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VK3ZWI > AMRVIC 15.01.05 08:10l 36 Lines 1447 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 34192_VK3DSE
Read: GUEST
Subj: VK/ZL/ power plugs
Path: DB0FHN<DB0RGB<OK0PPL<DB0RES<ON0BEL<ZL2BAU<VK3AYM<VK3DSE
Sent: 050114/0339Z @:VK3DSE.#MEL.VIC.AUS.OC #:34192 [Narre Warren] FBB7.00g25
From: VK3ZWI@VK3DSE.#MEL.VIC.AUS.OC
To : AMRVIC@WW
VK/ZL/ power plugs
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Concerns about electricity safety has prompted a change to the Australian
mains 3-pin power plug.
Under the Australian Standard AS/NZS 3112:2000 the active and neutral pins
on both 10amp and 15amp power plugs and plug-packs must be insulated.
This change has been introduced in response to a number of incidents
including fatalities with un-insulated pins.
These incidents involved a metal object, such as a metal blind slat or
other metallic material coming into contact with a plug pin that was partly
removed from its socket.
Insulating of pins are not new and can be found in use on mains power plugs
in Europe and some other countries.
The Australian 3-pin plug was introduced around 1930 at the time when
electricity generally became available to homes. The Aussie plug is also
known as the Australasian plug because it is used in New Zealand and Papua
New Guinea too.
Apparently it was copied from the design of an American plug that no longer
exists, although it still survives in Argentina where different wiring
polarity is used and China which mounts it with the earth pin on top.
Each Australian State and Territory and New Zealand Electrical Regulator
requires all electrical equipment to be supplied with insulated pin plugs,
at all points of sale, by no later than the 3rd of April.
Amateur Radio Victoria - www.amateurradio.com.au
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