Switchmode PSU to mains wiring

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jaidevp

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#128878 26-Aug-2013 21:51

Hi I have a switch mode power supply, this one. Am looking to wiring it up for mains input.
The PSU has Live, Neutral and Earth connectors here is a pic of the connectors below.
Do I use a 3PIN power cord, or will a 2PIN cord work too?

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#885003 26-Aug-2013 22:09

Stop. Get a registered electrical service person to do this.

Number 1, you're not sure what you're doing.
Number 2, it is illegal.
Number 3, it could kill someone.

This kind of power supply needs to be installed in an enclosure that also needs to be earthed. Get it done by a certified electrical service person please.

don't mess with me.... i'm the hd insider....

jaidevp

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#885013 26-Aug-2013 22:23

I wasn't going to connecting anything, I have my electrician over on Wed so will ask him to sort it. Was just looking to get the mains wiring and plug before hand.

hdinsider

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#885016 26-Aug-2013 22:30

Sorry to jump to conclusions. Just seen too much death I guess.

Good on you for getting it done right.

don't mess with me.... i'm the hd insider....

Bung

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#885025 26-Aug-2013 22:45

And even the professionals get it wrong " Generally, about 50% of accidents involved electrical workers, 30% involved workers in other occupations, and 20% involved members of the public."

hdinsider

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#885045 26-Aug-2013 22:53

Bung: And even the professionals get it wrong " Generally, about 50% of accidents involved electrical workers, 30% involved workers in other occupations, and 20% involved members of the public."

Where'd that "fact" come from?

don't mess with me.... i'm the hd insider....

Bung

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#885210 27-Aug-2013 12:27

Sorry for the oversight. Any problems with the "fact" take them up with ES.

http://www.med.govt.nz/energysafety/about/publications/accident-summaries/2011-accident-summaries/executive-summary/electricity

deadlyllama

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#885220 27-Aug-2013 13:14

hdinsider: Stop. Get a registered electrical service person to do this.

Number 1, you're not sure what you're doing.
Number 2, it is illegal.
Number 3, it could kill someone.

This kind of power supply needs to be installed in an enclosure that also needs to be earthed. Get it done by a certified electrical service person please.

Sorry to hijack this thread, but do you have a source for the "it is illegal" bit? I know you need some sort of certification for certain types of electrical work, but have never seen a definitive list of what you can DIY and what you can't. My vague recollection is that doing your own house wiring is a no-no, but that doing low voltage DC stuff is fine. But there's a rather large gap between the two...

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Inphinity

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#885226 27-Aug-2013 13:24

deadlyllama:
Sorry to hijack this thread, but do you have a source for the "it is illegal" bit? I know you need some sort of certification for certain types of electrical work, but have never seen a definitive list of what you can DIY and what you can't. My vague recollection is that doing your own house wiring is a no-no, but that doing low voltage DC stuff is fine. But there's a rather large gap between the two...

The simple answer is, generally, if it's connected straight to mains, you can't touch it with relevant certification. You could read through the whole electricity act if you really wanted :)

Bung

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#885232 27-Aug-2013 13:28

Clause 57 of the Electricity(Safety) Regulations 2010

Stu

Hammered
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#885260 27-Aug-2013 13:53

If I read that correctly, it would not be illegal to affix a power lead to the above unit. You can even buy leads with the correct terminals already fitted. You will need to connect the earth, and the earth will need to be carried through to the chassis/case if it is of metal construction.

Of course I could be wrong, but that's my interpretation of the above clause.

People often mistake me for an adult because of my age.

Keep calm, and carry on posting.

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Inphinity

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#885263 27-Aug-2013 13:58

BigHammer: If I read that correctly, it would not be illegal to affix a power lead to the above unit. You can even buy leads with the correct terminals already fitted. You will need to connect the earth, and the earth will need to be carried through to the chassis/case if it is of metal construction.

Of course I could be wrong, but that's my interpretation of the above clause.

I may well be incorrect also, but my understanding of the Electricity Act is that, before it is connected to mains power, any work done (including attaching a lead) would need to be tested and certified.

(e)the work is, before connection to a power supply, tested and certified, in accordance with regulations, by a registered person who holds a current practising licence issued under this Act that authorises that person to test and certify prescribed electrical work; and
(f)the work is connected to a power supply by the registered person referred to in paragraph (e).

I may be being overly cautious in my interpretations though.

Stu

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#885269 27-Aug-2013 14:02

It's not like you're wiring a new bedroom. That would need to be checked and certified before being connected (have wired a detached garage before, and had to do just that). You're connecting a power lead to a device which has been tested and certified.

People often mistake me for an adult because of my age.

Keep calm, and carry on posting.

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Bung

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#885325 27-Aug-2013 14:48

BigHammer: If I read that correctly, it would not be illegal to affix a power lead to the above unit. You can even buy leads with the correct terminals already fitted. You will need to connect the earth, and the earth will need to be carried through to the chassis/case if it is of metal construction.

Of course I could be wrong, but that's my interpretation of the above clause.

There's another Clause 79 that covers appliances. The problem in this case is that a power supply without an outer case isn't an appliance yet. Not being a lawyer I don't know what loopholes still exist but remember many projects from Electronics Australia etc that required some wiring of mains transformers. I don't recall any outrage from the authorities.

kiwitrc

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#885329 27-Aug-2013 14:53

Speaking of things that make you sh!t yourself, the guy who mows our private road berm was telling me a good trick during a power outage.

He has a generator and figured out if you wire an extension cable with a plug at both ends then you can plug it into your house wiring when the power is off and run the whole house from the generator.

"Shiver"

hdinsider

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#885423 27-Aug-2013 17:44

Bung: Sorry for the oversight. Any problems with the "fact" take them up with ES.

http://www.med.govt.nz/energysafety/about/publications/accident-summaries/2011-accident-summaries/executive-summary/electricity

I guess workers in electricity are more exposed to electricity, eh

don't mess with me.... i'm the hd insider....

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