Are expansys Breaking NZ Regulations

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LennonNZ

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Topic # 182524 19-Oct-2015 16:27

Got something from Expansys a week ago. Guess what was included ...

I thought this was against NZ Regulations. I know they are not a NZ Company but they are targeting NZ (due to their web address)
Even if it was legal to do, the adapter doesn't have a Earth Pin!

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Reply # 1409352 19-Oct-2015 16:39

I have a lot of adapters and small appliance plugs with no earth pin

Mike
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johnr

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Reply # 1409355 19-Oct-2015 16:43

Does not need an earth pin but the adapters are not allowed

MikeB4

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Reply # 1409359 19-Oct-2015 16:46

johnr: Does not need an earth pin but the adapters are not allowed

its an interesting topic, what's the rules with parallel importers? and how would this get policed and enforced?

Mike
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johnr

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Reply # 1409361 19-Oct-2015 16:50

Parallel importers like Expert info tech , ETC...... Have to provide a NZ plug and personally I would not accept anything but genuine from the handset manufacturer

mdooher

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Reply # 1409362 19-Oct-2015 16:51

You are correct the appliance must have suitable plug...no adaptors allowed (except the type that permanently attach to the plug and therefore become part of it)

Of course if you import it is your problem

Matthew

LennonNZ

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Reply # 1409365 19-Oct-2015 16:55

MikeB4:
johnr: Does not need an earth pin but the adapters are not allowed

its an interesting topic, what's the rules with parallel importers? and how would this get policed and enforced?

The Product was not parallel imported. I asked the Manufacturer how I would buy their device in NZ and they said the resellers where expansys. (No one else sells the device in NZ)

A funny thing is..the device does not actually have a power plug! So it seems Expansys throws one of these in with anything ordered (Just in case). I presume they don't check 110V/240V status either! Whatever they do (As far as I know) you cannot supply one!

Also 2/3 Pins. If a device has a Earth Pin.. It needs one in case something goes wrong (or where does it earht) , Supplying a 3->2 Pin Adapter seems very dangerous. 2Pin->2Pin is ok as well as the device has been designed not to need one.

mdooher

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Reply # 1409368 19-Oct-2015 16:59

LennonNZ:
MikeB4:
johnr: Does not need an earth pin but the adapters are not allowed

its an interesting topic, what's the rules with parallel importers? and how would this get policed and enforced?

The Product was not parallel imported. I asked the Manufacturer how I would buy their device in NZ and they said the resellers where expansys. (No one else sells the device in NZ)

A funny thing is..the device does not actually have a power plug! So it seems Expansys throws one of these in with anything ordered (Just in case). I presume they don't check 110V/240V status either! Whatever they do (As far as I know) you cannot supply one!

Also 2/3 Pins. If a device has a Earth Pin.. It needs one in case something goes wrong (or where does it earht) , Supplying a 3->2 Pin Adapter seems very dangerous. 2Pin->2Pin is ok as well as the device has been designed not to need one.

I almost guarantee that adaptor will be on the prohibited item list. Check with Energy Safety Service.

It can (and will) bypass the earth protection if an appliance is not double insulated

Matthew

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Reply # 1409370 19-Oct-2015 17:01

I have many of these from parallel importers but only use the adaptors I've bought locally, Kross etc

richms

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Reply # 1409371 19-Oct-2015 17:03

The only ones I know for sure are on the prohibited list are the ones with the folding pins that are live. While those arent AS/NZS compliant, I dont recall seeing them gazetted, but I havent looked too closely at that for a very very long time now.

Richard rich.ms

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Reply # 1409374 19-Oct-2015 17:07

Interesting, was this for a product where the charging isn't via USB? (EDIT: I see your answer above now)

I just got an Xperia shipped to Australia from Expansys AU and this came with it:

mdooher

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Reply # 1409375 19-Oct-2015 17:08

Just had a look, they have a couple on the list but not this one.. send it to them, I'm sure it will end up on the list

Anyway it is a "high risk article" and needs to have a certification before it can legally be sold in NZ

Matthew

LennonNZ

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Reply # 1409381 19-Oct-2015 17:17

For example..

http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/8245910/Plug-adaptor-banned-over-shock-risk
http://www.energysafety.govt.nz/legislation-policy/electricity-acts-regulations-codes/electricity-gazette-notices/electricity-prohibition-notices/multi-plug-adaptor-prohibition-2013-22-march-2007
http://www.energysafety.govt.nz/about/news-and-updates/archive-media-releases/2009-archived-media-releases/phones-direct-convicted-after-shock-from-travel-plug-adaptor

Anyone else order from expansys recieved one of these killer adapters?

richms

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Reply # 1409401 19-Oct-2015 17:47

The grey ones dont fall apart and arent really a hazard if you are not an incompitant moron when plugging things into them.

The thing is on most of those universal adapters, once they have had a UK plug in them, the earth doesnt connect to a kiwi style plug ever again, but that is hardly an issue if you have one in NZ since you could just plug that straight into the wall.

Richard rich.ms

lxsw20

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Reply # 1409418 19-Oct-2015 18:04

The multi international adapters that work with a UK plug and NZ plug never feel that safe to use to me, the connection is almost always a bit loose.

gregmcc

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Reply # 1409419 19-Oct-2015 18:18

The quick answer is either ring them or email them and let them know that they have supplied the incorrect adaptor, and can the please send out the correct one, oh and by the way can they please send out the SDOC with it.

There was a similar issue over on the VF community, although it had the right pin configuration for NZ, it was so wide that it interfered with the outlet switch, instead of VF supplying the SDOC (I suspect it never have one) they supplied another brand adaptor which didn't have this problem as more than likely had a SDOC

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