Aussie240 raises a very valid and not unfounded point here.
Australian and New Zealand cable manufacturers have to comply with local Standards to ensure that thier customers also comply with them Standards.
Importations of cheap, non-complying cables that have thinner insulation and also thinner conductors, make a mockery of our agreed Standards.
As it stands, cables here have to comply to AS ???? (Can anyone fill the gap?).
That means that under that standard, cables used to carry the Standard Low Voltage here, have to have a Voltage rating of 600V/1000V.
That means, 600V between cores and 1000V to Earth.
Flexible Cords are different, they can be 300V/600V, but flexes are not used as fixed wiring.
Aussie,
I know what you mean though mate,
Cables are about the last thing that you can control, I do know that a few DIY stores here have started importing thier own cable from China.
Sure, buy a drum of 100m of 1.5mm2 for NZ$55,
then get an Electrician to hook it up for you.
I'm told this stuff is 200V/400V rated and non-compliant with any regs outside of China.
