“Paper or plastic?” We’ve all been asked this paradoxical quandary at the checkout counter. Both are similar in nature, and serve the same purpose. However, both are mutually exclusive, and derive from different materials. Yet, either solution offers strikingly similar functionality.
This is also true in the power cord industry. As a worldwide leader in power cord configurations, Quail provides scores of North American and international combinations to fulfil your home or office’s electrical solutions. Two power cord configurations from cross-continental hemispheres in particular may appear identical in design, yet are fraternal in operation. After all, everybody knows you don’t play ping pong with a boomerang.
The Australian three-blade conductor power cord mirrors its Chinese three-pronged equivalent for domestic or industrial power cord configurations. Despite their similar architecture, the primary difference is the Australian model features insulated live and neutral blades.
Chinese plugs have varying differences in their two- versus three-pronged conductors. While China’s two-bladed conductor looks quite similar to the North American standard, the Australian two-pronged power cord appears much like the three blade, only lacking the ground pin blade at the top of the configuration.
SAA is the organization that certifies electrical equipment to comply with safety requirements for Australia and New Zealand. SAA is the industry standard for the import and sale of electrical equipment, accessories and appliances in Australia and New Zealand. SAA’s Asian counterpart is the Chinese Compulsory Certificate. Implemented in 2002, the CCC mark is required for both domestically manufactured and Chinese imported products. Only components with the CCC approval marking may be imported, sold or used in the Chinese market.
China’s three-pronged configuration followed Australian standards up until 2002, when the Republic developed its own approval system for electrical components. Although the three-bladed Australian power cord looks and functions similarly, it does not have the CCC marking, and therefore does not meet Chinese certification. Likewise with the Chinese three-pronged conductor in the Australian or New Zealand markets, since the power cords do not have SAA approval.
The Australian and Chinese cords are similar in design, yet users cannot substitute one another in their respective countries, due to the discrepancies in approval standards. So whether you’re basking in the sun on the Gold Coast, or hiking one of the Wonders of the World, remember that much like bags at the grocery store, not all power cords are created equal. As your complete power cord specialists, Quail offers a variety of configurations on both Australian and Chinese models. Visit our part matrix for a comprehensive solution to meet your power cord needs. G’day!