What is the problem buying overseas appliances via the internet or other sources?

What is the problem buying overseas appliances via the internet or other sources?

Generally speaking, there are not too many problems until somebody starts quoting "standards". See the following thread in the woodworking section;

https://www.woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?t=58936

Australia is vastly electrically different from any other country. One of the big differences is frequency of supply. What does this mean & how is this important?

Quite simply, many appliances require a certain supply frequency in order to operate correctly. Such things are clocks, microwave ovens (nothing to do with clocks) and motors.

Firstly, the USA has two essential voltages. They are 120 & 240 volts. 110/115 or 220 volts do not exist in the USA. There are other voltages but for the sake of this discussion, there are only two, as mentioned above...120 & 240. The American 240 volts is derived from a "split phase" transformer. This is NOT 2 phases. It is one phase split by a transformer (180 degrees) & cannot be compared to any 2 phase supply in Australia or anywhere else.

Secondly, the American supply frequency is 60 Hz. Ours is 50 Hz.

Thirdly, blindly buying overseas products over the internet could cost you a lot of money if;
1] the product does not suit the single phase supply voltage of Australia (230 volts).
2] the product does not suit the supply frequency of Australia (50 Hz).
3] the product does not conform to Australian Standards.

What is the problem with supplying a 60 Hz appliance with 50 Hz?
Well, that depends upon what type of appliance it is. Generally speaking, clocks will be affected. They will run slowly.
Motors are the next thing. For example, a fridge that is designed to run on a 60 Hz supply, will run "hot". That is, the motor (compressor) will run hot. This will invariably lead to an earlier than expected motor failure.

There is a way around this. It is by maintaining the volts to frequency ratio but it's not a proven thing. Generally, this appraoch works quite well. It usually requires specialised transformers being manufactured.

Summary.
Do not buy products from overseas (particularly via the internet) unless you are sure that it/they conform(s) to Australian electrical requirements/Standards.


Read the full thread at RenovateForum.com...