A-tick and C-tick certifications and car equiptment

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jarledb

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#127438 9-Aug-2013 22:57

I am looking to add dash-cam / motor eye cameras to my car. A couple of Blackvue cameras.

I would like to be able to have them on as long as possible, even when the car is parked - so that I can have evidence if someone bumps my car while its parked.

The problem then is that they will sooner or later run down the battery, so I am looking at ways to amend that.

Blackvue sells a box they call "Power magic", it can be set to cut the power to the cameras after a certain time period or to cut power when the battery reaches a certain voltage. That should take care of the problem with the batteries being run down.

BUT

The retailer I am buying the cameras from (a NZ company) tells me they can't sell me the box because it doesn't have necessary A-tick or C-tick compliance certifications.

So my question is this: If I import this box myself and put it in my car, could the fact that its not certified a-tick or c-tick mean that I could get problems with my car insurance if something electric should arise? Such as a short in the box leading to a fire?

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insane

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#874902 9-Aug-2013 23:05

I'm ultra careful with my car, wash it at least very two weeks ensuring it's sparkling. When parking I re-park until it's perfect to ensure no one hits me etc, I skip narrow spaces etc and rather walk longer, but at the end of the day it's a loosing battle.

What I have found though is that I've only ever been hit when my car has been dirty. If my car is super shiny people take far greater care when opening their doors.

Unless you catch the person in the act, and get their details etc, you're not going to be able to do anything about it.

blakamin

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#874908 9-Aug-2013 23:22

Must be one of those days... I just bought a dash cam about 20 minutes ago.
I always thought the c-tick was for mains-powered devices.. ??
Are they wireless?

EDIT: from Approval specialists on "c-tick"
"All mains powered items sold or used in Australia & New Zealand must be safe and comply with AS/NZS 3820"

bold is mine..

LennonNZ

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#874921 10-Aug-2013 00:39

I presume it has a mains charger which has to have a c-tick ?

jarledb

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#874927 10-Aug-2013 01:44

The box goes between the cars "always on" 12 volt power and the dash-cams. From what I understand on the page of the A-tick/C-tick it seems like some auto stuff also is included - but I might be mistaken.

From the site for A-tick:

"AC/DC adapters
Battery chargers/savers, for rechargeable cells, including automotive type"

URL: http://www.austest.com.au/au_nz_approvals.php

The "Power Magic box" does not seem to have a CE certification: http://www.blackvue.com/en/contents/sub1.asp?idx=12 while another box that does something similar has it http://www.jaycar.co.nz/productView.asp?ID=AA0262&keywords=discharge&form=KEYWORD

From what I understand the A-tick/C-tick is similar to the CE certification?

jarledb

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#874933 10-Aug-2013 01:46

blakamin: Must be one of those days... I just bought a dash cam about 20 minutes ago.

What kind did you buy?

jarledb

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#874934 10-Aug-2013 01:51

insane: What I have found though is that I've only ever been hit when my car has been dirty. If my car is super shiny people take far greater care when opening their doors.

I doubt there is a connection. I think most of the door bumps occur because people don't pay attention.

Unless you catch the person in the act, and get their details etc, you're not going to be able to do anything about it.

I am looking to safeguard myself from more serious bumps than a car door, like people backing into my car and leaving.

blakamin

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#874936 10-Aug-2013 02:13

jarledb:
blakamin: Must be one of those days... I just bought a dash cam about 20 minutes ago.

What kind did you buy?

Some cheap one off ebay. Just so I can put all the morons on youtube really!
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/111074135447?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

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Niel

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#874949 10-Aug-2013 07:49

jarledb: The box goes between the cars "always on" 12 volt power and the dash-cams. From what I understand on the page of the A-tick/C-tick it seems like some auto stuff also is included - but I might be mistaken.

From the site for A-tick:

"AC/DC adapters
Battery chargers/savers, for rechargeable cells, including automotive type"

URL: http://www.austest.com.au/au_nz_approvals.php

The "Power Magic box" does not seem to have a CE certification: http://www.blackvue.com/en/contents/sub1.asp?idx=12 while another box that does something similar has it http://www.jaycar.co.nz/productView.asp?ID=AA0262&keywords=discharge&form=KEYWORD

From what I understand the A-tick/C-tick is similar to the CE certification?

There is no C-Tick any more, replaced by A-Tick, essentially the same thing but some changes. Your quote is for AC power supplies used in automotive battery chargers, it is only about the mains safety aspect (and flammability, etc.). Furthermore, you have standards that are referenced and then you have directives which call up standards. First you need to find out which directive applies to the product, then the directive tells you which standard (and which specific clauses/exceptions) applies to the product you want to certify and the specific application (consumer, industrial, automotive, medical). It really is not as simple as reading a standard, or a comment on a test body web site.

CE is mostly related to emissions/susceptibility (including mains surges and harmonics), and is often a self declaration where the manufacturer holds sufficient proof of compliance. If someone finds an issue, then the manufacturer has to provide the test reports/proof.

NZ/AU has some standards that are different from other countries which is why A-Tick is required here, but it is mostly aligned with IEC (Europe).

You can never have enough Volvos!

jarledb

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#874960 10-Aug-2013 09:08

So Niel, do you know if I could get in trouble if I were to use the "Power magic" in a car in NZ?

And does it actually need the A-tick mark to be sold and used?

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#875094 10-Aug-2013 15:05

If someone has had a scare with the MED over things they have sold, which many of those places have since they have power adapters they will be very very over cautious about making sure they have approvals, probably to the point of absurdity.

There is an abundance of parallel imported car audio stuff being sold with no tick marks at all, and I am not aware of anyone doing anything about it. A friends car caught fire from his ghetto-as car stereo install without fuses on a cable under the carpet. He got insurance paid on that, not sure where they draw the line about doing braindead things to your car and not paying for non-certable modifications, but the bar is obviously pretty low.

Richard rich.ms

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#875156 10-Aug-2013 18:05

It is very unlikely you will have any trouble with the Black Magic, just use common sense in wiring it to an accessory type power circuit after the fuse box instead of directly to the battery. If I remember, I'll have a look at A-Tick on Monday at work but AFAIK it is only related to mains powered products.

Be aware that lead acid batteries want to stay fully charged, else they deteriorate, so if you frequently run the battery low then it will not last very long. You might want to get a secondary, deep cycle battery which is chemically different from a start battery (starter battery is low impedance for high current, deep cycle is stabilized to handle cycle use but cannot do high current). But then have to consider securely mounting the battery by using a proper battery box.

Or at the end of the day, the camera uses only 0.25A so in 24h your battery will discharge about 6Ah which should not be an issue if you drive your car every day. Or go for the largest battery that fits under the hood. Or get a European car (do you have one?) which comes standard with a large battery (like 50Ah minimum) and don't worry about it. Use the money you saved on the Black Magic to invest in a better quality (next) battery.

You can never have enough Volvos!

blakamin

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#879825 16-Aug-2013 22:08

Mine arrived today... thought it wasn't in the box because it was so small!

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#879872 16-Aug-2013 23:14

I'm not sure you should necessarily believe all those compliance logos on non-brand imports.

The car radio I bought last month was 'FDA Approved'.

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#879943 17-Aug-2013 09:11

Green: I'm not sure you should necessarily believe all those compliance logos on non-brand imports.

The car radio I bought last month was 'FDA Approved'.

Covering their bases in case you eat it I assume. Either that, or it puts out intoxicating fumes?

richms

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#879952 17-Aug-2013 09:55

Or it has a laser.

Richard rich.ms