British Expats

British Expats (https://britishexpats.com/forum/)
-   Australia (https://britishexpats.com/forum/australia-54/)
-   -   Changing plugs (https://britishexpats.com/forum/australia-54/changing-plugs-402149/)

sparkley23 Oct 14th 2006 12:00 am

Changing plugs
 
Excuse my ignorance but I need some help with changing plugs over! For a start where do you buy them? ive tried Coles, Woolies, DickSmith, KMart, Big W and all i can find are 10amp side entry for 8mm width. They will do for some things but not really keen on side entry and the 8mm is just not big enough for my UK power board I need to change over. it seems that now its strictly illegal to change them over you can't actually buy them anywhere. Anyone else had much luck?

Secondly, I need help with the whole lack of fuse situation. So the Aussie plugs dont have a fuse, ok, so how safe is it transferring my plugs over? Some of my appliances e.g. my hair straightners don't have an earth lead so will they be safe without a fuse?

Any help much appreciated. Adaptors are all well and good but i find the weight means they fall out of the wall socket pretty easily so want to change my plugs over asap!

The Bloke Oct 14th 2006 12:04 am

Re: Changing plugs
 

Originally Posted by sparkley23
Excuse my ignorance but I need some help with changing plugs over! For a start where do you buy them? ive tried Coles, Woolies, DickSmith, KMart, Big W and all i can find are 10amp side entry for 8mm width. They will do for some things but not really keen on side entry and the 8mm is just not big enough for my UK power board I need to change over. it seems that now its strictly illegal to change them over you can't actually buy them anywhere. Anyone else had much luck?

Secondly, I need help with the whole lack of fuse situation. So the Aussie plugs dont have a fuse, ok, so how safe is it transferring my plugs over? Some of my appliances e.g. my hair straightners don't have an earth lead so will they be safe without a fuse?

Any help much appreciated. Adaptors are all well and good but i find the weight means they fall out of the wall socket pretty easily so want to change my plugs over asap!

For plugs it is best to try a hardware store, but if you are confused or worried, you really need to speak to an electrician. Australian plugs will not fit into a UK powerboard without adaptors, so you will have to buy a new one.
As for the law, if there is a fire caused by faulty self rewiring of your plugs, you may find that your insurance will not pay out.

Wendy Oct 14th 2006 12:05 am

Re: Changing plugs
 

Originally Posted by sparkley23
Excuse my ignorance but I need some help with changing plugs over! For a start where do you buy them? ive tried Coles, Woolies, DickSmith, KMart, Big W and all i can find are 10amp side entry for 8mm width. They will do for some things but not really keen on side entry and the 8mm is just not big enough for my UK power board I need to change over. it seems that now its strictly illegal to change them over you can't actually buy them anywhere. Anyone else had much luck?

Secondly, I need help with the whole lack of fuse situation. So the Aussie plugs dont have a fuse, ok, so how safe is it transferring my plugs over? Some of my appliances e.g. my hair straightners don't have an earth lead so will they be safe without a fuse?

Any help much appreciated. Adaptors are all well and good but i find the weight means they fall out of the wall socket pretty easily so want to change my plugs over asap!

We changed all our plug when we arrived. We bought some from K Mart and some from Bunnings.

It's a different wiring system over here, which I'm really not familiar with and I daren't ask my hubby (electrician) who keeps shouting at his course books :o but don't worry about the lack of fuses in the plugs.

I don't know the law over that way as to changing plugs, but some one will. :)

Pollyana Oct 14th 2006 12:14 am

Re: Changing plugs
 

Originally Posted by Wendy
We changed all our plug when we arrived. We bought some from K Mart and some from Bunnings.

It's a different wiring system over here, which I'm really not familiar with and I daren't ask my hubby (electrician) who keeps shouting at his course books :o but don't worry about the lack of fuses in the plugs.

