Rort - complying with electrical standards

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ageorge

626 posts

Ultimate Geek

#61854 25-May-2010 10:43

Hi all. Just about to complete an order for some overseas phones, supplied with US plugs, to sell here, when I had the foresight to check out travel adaptor legality, and found that a lady had been prosecuted by Energy Safety for selling illegal adaptors.
So methinks it would be easy to get the regulations to ensure the adaptor plugs I supplied were compliant.
You have to comply with AS/NZS 60598 which is held by website standards.co.nz and guess what? you have to pay $210+GST for the damned thing. So say you are a decent law abiding citizen who wants to do the right thing, you have to pay a private subcontractor to Govt department for the priviledge of getting the information, then ensure its compliant, then sign a disclaimer!
Sure, there has to be electrical regulations, but to put them into the too hard basket is ridiculous.

For more reading:
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0909/S00512.htm
No wonder poor Leigh Joe refused to jump hoops. I sympathise now I know the circumstances to which she was subjected.

Best wishes. Al.

Alistair Grant George

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3438 posts

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#334387 25-May-2010 11:06

"This was not a small scale trader, they were supplying significant numbers of products". Don't you think she could've and should've paid the couple of hundred dollars to comply? Isn't that one of her costs of doing business?

Sounds like you're starting a business (however small that might be) so I'd think that would be the least of your costs. If it dsicourages cowboys from selling unsafe stuff, I'm all for it.

vinnieg

2260 posts

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#334389 25-May-2010 11:11

Yeah, I have to agree with Bazzer, you need to supply NZ adapters which meet NZ standards. If the phones you are buying have a USB charge cable, why not just buy a bunch of NZ USB adapters which meet NZ standards, ie have the black coverings on the power point pins?

That way you won't get into any trouble like she did, I remember her trademe account, she had something like 12000 feedbacks? and was selling those dodgy grey adapters?

I have moved across the ditch. Now residing in Melbourne as a VOIP/Video Technical Trainer/Engineer.

bcourtney

652 posts

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#334391 25-May-2010 11:13

If you're wanting to get a hold of a copy of the standard, then I'd recommend getting in touch with the Energy Library http://www.energylibrary.org.nz/index.asp

The keep a comprehensive collection of standards available for loan. Not sure of costs.

Disclaimer: My business partner is the sole owner of the Energy Library and they share floorspace with us here in Wellington.

ageorge

626 posts

Ultimate Geek

#334393 25-May-2010 11:15

Sure, there has to be electrical regulations, but to put them into the too hard basket is ridiculous.
You do not know the scale of my venture, nor seem to get the point - regulations should never be hidden by a price barrier.
I wonder if you live in the commercial world? Perhaps I wanted to sell 3 phones at $100 each - do you think the aforementioned regulation information price is fair?

I do not agree that one should have to pay for any regulation code; payment definitely promotes cowboys.

Alistair Grant George

wreck90

780 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#334394 25-May-2010 11:15

Don't talk to me about power adaptors. Especially, cheap ones manufactured in China.

I've bought several computer products which come with AC adaptors. One of them, failed on me 2 months ago, emitting a high pitched whining noise. My high quality device is no rendered useless.

Another, failed last week , for 2 days. Then, it started working again.Not sure if it will fail again or not. Is it a fire risk? Who knows?

And , another, causes significant AM radio interference. It took me a while to track that problem down as I like to listen to AM .

I think it is really important for importers to certify their AC adaptors - obviously, some importers don't and there are problems.

ageorge

626 posts

Ultimate Geek

#334401 25-May-2010 11:22

PS I used to be a registered electronics technician.
Of course I am concerned about wiring safety.
I surrendered my 'lifetime' registration years ago when Electrical Board started charging for it. So did many other techicians, or electrical workers bale out at the same time. Then the Electrical Registration Board deregulated wiring homes so anybody could wire them. Ask yourself!

bazzer

3438 posts

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#334420 25-May-2010 11:51

ageorge: Perhaps I wanted to sell 3 phones at $100 each?

Did you?

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sbiddle

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Biddle Corp

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#334424 25-May-2010 11:57

The Energy Safety website contains many of the details.

In a nutshell selling goods that don't comply with AS/NZS regulations is illegal, whether they be new, or 2nd hand with the introduction of new rules this year.

