I read how we have the same electrical 3 point plug as Australia (understandable) but also china. Any idea who was first or why we share the same plug?
topseycat,
Sep 28, 5:31am
Because the Chinese were sensible enough not to follow a America with their stupid system.
pv-12,
Sep 28, 6:36am
The nz/au AS/NZS3112 compliant plug and socket (IEC type I) [your common household plug] is based on an American design by Harvey Hubbell II
johotech,
Sep 28, 6:36am
The Aust/NZ plug is based on an old US design - It's almost identical to the Chinese plug, but in China it is mounted upside down. Chinese adopted them because they are cheaper to make than round pins.
wembley1,
Sep 28, 5:46pm
So if you have an appliance where the cord goes up when it is plugged in, it probably a Chinese plug/appliance and may not be legal in NZ.
Having said that, the Chinese system is arguably safer as it will be the earth pin first touched if the plug is not fully pushed in.
johotech,
Sep 28, 7:18pm
The earth pin is 3mm longer in any case. There is a large proportion of the standard dedicated to force applied to the plug or lead.
In NZ, there is no requirement to actually have the socket mounted with the earth at the bottom. You can mount a socket outlet sideways or upside down if you want to.
oh_hunnihunni,
Sep 28, 8:06pm
I wish Chorus had the same freedom when installing their fibre boxes. My tech told me they weren't allowed to put them higher even though all the connections enter from below, and require one to be a contortionist with great flexibility and good knees to be able to plug cables in.
Halfway up the wall would be so much more sensible.
wembley1,
Sep 28, 10:55pm
Possibly? A plug is a high risk product and requires approval. Would an upside down plug get AS/NZ approval? I don't know.
johotech,
Sep 29, 2:02am
I guess you mean a medium risk product?
Yes a plug is a medium risk product and requires a SDoC. But not when that plug is part of an appliance.
macman26,
Sep 29, 2:10am
The main issue with Chinese plugs is they don't have the insulation on the active and neutral pins. This makes them illegal to now sell them in NZ.
marte,
Sep 29, 1:11pm
Since their earth pin is at the top, they probably don't need it.
I have seen a the results on a few knives that have been slipped down behind the plug when its on. In China it would just hit the earth pin and nothing would happen. Also, it makes sense to have the switch need to be pushed up for 'On'. Its easier to push it down to turn it off, safety like.
Nope, still not right. A high risk item is also a medium risk item., it needs both an SDoC *and* approval documentation.
Look at room heaters for example.
cleggyboy,
Sep 29, 11:54pm
They told you a porky, mine is approx 1.4 metres off the floor.
pauldw,
Sep 30, 12:13am
One spec I've seen refers to min and max heights above final ground level. Your internal floor level would be somewhere in the middle of that.
supernova2,
Mar 17, 6:42pm
Mine's on the wall 100mm down from the ceiling.
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