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While you would be forgiven for thinking that there’s only one option here in Australia, the reality is that we now have a range of powerpoints on offer.
Long before the arrival of new age appliances, electricity was only needed for lighting. Even today, many older homes only have a single powerpoint in every room and sockets were generally Type I, with two flat pins in a V shape with a grounding pin.
Like it or not, switches and outlets wear over time and the same goes with the wiring behind it. Poor quality of electrical powerpoint can cause faulty or broken electrical wiring, which can result in an electrical shock or worse, can start a fire.
Therefore, your choice of powerpoint matters. While the standard voltage used in Australia is 230 V and its frequency is 50 Hz, how we use powerpoints has certainly changed in recent years to reflect how we use electricity and what types of devices require charging.
Although most of us are already familiar with the three flat pin plugs used in all Australian states and territories, our unique pin structure is also used in New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.
The Australian mains plug configuration was originally presented as provisional standard C112 in 1937, formalised as Standard C112 in 1938, redesignated AS3112 in 1981 and harmonised with the New Zealand standard and redesignated AS/NZS3112 in 1993. Australian Standards AS/NZS 3112:2000 and AS/NZS 3112:2004 for Australian Mains Plugs now define the requirements for the insulation of the Active and Neutral pins of the plug.
Despite its dominance, Australian homeowners actually have a few options to choose from when it comes to residential powerpoints. In fact, the Land Down Under is home to five separate designs.
Double Powerpoint – Single powerpoint outlets are best only where you really need it to be installed such as door frames or when size is an issue. Although the double powerpoint is quite expensive in comparison, it is far more convenient compared to a single GPO and is a common sight in most Australian households.
Additional Switch Powerpoints – As a means to help reduce clutter and manage your appliances while eliminating excess powerboards, additional switch powerpoints are often seen in kitchens for oven usage and on wall mounted switches that combine lights and ceiling fans. Not only are they efficient, but they help save on space.
Weatherproof Powerpoint – For Australians who require access to electricity in the great outdoors, weatherproof powerpoints and electrical switches are usually built tough. As they’re dust and water resistant and designed to resist the corrosion and colour fading, they’re the perfect choice when trying to withstand the hot and cold climates that we’re known for.
Benchtop Powerpoints – These products have the look, feel and function of a standard double powerpoint, except that they have the ability to click in and out of a benchtop for improved safety and tidiness. As a great solution for kitchens, these products use an electric lift, so you simply press the top of the unit and it automatically emerges for use on the bench top.
USB Powerpoint – Although they’ve only really entered the spotlight in the last decade or so, USB powerpoints allow users to charge gadgets directly into the socket instead of requiring a third-party adaptor, such as a phone, camera or tablet. While they’re often added to double powerpoints in modern homes, they’re now also common in portable powerboards too.
15A Powerpoint – Much less common than the above options, a 15A powerpoint is usually used in garages, motorhomes or other large machinery. The only difference between the 10A and 15A socket is that it has a larger earth pin. A 15A socket allows 10A appliances to be plugged in, but a 10A will not accept 15A appliances.
If you’re on the hunt for a decent sparky to help you safely illuminate your home without spending a small fortune, finding a reputable and local electrician to get the job done can feel a bit like finding a needle in a haystack. Thankfully, the team at Shield Electrical offer a solution.
Here at Shield Electrical, we are a Brisbane based electrical contracting company, and pride ourselves on being shockingly good at watt we do. For us, friendly and reliable customer service isn’t just a nice add on – it’s how we do business. Don’t take our word for it though, just ask our clients.
Established in 2015, Shield Electrical is lighting the way when it comes to providing electrical work with world class customer service. With our headquarters based in the central suburban pocket of Coorparoo, our team of qualified industry professionals are readily available to deliver quality workmanship, fast quotes, and affordable pricing.
Whether you’re on the hunt for an electrician for domestic services, residential, commercial and industrial construction, security systems or even just further energy saving tips, get in touch with us at Shield today to source practical solutions that don’t break the bank.