I don't know the law over that way as to changing plugs, but some one will. :)

PLUGS

rossfive5 Oct 14th 2006 12:37 am

Re: Changing plugs
 
Bunnings is where we got ours from, they have a few different types and colours.

Amazulu Oct 14th 2006 12:52 am

Re: Changing plugs
 

Originally Posted by sparkley23
Excuse my ignorance but I need some help with changing plugs over! For a start where do you buy them? ive tried Coles, Woolies, DickSmith, KMart, Big W and all i can find are 10amp side entry for 8mm width. They will do for some things but not really keen on side entry and the 8mm is just not big enough for my UK power board I need to change over. it seems that now its strictly illegal to change them over you can't actually buy them anywhere. Anyone else had much luck?

Secondly, I need help with the whole lack of fuse situation. So the Aussie plugs dont have a fuse, ok, so how safe is it transferring my plugs over? Some of my appliances e.g. my hair straightners don't have an earth lead so will they be safe without a fuse?

Any help much appreciated. Adaptors are all well and good but i find the weight means they fall out of the wall socket pretty easily so want to change my plugs over asap!


Bunnings sell them in side & top entry. Available in white, grey or clear for normal or heavy duty cables as specfied on the packaging.
Socket circuit is protected by an RCD (earth leakage) so fuse is not required. Fuses in plugs are a relic of a time before RCDs.

The Bloke Oct 14th 2006 10:49 am

Re: Changing plugs
 

Originally Posted by Amazulu
Bunnings sell them in side & top entry. Available in white, grey or clear for normal or heavy duty cables as specfied on the packaging.
.


That's 10 amp and 15 amp, for the non-sparkies.

Amazulu Oct 14th 2006 12:08 pm

Re: Changing plugs
 

Originally Posted by The Bloke
That's 10 amp and 15 amp, for the non-sparkies.

Correct. You can also get a 10A plug that accepts a 15A cable that is ideal for UK power boards.

Wol Oct 14th 2006 7:05 pm

Re: Changing plugs
 
Moan for the day - why oh why are the Aussie plugs so hard to insert and why are they so close together that you can't plug some things in side by side?

One can't help thinking they were designed "just to be different"!

wintersgills Oct 14th 2006 10:19 pm

Re: Changing plugs
 

Originally Posted by Wol
Moan for the day - why oh why are the Aussie plugs so hard to insert and why are they so close together that you can't plug some things in side by side?

One can't help thinking they were designed "just to be different"!

THEY JUST WANTED TO MAKE IT HARD FOR US POHMS :scared:

mark213 Nov 30th 2006 8:19 pm

TIP: Changing plugs
 
Handy tip for changing plugs.

Take a uk multiway (4 or 6 way) and plug all your uk plugs in like around the TV, DVD, Playstation, VCR, Stereo, and do the same for all your PC bits and bobs.

Then only change the multiway plug to Australia and not all the applicances!

annqldau Nov 30th 2006 9:09 pm

Re: Changing plugs
 

Originally Posted by Wol
Moan for the day - why oh why are the Aussie plugs so hard to insert and why are they so close together that you can't plug some things in side by side?

One can't help thinking they were designed "just to be different"!

Quite agree once we put any sort of charger plug in that's it one next to it obsolete for the duration. As for quality of plugs they are shite pins bends so easy and you nearly pull the socket out the wall trying to get the plug out... :( .

Think this is one occasion we def can moan about the quality.

possoms Nov 30th 2006 9:18 pm

Re: Changing plugs
 

Originally Posted by Pollyana

:cool:

annqldau Nov 30th 2006 9:21 pm

Re: Changing plugs
 

Originally Posted by possoms
:cool:

are the dark glasses to stop the flash after you wire it up wrong?

possoms Nov 30th 2006 9:49 pm

Re: Changing plugs
 

Originally Posted by annqldau
are the dark glasses to stop the flash after you wire it up wrong?

they are for pollyanna :D


All times are GMT -12. The time now is 6:26 pm.

Powered by vBulletin: ©2000 - 2026, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.