Getting it Right- The Australian 240 volt 3 pin Mains Plug and Socket
and the American Connection
|
WARNING! 240 VOLTS CAN AND WILL KILL!!!!!
|
The Australian Mains Plug configuration was originally presented as provisional standard C112 in 1937, formalised in 1938 and harmonised with the New Zealand standard in 1993.
It is essential that the plugs and sockets are wired correctly to ensure safety and to avoid possible fatal electric shock.
|
AUSTRALIAN MAINS PLUG WIRING |
AUSTRALIAN MAINS SOCKET WIRING |
AUSTRALIAN MAINS CABLE COLOURS
OLD SYSTEM
AND SOLID HOUSE WIRING |
AUSTRALIAN MAINS CABLE COLOURS
NEW SYSTEM |
 |
 |
RED ACTIVE
BLACK NEUTRAL
GREEN EARTH |
BROWN ACTIVE
BLUE NEUTRAL
GREEN/YELLOW EARTH |
 |
There is a major and potentially dangerous difference between the Australian and American mains wiring system.
Quite apart from the fact that the US mains is 110-120 Volts and the Oz mains is 240 Volts, the colours used by the US are:
ACTIVE is BLACK and NEUTRAL is WHITE
The big concern here is when a vessel originating in the US and very often ASIA, especially Hong Kong and Taiwan is brought to Australia secondhand. |
NEVER ATTEMPT MAINS WIRING ON YOUR BOAT IF YOU ARE NOT QUALIFIED TO PERFORM THAT WORK. USE A LICENCED MARINE ELECTRICIAN.
Oh, and if you are wondering why Brown, Blue and Green/Yellow were chosen, it is because those colours can be identified by people who are colourblind!
| 
;)
;)
;)
;){kind=link}
;){kind=link}