** The importer / wholesaler is " Model Engines " in Melbourne.
See page 4 of this pdf :
http://www.modelengines.com.au/libraries/resources/ME_News/NB August 2006 web.pdf
The charger unit appears to have been type approved as required by law -
but is not labelled as class 2 or " double insulated" - hence it
requires a 3 core power lead.
That 2 core lead with 3 pin IEC plug has NOT been approved as is REQUIRED
not safe anywhere on earth.
....... Phil
Interesting tale behind it all... but the summary is MEA received the units
from the Chinese factory with these dud cords, but they replaced them (here
in Australia) before they sold any. The ebay seller is not known to them,
and their policy is not to supply to on-line sellers. I have also spoken
with the company acting as the compliance agent for MEA for this product and
they don't know anything about the ebay seller either. So, my guess is the
ebay seller may have either got some that escaped the cord replacement
process, or is importing directly and passing them off (through
mis-labelling) as units imported by MEA. The Chinese factory making the
charger doesn't make the cordset and simply would have bought an "Australian
cord" from a Chinese cordset maker. This cord would be cheaper than an
ordinary duty three core lead and was probably created by the cord maker as
a cost-down option.
I don't want to revisit the previous discussion, but this graphically
illustrates what I trying to say before. There are a great many factories in
China making products for which they have little understanding of the final
use - they just know how to make it, and that it will work/fit/operate if it
is the same as xxxx. The greater understanding of how and why comes along
as the industry matures.
The NSW DFT has been informed and reviewed the pictures on the ebay website,
but won't do anything till a written complaint is made (which I have done).
Even then they can't act decisively since its a NSW approval for the charger
only (excluding the cord), the charger approval is held by a Victorian
company (so they have to refer it to the OCEI), the cord is being sold by
persons unknown, operating from location unknown and if it is being
delivered directly from overseas then there is little any regulator can do
anyway (the seller states it is AU delivery so they must have a location
here somewhere).
Wherever the seller is located is where the offence is being committed and
that State's regulator is the one who has to take action - so don't anyone
hold their breath waiting for anything to happen soon from that side of
things. If anyone has purchased one of these chargers with a crook cord
please pass the sellers details to the regulator in the State where the
seller is located. This will get the fastest response. You will most
likely need to send the cord to them too, so don't throw it away yet.