While adapters are legal it's illegal to sell a product with a power adapter, all plugs must be AS/NZS3112. This has caused issues with Trademe now pulling auctions where people sell products with foreign power supplies and adapters.

ageorge

626 posts

Ultimate Geek

#334446 25-May-2010 12:26

sbiddle: The Energy Safety website contains many of the details.
While adapters are legal it's illegal to sell a product with a power adapter, all plugs must be AS/NZS3112. This has caused issues with Trademe now pulling auctions where people sell products with foreign power supplies and adapters.

As I understand its illegal to sell a charger etc terminated with a foreign plug. This seems to be a very illogical ruling, as its impossible to insert a US or asian plug into a NZ wall socket. IMHO the wording should be 'may not be sold, unless accompanied by an approved power adaptor'

Its unfortunate that regulations will cause many, if not most sellers of overseas electrical goods on Trademe to be selling illegally.

Most China phones charge through USB (2.0) cable. Maybe one could sell the unit with the USB charger cable, and offer a 'free charger'

Cheers.

old3eyes

9119 posts

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Subscriber

#334457 25-May-2010 12:40

Unfortunately a lot of cell fone makers still make fones with proprietary USB cords rather than the mini USB that is now coming in so you can't buy NZ plug packs but have use an adapter. The fone I bought off Trademe the other day had a British PSU with a NZ adaptor..

Regards,

Old3eyes

ageorge

626 posts

Ultimate Geek

#334654 25-May-2010 17:29

Some good has come out of this saga. I spoke to the supplier in China who will provide CE approved NZ plug chargers at no extra cost. This is a USB mains charger. Since the majority of their phones sensibly charge using the USB lead, then its a good solution to a sticky problem.

Incidentally Ive discovered that the majority of China mobile sellers on Trademe sell with US plugs (illegal) + NZ adaptors (also illegal, as not approved).

When these phones arrive in 2 weeks I will do a review on them. Already have done this for another product I import which is a solder/rework station.
See here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p505Oj17z0U

Alistair Grant George

ageorge

626 posts

Ultimate Geek

#334747 25-May-2010 20:13

c71931f: Why wouldn't you just get nz chargers for them ?

What do you mean? Did you read my message?

Antzzz

190 posts

Master Geek

#335336 26-May-2010 23:57

Oh boy, getting the right adapters is only the beginning when importing electrical goods.

There are 2 basic things your goods will need to comply with:

- Electrical safety
- Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC)

More info here:

http://www.rsm.govt.nz/cms/compliance/suppliers/standards-and-compliance-requirements

For both the compliance regime is along the lines of you must obtain a copy of the product certificates and test report for each relevant standard and hold this on file. You do not need to register the product with anyone, but you need to have the documents available if the Ministry of Economic Development (who police this stuff) come knocking.

Your supplier should be able to provide you with all the relevant certificates and test reports - if they can't/won't run away very fast... Alternatively you can get the products tested here at a cost - EMC Technologies in Auckland is a good place to start. They can also give you advice on what paperwork is required. Disclaimer - I have no affiliation with them other than have used them to do this stuff before.

As the products are radio transmitters you also need copies of the reports for those parts of the devices, and the GSM SAR report (google it...).

Once you've got all the documents together you need to ensure the product has a C-Tick mark on it, and for this you need a NZ Supplier Conformance Number (SCN). Here's a list of current ones:

http://www.rsm.govt.nz/cms/compliance/suppliers/allocated-supplier-code-numbers-scn-new

So this isn't a straightforward process, and for those of us who have been through it and dotted all the i's/crossed all the t's it is frustrating to see people hocking all sorts of dodgy stuff on Trademe. It isn't very hard to do if you do your research, and is low/no cost unless you need to employ someone to help you.

But it is worth doing - if a house burns down due to one of your adapters catching fire then if you haven't done the above you'll be in a world of hurt... Or if someone complains to MED 'cus their TV goes on the fritz when the phone rings things also could get painful.

ageorge

626 posts

Ultimate Geek

#335351 27-May-2010 03:48

Thanks Antzz very enlightening, and useful info.

mentalinc

3226 posts

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#335442 27-May-2010 12:03

On this note

I bought one of these the other day
http://www.firstin.co.nz/products/7-port-squid-hub-2576/

Has some dodge as adaptor that wobbles around.

CPU: AMD 5900x | RAM: GSKILL Trident Z Neo RGB F4-3600C16D-32GTZNC-32-GB | MB: Asus X570-E | GFX: EVGA FTW3 Ultra RTX 3080Ti| Monitor: LG 27GL850-B 2560x1440

Quic: https://account.quic.nz/refer/473833 R473833EQKIBX

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