Shenni

Hi I am very new to the site and have been in the UK since 98 but am planning on moving back home next year. Could any sparky tell me if when taking electrical appliances back is it easier to take sockets and have them installed in Oz or buying and using adaptors or just change the plugs when it gets there?
Much appreciate any help.

Sherlock Holmes

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I'm not a sparky but I can tell you that this question comes up a lot and having moved from the UK to Oz four years ago, I can answer some of it for you.

One option is to get some UK powerboards and just put an aussies plug on the end (preferably for low wattage items only). I did this for my computer set up which as you know can end up having a lot of plugs. If you do this, bring some replacement fuses with you just in case. In theory an RCD will cut in before a fuse blows but you never know. Well worth bringing your multi outlet surge protected board if you have one.

The Aussie supply is only rated at 10 amps, not 13 and some UK power cables are quite a bit thicker and it's a real game trying to re-wire into an Aussie plug sometimes.

You can get single adaptors and they are getting cheaper now. But, they are a bit big and you can't always fit two side by side into a double socket.

By all means though, have a butchers around the rest of the site. There's lots to see!

Alistair.

Sherlock Holmes

Further to my earlier reply, my electrician was quite happy to fit a couple of UK sockets in my office. Not sure if it's strictly legal but he said that they are commonly fitted in decent hotels nowadays. And frankly, as they are a far better quality, there shoudn't be a problem.

Pollyana

I'd reinforce the powerboard idea. I can't believe how few power points there are in houses here - my whole 2 bed unit has only five in the whole place. I've had more powerboards sent over since I came out. Same with fuses - don't know what it was like when you left but Aussie plugs have no fuses now so you can't buy them here.

Also - if you are getting UK plugs taken off and Aus plugs put on to appliances, rather than just using adapters, be warned - its illegal in some States if not done by a qualified electrician and can invalidate insurance in the event of a fire.

Pollyana

Lucky git, will he travel to Qld?

Sherlock Holmes

At a price....as I know! He lives 50 klms away from me but at least he turns up - six months late, but he turns up.

Shenni

Hi, and many thanks to those who have replied so far.
Post 7 I must be unusual for an aussie then as my house has more power points per room than your whole unit/ flat.

I think I will attack it in 2 ways, some power sockets from here and the extension boards that I already have here because there is not enough power points here. The fact that there are fuses in the items here is not really concerning me. I did not want to replace the plugs if I could find another way around it.

Again many thanks for the replies, so far I have had 12 years of an extended holiday in the UK and obtained my nursing qualifications and things have changed in Oz which now means that I should go back full time.

Pollyana

Very common complaint on here is the number of power boards we all end up with - having come from a Victorian terrace in Brighton where my kitchen alone had 8 powerpoints, finding myself in a kitchen with TWO is a bit annoying to say the least!

Tubbs2Oz

The house we're renting has sockets all over the place. The only problem is they've wired most of them including the pool and laundry into the lighting circuit!!! Many trips out to flick the trip switch when we forgot and turned on more than one power hungry appliance at a time.

We changed all of our plugs btw - well apart from the ones with transformers actually in the plug bit. Cousin (Aussie) who is a sparky was very impressed when I showed him the UK plugs with fuses built in!

Amazulu

I would get your landlord to sort the electrics out as they are probably illegal as they are.

Fuses in the plug are a hangover from the days before RCD and modern MCBs and have no real function - apart from being a pain in the ass if they blow.

steve`o

what makes you say that?

Amazulu

Sockets and lights on the same circuit are a big no no - in any country.

It's electrical apprentice year 1 (1st week) knowledge.

Tubbs2Oz

We did inform the agent + owner on their last inspection that it definitely wasn't legal in the UK and that it probably wasn't legal over here. What more can we do? We're hoping to move out soon anyway.

In terms of the fuses in individual appliances, I think it's a great idea because one faulty appliance won't necessarily trip the whole circuit and it can help find which appliance is faulty more easily.

steve`o

sorry but its allowed in australian wiring standards under "mixed circuits"

6.6.6 Maximum number of points per mixed final subcircuit
A guide to determining the number of points which could be connected to a
mixed final subcircuit is provided in Table C1 of Appendix C. The
requirements of Clauses 6.6.2 to 6.6.11 need to be considered when
Table C1 is used.
A mixed final subcircuit containing socket-outlets shall be wired with not
less than 2.5 mm2 cable.
In accordance with Clause 4.4.3 mixed final subcircuits containing lighting
points and/or socket-outlets shall be protected by an RCD.
NOTE: See footnote (c) to Table C1 for conditions where socket-outlets may be considered as lighting points.

whislt i will also say that i personly wouldnt wire mixed circuits but thats probably more to do with 30 years working under uk standards

regards steve

Amazulu

Well I just learnt something. I've been in the electrical field since 1982 and have never installed or designed a circuit with power and lights together - and never would.