Australia mains cords. plugs etc.

Posted by: bazryan1 on 24 September 2006

Ok guys, after 3.5 years Down Under have finally reconciled myself to the fact I aint going "home" anytime soon, John Howards Govt willing !! So heres the deal, am getting DHL to send out my system (cd5, flatcap, 32.5, recently factory souped up 160, hi-cap, B&W CDM 1SE's (yes the 32.5 WILL be replaced soon) ) in the next week.

The question is, what the hells the story with the funny two-pin blade plug action ? Whats the best way to tackle this ? Should I just buy a new set of power leads with the two pin story ? And can it all be re-plugged, I havent researched the matter too much but every lead I see down here seems to have the 2 pin plug moulded on........

All help appreciated !!!

B.
Posted on: 24 September 2006 by Milan
Hi B.

You can go to any Bunnings and get plugs, 10A or 15A side or back entry. If you are reasonable practical it is easy to swap plugs. They even have those blade type three pin ones that give you earth too. I have done this on a HiFi recently.

Another option is to have your system shipped with a good UK dirtibution block or Hydra (4 way split lead recommended for Naim kit) and then just change one plug leaving your original leads alone.

Regards

Milan
Posted on: 24 September 2006 by paul_g
Why not ask a local electrician or hifi retailer ?

Given the potential (sic) safety issues, the job needs to be done properly & it appears from your questions that you will need professional help anyway, so ...
Posted on: 24 September 2006 by bazryan1
heh I certainly dont have a clue on the electrical front, thats true paul_g...............cheers milan you reckon its a simple case of changing the plugs themselves ? Good stuff, even I can manage that.thanks.....
Posted on: 24 September 2006 by MGerald
I would strongly suggest having it all done by folks who have done that kind of conversion before Smile
Posted on: 24 September 2006 by agm1
Naim equipment at least in NZ is shipped with black 3 pin plugs which can be stacked on top of each other (so only one wall outlet is required). This preserves the all important earthing requirements and the perceived wisdom here is that it's plugged in in precise order with source last.
Posted on: 25 September 2006 by bivalve
Baz,

Two pin leads are for double insulated appliances that have NO exposed metal parts. You need earthed 3 pin leads for NAIM gear with its metal chassiss (chassises, chasses?).

I'm pretty sure Aussie Naim leads are just the UK leads with the plugs replaced. Naim dealers sell them for around $15 ea. If you are using the originals supplied with your gear (32.5, 160) then current leads are said to be an improvement, although I couldn't hear a difference. Some sort of Hydra is a different kettle of fish though.

Speaking of fish, your experience in Oz shouldn't be all separation and longing. The choice, quality and price of food here for a start should blow you away.

Regards,
David
Posted on: 25 September 2006 by Gareth Thomas
Hi Baz

I am told on very good authority that the best way to tackle this problem would be to get a good quality UK wall socket sent over with your kit and leave on the original Naim plugs that is on your gear.

Tuppence in!

Gareth
Posted on: 25 September 2006 by Rico
quote:
the best way to tackle this problem would be to get a good quality UK wall socket sent over with your kit and leave on the original Naim plugs that is on your gear.


Gareth

have you checked that installing foreign power outlets does not contravene Austalian electrical regulations?

The best advice on this thread is to talk with your local Naim dealer for advice. Here in NZ we use the PDL tap-on plug (NZ and Australia use the same plug configurations, and mostly the same regulations); I'm not sure that these can be used legally in Australia or not.

regards
Posted on: 25 September 2006 by sound_dust
My Naim dealer in Brisbane just swaped the plugs over free of charge. Same power cords just different plugs (obviously), you local Naim dealer or Sparky can do this for you, takes 5 minues.

And as we know, is not a Naim unless original power cords are used.
Posted on: 26 September 2006 by anderson.council
Same as for sound_dust.

However I noticed that the crappy Aus plugs keep forcing their way out of the plug boards so I located an old 4 way plug board that I brought over when we came over from the UK and swapped the plugs back to the NAIM supplied UK plugs which David had kindly left me with. They work fine and the only thing you need to change is the end that actually plugs into the wall.
Posted on: 26 September 2006 by John Sheridan
I wouldn't use UK plugs anywhere in the system if you can avoid it. They have a f*** in them, Oz plugs don't.