Are Cheap Powerboards from Bunnings Safe?

SuperFly 420 on 19/04/2019 - 12:07
Last edited 19/04/2019 - 12:08

The other day at work a colleague said that we have to replace all the powerboards (such as this one) at work to higher quality powerboards due to fire hazard.

I am a bit concerned now, because I have 6 of this one at home, and they are all over 7 years old.

Question for the powerboard experts: is my colleague right? He suggested that these cheap ones should be a temporary solution only, and if we need a powerboard for long term, we should invest $40 on a good quality that has a lower fire risk.

Cheers,

Electrical & Electronics Power Board

Comments

    • capslock janitor on 07/01/2021 - 14:32

      Are double adaptors really all that bad?
      heard it gets a bad rapp

  • crentist on 19/04/2019 - 12:57
    +11

    what does your colleague base that on? unless you have a reason to think they know what they are talking about, dont rule out the possibility that they are a paranoid moron

  • justaperson on 19/04/2019 - 13:48
    +4

    Your colleague is paranoid. If the powerboard is manufactured to Australian standards and has overload protection then there's no 'fire hazard' anymore than using the more expensive boards. The only reason to get more expensive boards is to protect the appliance itself from surges which will kill the appliance, but in terms of a higher fire hazard with the cheap boards - there is none.

  • [Deactivated] on 19/04/2019 - 13:55

    Any power board purchased in a regular shop, will be fine as long as it meets Australian standards (which it will).

    • jjjaar on 19/04/2019 - 23:50

      +1 for switched with surged protection. I’ve been using the arlec 4 switched with surge protection for ages and I love it.

      • capslock janitor on 07/01/2021 - 14:34

        Which is better Arlec or HPM? the reviews don't seem great above

      • rumblytangara on 18/03/2023 - 10:57

        Worth mention that surge protection doesn't last forever. And that on most cheap protectors, there's no indication that they've stopped protecting.

  • AlienC on 19/04/2019 - 14:31
    +1

    Ask your colleague what AWG he wants the new powerboards to be rated at and what max wattage and amperage capacity and surge protection level just say what amount of Joules you want.. and if he can't answer back then he has no idea what he is talking about and just trying to be safety conscious not exactly paranoid but he needs to do more research on the matter.

    Lower American Wire Gauge (AWG) means thicker or larger diameter cables which handles better at transferring power and handling heat and what not (don't quote me on that just drawing from old knowledge which may or may not be correct etc).

    • AdosHouse on 19/04/2019 - 20:47
      +1

      0000awg or nothing. If your powerboard can't run every piece of equipment in your house and your neighbours, what's the point.

      • AlienC on 19/04/2019 - 21:15
        +1

        Transatlantic cables or bust.

        Not gonna bother if the cable is not bigger than my neighbourhood otherwise you are just wasting your time.

    • ddilrat on 10/01/2021 - 18:01

      If he used the term amperage capacity id be very sure he doesn't know what he's talking about

  • Stewardo on 19/04/2019 - 14:44

    I’ve had these cheap bunnings ones before and after while the light that was plugged into them would flicker as the connection wasn’t good. The other appliances plugged into them would intermittently work as well. You probably won’t burn the house down as most houses now should have circuit breaker. The powerboard should have an overload protection and be built to Australian standards but they are built so cheap and sold at such volume how would you know if this would work. Powerboards from bunnings have been recalled in the past. I don’t think paying a little more for an electrical item is a bad idea.

    I don’t think your co worker is crazy saying that work safety is important. I depends what the load and the environment they are used in as well. And probably be tested and tagged for workplace use.
    See below for flammable powerboards
    https://www.adelaide.edu.au/hr/hsw/docs/hazard-alert-click-p…

  • holdenmg on 19/04/2019 - 15:08
    +3

    I'd be more worried about tripping over the powercord.

  • whooah1979 on 19/04/2019 - 17:25
    +1

    OP, tell your colleague that statistically they're more likely to lose their life on their drive to and from work.

    https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/statistics-and-research…

    • theguru1 on 20/04/2019 - 09:53

      On the drive to Bunnings to buy new powerboards?

      • Baysew on 20/04/2019 - 11:18

        Or slipping on the onion from the BBQ sausage?

        • [Deactivated] on 20/04/2019 - 11:54

          Or eating the BBQ sausage itself.

  • rogerm22 on 20/04/2019 - 11:06

    I've had a powerboard catch on fire. I presume it was a cheap one. It's just lucky that I was actually working close to it when the fire started so that I was able to unplug it, so the fire was not able to spread.

    • justaperson on 20/04/2019 - 18:46

      Likely due to the total wattage being exceeded. Even on a powerboard the total draw of the appliances can't exceed 10A combined. Same thing would happen on an expensive powerboard.

      • rogerm22 on 20/04/2019 - 19:41

        It should have been well under 10 amps being used.

  • HeWhoKnows on 20/04/2019 - 11:36

    Everything at Bunnings must get Australian certifciation that it passes the safety standards

    So short anwer is…YES!

  • [Deactivated] on 20/04/2019 - 16:13

    Don't worry about these trivial things.

    You should buy home insurance, that's all you need. Leave the rest to the genius level electricians.

  • 82norm on 20/04/2019 - 17:33

    If your work has proper safety processes, then any electrical equipment purchased would be tagged by a qualified electrician. Then each year they would be safety expected and signed off. Anything not tagged, could be deemed unsafe.

  • pjetson on 21/04/2019 - 11:11
    +1

    The trouble with cheap power boards is that they skimp on the metal contacts. They use cheap metal, as thin as they can get away with. After repeated plugging and unplugging, the metal bends and makes poor contact. At best, this may result in sockets that you can no longer insert a plug into. At worst, the poor contact can cause a fire.

    These cheap power boards can pass certification because the certification does not test for these kinds of problems.

  • HeWhoKnows on 08/01/2021 - 12:59

    Everything Bunnings sells meets Australian Standards

    There is your answer!

    If you have a problem with the power boards Bunnings is selling then take your issue up with the governing body.
    But you better have lots of evidence and test results to back up your complaint.

    NB: They dont work on a "hunch"

    If you want to pay more then get branded powerboards made by reputable Australian suppliers and commonly used by electricians such as HPM and Clipsal. Kambrook is one of the better retail brands. But all these too will be made in China.

    • capslock janitor on 09/01/2021 - 12:40

      what'bout Officeworks, arlexc and jaycar

      • HeWhoKnows on 10/01/2021 - 13:43

        What sort of question is that? OMG!

        Let me rephase THE OBVIOUS just for you

        Anything any retailer sells must meet Australian Standards

  • ddilrat on 10/01/2021 - 23:24

    We bought one which had one socket with the wrong polarity. Can't remember the brand. Maybe a cheap office works one.

    • sareth on 17/03/2023 - 11:53

      There is no polarity for 230VAC

      • ddilrat on 25/03/2023 - 10:21

        If you say so hahaha

  • Pete Surfcoast on 22/10/2021 - 14:16

    Ive just had a Arlec 4 point powerboard flame up. It burnt at the plug. It had been connected properly. I then searched and saw that Arlec Powerboards had been recalled in 2011, although a different model. I had been using a sander and was up a ladder. Lucky I had paused and had was on ground level when I noticed a small and then the smoke.

  • Musrosa on 18/07/2022 - 16:23

    Just had my house burn down, cheap power board has been deemed the likely cause - failed after power restoration (planned outage). Other possible cause might be a phone charger plugged into it, but if the power board work correctly the charger would have been protected. $10 power board, $150,000+ damage. Whole house may have to be demolished. Definitely not worth it IMO

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