Re: AE Conserver Q's

["Mark Cummings" <NOTfigjams@primus.com.au>]

"Stephen Shaw" <botstarver@readersdigest.com> wrote in message
news:ald1ul$ppq$1@venus.itns.co.za...

> Will the power socket orientation follow the compulsory Australian
requirement
> that the earth/ground pin be at the bottom of the socket to ensure that if
one
> of the other wires should come loose in the plug it falls on the earth and
> trips the circuit breaker/earth leakage unit/residual current circuit
breaker/
> ground fault interruptor?

Unfortunately No. There is no such socket available that will fit into the
very limited space in the Conserver case. In fact the physical space used in
an Australian plug is greater than that of a US plug, so no such thing could
exist that would fit in the same space. If you have a AE Conserver and look
inside you'd see the problem.

How would that "compulsory Australian requirement" apply to a typical power
board that sits flat on the floor. the AE Conserver is similar in function
to one of those. Perhaps that requirement is for wiring plugs in wall
sockets ???
The re-engineered unit will still use the same US 3-pin sockets that are
fitted to the AE Conserver already which are mounted sideways. The mains
wires between sockets is insulated solid core taken out of 2.5mm flex,
except the earth wire which I could not find in solid core, although the
original unit did have solid core I think. The Active wire is on top then
the Earth then Neutral at the bottom. The internal design of the socket is
such that there is a barrier between the three pins anyway. There is a 10A
fuse in the unit (accessable through the hole at the back) which would blow
should the Active hit any of the other two wires.

You will also have to use US 3-pin power cords which will probably not be
rated to 240V either.
At best I can only test the cords using a insulation breakdown tester to
ensure the cords are safe for 240V use.

I only just finished the prototype today, and it works like a charm. I just
have a couple of minor parts to complete, like a lens in front of the LEDs,
and a new "240V/10A" sticker for underneath. I ran out of things to plug
into it, but I powered up my ROM-1 GS, the external SCSI drive, the monitor,
an A/Talked ImageWriter //, my ROM-3 GS along side and an Apple //e on the
other side.

When I get a chance I will take some photos of it and put it up on a web
page for anyone interested in the outcome.

Mark