Are expansys Breaking NZ Regulations

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richms

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#1409422 19-Oct-2015 18:26

Expansys are not a NZ company so the end user is the importer of the phone.

Wasnt aware that covering adjacent outlets was something that was part of the standard. If it is then I wonder how the hell belkin get away with their decidedly inconsideratly designed wemo plugs. The motion sense one doesnt even have the courtisy of a passthru socket on it, so unless its at the end of a powerstrip it wastes 3 outlets, even too big in the "wide" spaced powerstrips.

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1eStar

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#1409440 19-Oct-2015 19:22

It's just a first world problem. Usually with the gear I parallel import they seem to throw in a junky noncompliant two pin adapter. If I buy from a local parallel importer, they seem to supply a quality three pin adapter with flap in earth socket, masked pins etc.

richms

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#1409447 19-Oct-2015 19:41

1eStar: It's just a first world problem. Usually with the gear I parallel import they seem to throw in a junky noncompliant two pin adapter. If I buy from a local parallel importer, they seem to supply a quality three pin adapter with flap in earth socket, masked pins etc.

No, its a third world problem being sent over here. If someone was to give the phone to a kid with the adapter with a kids usual incompetance with where they stick things its quite likly they will get the pins in the wrong place and have 230v sitting on a pin that they can touch, or get their fingers between the adapter and the charger and touch the US pins with no shrouding, or get it between the adapter and the wall socket where they have non sleeved pins.

The thing is they dont even meet chinese standards, which is why they are all sold over there with for export only on them.

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JimmyH

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#1409459 19-Oct-2015 19:50

I got the same adapter on a purchase from expansys (Minix X8H). It was loose, and made a crackling sound, so I dispensed with it rapidly. I'm using a higher quality adapter I already had until I get around to replacing the power adapter on my next trip to Jaycar.

Scott3

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#1409471 19-Oct-2015 20:07

Watch out for those Chinese adapters. They do not comply to NZS/AS3112 so are illegal to sell here, but are quite common in dairy's around the Auckland CBD. Sell for like $4 rather than $16+ for a legal equivalent.

I brought one before I knew better. They are built to the Chinese CPCS-CCC standard (which has a plug that looks similar to the naked eye, but is different if you put callipers on it). The one I had had thinner pins than a NZ plug which resulted in arcing in the socket. Didn't notice for some time until I heard a funny noise from the adapter while using an appliance, removed adapter and noticed burn marks in a concave pit on the Pins.

Also the small faceplate means that you can plug one pin of an appliance in while other pins hand over the side, allowing you to electrocute yourself on other live pin (if the appliance is of a fairly low resistance).

LennonNZ

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#1409481 19-Oct-2015 20:36

I just had a look and CPCS-CCC looks the sameto most people but quite different. The Pins are thinner compared to the NZ Standard and should have an earth pin (1mm longer than NZ Standards). Thus is you had a legal one it would probably stick out a tiny tiny bit.

I have emailed expansys regarding this asking to explain about supplying a very dangerous (and probably illegal) device knowing it would be used in NZ.

richms

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#1409488 19-Oct-2015 20:52

The grey adapters do not meet chinese standards or they would have a CCC mark on them. They are just an abortion that have whatever pins stuck on the front and that is often just connecting the metal for the sockets by pressure, not even a rivet.

The length and thicknes is not an issue in most outlets except for junk $3 powerstrips which have a hard time even gripping a real 3112 compliant plug. In fact many things I have bought from china have even had sleved pins and a round plug, just like 3112 plugs but the cable exit going out the top when plugged in with the earth to the bottom. They do have loads of junk cables tho with tiny plugs and really thin wire. I have one that came with an external drive caddy that gets very warm when you put 3 amps thru it.

Richard rich.ms

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Scott3

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#1409501 19-Oct-2015 21:44

LennonNZ: I just had a look and CPCS-CCC looks the sameto most people but quite different. The Pins are thinner compared to the NZ Standard and should have an earth pin (1mm longer than NZ Standards). Thus is you had a legal one it would probably stick out a tiny tiny bit.

I have emailed expansys regarding this asking to explain about supplying a very dangerous (and probably illegal) device knowing it would be used in NZ.

My one had an earth pin

Was had a NZ plug but multi socket like this:

Honestly as a first year engineering student, with an interest in Electronics I should have known better, but I just saw the $4 price at the local dairy, and assumed it was fine.

loceff13

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#1409931 20-Oct-2015 16:42

So is this one for example approved for use here?

http://www.dragonpc.co.nz/p.aspx?303359

LennonNZ

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#1409959 20-Oct-2015 17:00

loceff13: So is this one for example approved for use here?

http://www.dragonpc.co.nz/p.aspx?303359

It has a fake CE Marking on it (The Letters are too close).
It looks like a CPCS-CCC adapter but the Live and Neutral Pins look the size of NZ Ones. (Maybe)

a CPCS-CCC adapter is incompatible (pins are slightly different sized) with a NZ one, So it has to be designed to be used in NZ _OR_ China. (Not both)

Someone who knows better may comment :-)

LennonNZ

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#1409967 20-Oct-2015 17:14

See: http://deliveringchina.com/2015/01/01/ce-marking-when-importing-from-china-dont-forget-this/

About Fake CE Markings.

mattwnz

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#1409971 20-Oct-2015 17:28

If they don't comply with NZ safety standards, shouldn't they be getting picked up at customs? If it isn't then perhaps it should be due to it being a potential safety issue. IMO it is more relevant than checking for counterfit branded products, which aren't a safety problem.

The other thing I noticed is that the two pin don't have the black (plastic?) covers at the plastic plug end of the pins. I am guessing that requirement came in to prevent children getting electrocuted when a plug wasn't fully pushed in, and they tried to pull out the plug from behind it, where their fingers potentially can touch the live pins. But the first photo the OP posted, appears to show a NZ adapter plug without those protectors.

mattwnz

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#1409974 20-Oct-2015 17:33

LennonNZ: See: http://deliveringchina.com/2015/01/01/ce-marking-when-importing-from-china-dont-forget-this/

About Fake CE Markings.

It's terrible. You can't trust anything these days.

richms

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#1409989 20-Oct-2015 18:12

LennonNZ: See: http://deliveringchina.com/2015/01/01/ce-marking-when-importing-from-china-dont-forget-this/

About Fake CE Markings.

The whole china export marking thing is BS, its just a lousy logo that places are using in the belief that it is a real CE mark, because the clipart disk they got it from calls it that.

All that it means is that the importer had the paperwork to show that they self declare it to be to the standards. Stuff comes with the mark on it, you get test results from sellers when you buy in quantity. If those tests ever happened is anyones guess.

Richard rich.ms

LennonNZ

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#1410405 21-Oct-2015 11:05

Expansys Reply:

"

Well noted, thanks - as we will not be sending you another adapter once we have a new style / version (next version adapter is going to be Black in colour) and should better quality.
We will start sending them out with orders as soon as they are ready.

Many thanks once again for your reply and feedback and have a good night!

Regards,
CS"

Seems Expansys Fix is to change the adapters colour and this should make it better quality. I am amazed (The Helpdesk) are ignoring me about something which could easily cause death to me (and 100s? 1000s? of other people they have included a product which isn't fit for purpose). I wondering if the makers of the equipment they sell are happy with what they are doing (Next Challenge) :-)

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