 minutes ago, MLXXX said:

Removing the Australian wall outlet, swapping the active and neutral wiring to it, and replacing the wall outlet with swapped active and neutral would be illegal even if done by an electrician.  As for travel adaptors it wouldn't be straightforward to change their internal connections. Probably not feasible.

 

 

I note that the USA wall outlet you showed an image of was of the old-fashioned variety polarised only for a 3-pin US plug, but able to accept non-polarised  2 pin US plugs in either orientation even today.  Here is a modern USA polarised wall socket:

 

A polarised 2-pin US plug has a wider neutral pin and can only be used with a polarised socket. Non-polarised US plugs with their two narrow pins can plug in either way.

totally agreed, I never ever suggested people to swap the N/H of the wall ac power outlet (I hate using USA plug), but I know some people do not realized using the traveller adapter and not swapping the N/H is a  risk .. Also I understand some people get away .. by swapping the N/H with the cable plug. I know there is an swapped adapter of 13A, and not sure about the aussie one

 

[rzy6cn]

7 hours ago, MLXXX said:

 

 

 

Why do you consider that the cable from the wall outlet to a power conditioner is "very important"?  Is there some research that supports that view? I'd have thought that the Accuphase PS-1230 would do all that you want to achieve in terms of power supply regulation and purity.

 

Perhaps you could sell, or use somewhere else,  the 4000 dollar cable. It doesn't appear to be serving a critical function.  It is merely the last leg of mains wiring from your domestic switchboard to your power conditioner.  The power conditioner filters and regulates the supply to your audio gear. It appears to be a very expensive piece of equipment that ought to be able to combat any nasties in the incoming mains power.

 

Because when I switch Stealth V16 to a Crystal Micro Diamond (a highter AWG silver-gold alloy cable), the dynamic and sound balance changed quite a bit. I confirm the main wire the wall plug and the power conditioner will affect the sound.

 

To achieve the best sound I think is compulsory to make every bit perfect. I've spent more than 50K on Cables, I think it is necessary to be a bit nerd about it.

[rzy6cn]

5 hours ago, MLXXX said:

Removing the Australian wall outlet, swapping the active and neutral wiring to it, and replacing the wall outlet with swapped active and neutral would be illegal even if done by an electrician.  As for travel adaptors it wouldn't be straightforward to change their internal connections. Probably not feasible.

 

 

I note that the USA wall outlet you showed an image of was of the old-fashioned variety polarised only for a 3-pin US plug, but able to accept non-polarised  2 pin US plugs in either orientation even today.  Here is a modern USA polarised wall socket:

 

A polarised 2-pin US plug has a wider neutral pin and can only be used with a polarised socket. Non-polarised US plugs with their two narrow pins can plug in either way.

 

I think even if you don't swap the Neutral and Hot, your gear still works, it is more about a safety issue. Most of the US plugs are not polarised by the way (the hot and neutral plug measure the same)

[MLXXX]

5 hours ago, rzy6cn said:

think even if you don't swap the Neutral and Hot, your gear still works, it is more about a safety issue. Most of the US plugs are not polarised by the way (the hot and neutral plug measure the same)

I have seen some comments on this forum about noise transmission through power transformers being affected by a neutral - active lead swap, but yes I think in practice it would normally not make an audible difference, and normally the equipment would function fine.

[An extreme danger can arise from miswiring the earth connection.] 

Edited April 10, 2022 by MLXXX