Plug adapter long term safety

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SomePostman

81 posts

Master Geek

# 255878 4-Sep-2019 10:56

Hi, I'm not sure where to put this question as it is very general nature - but I figure there must be some electricians floating around these parts :)

Is it safe to use power plug adapters long term? I don't mean plugging in an appliance that is only rated to work at 110v into an NZ outlet, but something that is meant to work at 240v and just uses a physical plug adapter to make it fit our power outlets.

I'd imagine it might has something to do with the load it is drawing and so far I've only used things <50 watts but I want to use a 500w item on a plug adapter and just want to make sure it is considered safe long term.

Thoughts?

slight aside: I was going to use the word 'adaptor' but the spell check here likes to tell me it's spelled wrong?

wellygary

4102 posts

Uber Geek

# 2310537 4-Sep-2019 11:23

2 people support this post

If it worries you that much, and you feel up to it, chop the foreign plug off and slap a NZ one on it..

https://www.bunnings.co.nz/deta-10amp-white-side-entry-plug-top_p00310353

Or you can take it to a sparky and they will do it for you...

1101

1912 posts

Uber Geek

# 2310538 4-Sep-2019 11:24

2 people support this post

some 'adaptors' are cheap and nasty . They wobble around in the NZ socket .

I guess it would be possible to make a safe adapter , Ive yet to see one :-)
From leverage they will pull down and tend to pull it out of the wall socket

Theres a reason 'adaptors' are banned when sold with appliances. Not sure how all the shops are allowed to sell them
separately though .

richms

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# 2310548 4-Sep-2019 11:32

I bought a few of these https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32870646780.html for my US plugged wallwarts and similar rather than using travel adapters.

The supplied IEC cable is a piece of crap tho, gets warm with 400 watts on it so throw them out, but the powerstrip seems fine.

Richard rich.ms

sbiddle

28271 posts

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Biddle Corp

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# 2310594 4-Sep-2019 13:22

3 people support this post

You should never use a plug adapter permanently. Chopping the plug off and putting a AS/NZ certified plug for NZ is the only safe approach.

tripper1000

1065 posts

Uber Geek

# 2310606 4-Sep-2019 13:35

How long is a piece of string?

I've had crummy adaptors just fall apart exposing live terminals, that would never have safely carried large currents, and I've got adaptors that are just about bullet proof and are dependable.

Dynamic

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# 2310743 4-Sep-2019 17:49

richms: I bought a few of these https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32870646780.html for my US plugged wallwarts and similar rather than using travel adapters.

Those sockets worry me... you could just about drive a bus through those holes. Would a visiting small child's fingers fit in there? I believe there is such a thing as a 'standard child's finger' measurement which is used for NZ Standards testing, though I can't find a reference to it with a quick Google search.

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Sideface

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# 2310753 4-Sep-2019 18:46

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Dynamic:

I believe there is such a thing as a 'standard child's finger' measurement which is used for NZ Standards testing, though I can't find a reference to it with a quick Google search.

Test Finger Probe

adult test finger

child test finger (2 sizes) - Small Finger Probe 8,6 Test Probe 18 of IEC 61032 & Small Finger Probe 5,6 Test Probe 19 of IEC 61032

Sideface

pctek

809 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

# 2311804 6-Sep-2019 15:00

I've been using one with a pair of sennheiser headphones, the wireless ones, for a few years now.

No issues.

SomePostman

81 posts

Master Geek

# 2317347 13-Sep-2019 18:20

I got the item I am going to rewire today. It has the Chinese two prong plug that looks sorta like an American plug. This mean it doesn't have a ground wire? I'm guessing I'll be able to find details on wire colours but anything I should know before doing this?

tripper1000

1065 posts

Uber Geek

# 2319084 17-Sep-2019 11:37

It sounds like a double insulated appliance. It should have a symbol on it with one square inside the other. (Read here for more info).

Frequently there is no colour code to speak of as many double insulated appliances are polarity agnostic (as in phase-neutral). In these cases phase and neutral can be safely connected either way - just don't go connecting either wire to the earth pin.

Edit: hyperlink.