** Hi to all,
as some of you know already - new & COMPULSORY " MEPS " regulations
are due to come into force in each Australian state from April 2008 that
will have the effect of making virtually ALL transformer plug packs (both
AC and DC output types) and most other external power supplies ( inc SMPS)
currently on sale ** ILLEGAL ** !!
( MEPS = Minimum Energy Performance Standard )
The regulations and prohibitions will then apply to all new stock items,
supplies offered with second hand equipment and all such supplies used in
hire situations.
Some types are excluded - inc. battery chargers, external power supplies
with multiple outputs and supplies rated at over 250 watts output.
Knocked out are all currently available iron transformer based external (
single voltage) supplies and most external SMPS including the ones currently
supplied with laptop PCs.
The regulators neither know nor care a HOOT if suitable replacement power
supplies exist for each device that presently uses such external supplies.
In the case of simple AC output supplies - NO replacement is presently
available, at all.
See this page for an explanation of some of the expected problems with this
latest, whacko Greenie inspired nonsense.
http://sound.westhost.com/articles/external-psu.htm
If you have an ongoing need for plug-pack supplies, particularly AC output
ones, might be a good idea to stock up soon.
....... Phil
I assume that after this law is passed, one can still buy a chassis-
mount transformer from DSE etc, throw it in a zippy box, with a mains
cord and an AC/DC output socket same as a plugpack, and use it as they
used to use the plugpack ? Will this be illegal, or legit way around
the problem ? (assuming the small chassis mount transformers aren't
banned, Im sure most on here will be doing this)
Will the standard 50 VA Ironcore quartz halogen transformer (since
they are intended to be primarily used inside building, or shop
fitting wiringl, and therefore might not be considered an "external
power supply") be covered by this ? After all a significant number of
them come with a factory fitted cord and lead, and provide a 12v
output ? (note: I dont have much time for power wasting quartz
halogen lights, but for other applications these transformers are
excellent value per watt, robust and reliable, are reasonably safe by
design, (enclosed screw terminals, thermally protected, double
insulated, snap-top lid over the mains connections) already housed,
and easy to mount with 2 screws. The ones that come with a cord are
also great for beginners as a cheap/safe 12vac supply with generous
output current .
Im well aware that there are electronic versions of these transformers
- but they give the shittiest, noisiest output waveform, usually in
bursts of high frequency depending on load, and for that matter, need
a substantial load before they even deliver the required voltage at
the output !
Will portable stepdown/isolation transformers ie 240-110v be caught up
in this - or will they just have to be 250va minimum - a real waste if
they are just being used for imported appliances with tiny power
consumption
and it should be noted that with many small wattage appliances, it
isnt practical to replace the internal transformer (if 110v) with a
240v equivalent as the same size/shape/mounted unit might not be
available.
What happens with sensitive instrumentation, scientific/medical, and
even amps such as a design published by SC some years back that needed
a totally separate power supply to "eliminate noise (hum?)" from the
output ? Technically - that is a "separate power supply". (I cant
remember if it was more than 250va though.)
(Imagine how the poor bloody audiophiles will be affected by all
this ; - not to mention the risk that a fire in a SMPS may ignite the
gallons of snake oil that are no doubt in the vicinity)
Without wanting to start arguments on politics,
We have 2 parties, Labor and Liberal contesting the election. Liberal
(from what we see in the news) seems to range from "not doing anything
to deal with climate change" to "not rushing into everything, but
moving slowly on it"
The Labor party on the other hand, seems eager to "do almost anything
and everything as soon as possible" to deal with climate change.
If this proposed "transformer ban" and the recent one on "banning
incandescant light bulbs" are anything to go by, for a party (Liberal)
that is seen as "doing little or nothing", can you imagine what other
possible electrical legislation/bans could emerge under a Labor
government and its policies on this ??
I suppose one only has to look at the Beattie govt. in QLD in recent
years regarding electrical licensing laws and technicians etc to get a
possible answer on this.
What it all boils down to, we have a shocking state of education and
knowlege - especially in technical fields. I have noticed this many
times lately when it becomes impossible to even begin to explain
things like power factor (when discussing CFL's and such things), base
load in power stations and (for that matter) how 3 phase power and
distribution operates.
What about the real wastage issues in this:
We have PC's sitting in our homes, (and usually more than ONE) often
running 24 hours a day, and each pulling similar power to a 2 slice
toaster (about 450w) - and unlike the toaster, will have a terrible
power factor to boot. When they aren't used, they drag several watts
in standby power from the mains, just like many other appliances in
our homes. This is made many times worse in a lot of premises, by the
power used in air-conditioning then needed (or the extra work that it
does) to remove this heat from the premises
The general public will just listen to - and believe - this
"transformer ban" crap, like it does most other things, and wouldn't
have a collective brain big enough to understand any of this, or put
any faith in any qualified or knowledgeable person (like the webpage
you directed us to). There isn't any public voice to tell otherwise,
as they would be a "climate change sceptic" and therefore "evil". At
the end of the day, a lot of this stuff (and worse) will still be
illegally imported from China, and being illegal, will be of worst
quality than now - just as substandard cords and mains products come
in now.
Anyone (the few who still seem to be around - that is) with any
genuine intelligence, knowledge and ability in this country is
regarded as a dork, wanker, up themselves, and treated like crap, and
ignored, or even abused (even in this group) Meanwhile, we seem to be
descending into an obese, stupid, ignorant, feral nation, and I don't
think we need an expert to tell where it will end if it continues.
