Chinese Plasma Cutters Safety Warning!

[peterd51]

Hi,

I asked someone who's clued up about this particular problem (they asked me not to mention names as it could be heading towards legal proceedings) and here's the reply.

(quote)
'I regret I must be careful what I say as we understand that Trading Standards are involved in this issue!

Essentially, where the torch connects to the machine (both the main power and Pilot arc connections), there is a risk of electric shock as the connectors are insufficiently insulated. This insufficient insulation, in turn, leaves questions as to the validity of the CE certification, a legal requirement of products imported to the EU!!! The UK Importer has, as we understand, on advice from Trading Standards, suspended sale of these units and may be recalling those already sold. The UK Importer is, as we understand it, working to improve the electrical safety of the unit, with the help of Trading Standards.

We believe the units originate from a company called Riland, a Chinese manufacturer.

Before using your unit, I would advise that you ask the supplier to forward you a copy of the CE certification, ALL importers to the EU are legally obliged to supply a copy on request, I would then urge you to check the validity of the certification BEFORE you use the machine. Alternatively, get a professional to check the unit for electrical safety'.

(end quote).

I have to say that I thought the torch connection on my Berlan was a bit flimsy so I was especially carefull to ensure it was switched off before touching the connector.

I'll be looking at replacing this connector with something safer.

In view of the number of people who've bought these, and possibly new customers in the near future, could this message be made a 'sticky'?

Regards
Peter

 

[weldequip]

From a major UK wholesaler aswell, Jesus H, what are the direct imports gonna be like!
Trading standards need to be trawling eBay... most on there do not conform to CE or other international safety standards. They might carry the CE mark but if Swiss watches can be copied, two little letters is a piece of p**s! Some are even being shunted through 'the back door'... Australia! because they don't need to comply with ROHS regs. in Australia, unlike Europe
There are decent Chinese machines coming into the country, but they are supplied by specialist welding electronics engineers who know what they are looking at & ensure the product is right & fully compliant
weldequip

 

[irondarren]

Everything that i have ever bought electrical or what ever in terms of tools always comes with a certificate of conformity to CE reg, its always signed by the importer. But as you say weldequip its an easy thing to forge. And certainly a case of buyer beware, and it does make you wonder why there are so many Ebay sellers in other countries selling chinese made inverter unit, quite possibly to evade the rules and regulations that bonified welding distributors and wholesalers have to comply with.

looking on the bright side it could bring perms back into fashion

 

[Wozzaaah]

 

[peterd51]

Hi,

nice one! I could use that as my Avatar...

I thought (also quoted from my source above) that if it was electrical and sold in the EU then it had to have a legit CE certificate, even if it was sold from other countries outside the EU. Or have I got that wrong?

I requested a copy of the CE certificate from the guys in Germany that I bought my Berlan from, but TBH I don't expect to see one.

I also posted the details in an email to Ebay but again I don't expect them to do much about it. They'll probably claim that it's not their responsibility to check such things, it's a trade between two individuals.

We'll see what happens over the next couple of days...

but if ebay remove all of the listings then I could have killed off the current trade in cheap Chinese plasma units, if only for a couple of weeks!

Regards
Peter

 

[Wozzaaah]

Hi,

nice one! I could use that as my Avatar...

good idea

 

[MrFluffy]

All I can say is, Im glad I bought mine before then.

Ill just carry on using it with a modicum of common sense. Something that legislation attempts to remove the need for.

 

[klaatu]

I don't understand which ones this is warning about? Is it the Berlan ones on eBay?

Steve

 

[irondarren]

I believe its one from a previous thread, where the distrubutor has removed it from sale, because of an electrical fault, no doubt the machine comes in many different model name

 

[MrFluffy]

If its the same as mine, the "issue" is that the plasma on/off lead is connected with a 2 pin cb mic plug, which doesnt offer the ability to stay insulated when submerged and ditto for the plasma connection as its made of brass with a rubber cover.

As I dont operate my cutter in a swimming pool, pour lots of water down the front of it or use it in the rain, I think I'll carry on sleeping at night...

 

[marknotgeorge]

but if ebay remove all of the listings then I could have killed off the current trade in cheap Chinese plasma units, if only for a couple of weeks!

They'll probably pull all the legit welders. Muppets.

 

[irondarren]

Ebay wont do nothing if they pull listings they loose $$$, and thats what its all about.

 

[marknotgeorge]

Ebay wont do nothing if they pull listings they loose $$$, and thats what its all about.

Yeah, right.

My missus is in an argument with the 'bay at the moment. She's got an agreement with renowned caricaturist Norman Hood (if you know his work) to put his cartoons on things like t-shirts, mugs, etc. She bunged a load on ebay, and some of them got removed. Seems Umbro decided that they were infringing their trademark. Personally, I can't see how, but anyway.

Then eBay suspended her account for seven days for relisting items that infringed trademark. Two things:

1. The items they claimed were relisted were ones that weren't pulled the last time, not relisted.

2. The items they cited were players of teams that don't use Umbro!

She had to fax off some stuff to get her account back, which she did a month ago. It's still not back, and she still hasn't had a satisfactory explanation of why she was suspended.

It's supposed to be our busiest month this month.

 

[peterd51]

Hi,

been off work today and away from the PC...

AFAICS it's basically all models, they're pretty much the same.

As MrFluffy says, look out for bare wires around the connectors.

It's not just water ingress, any odd bit of metal or wire that drops across the contacts could cause a problem.

When I posted the initial report on my Berlan Cutter a few weeks ago I did mention that I thought this particular connection was dodgy.

In my case I'll probably change the plug and socket at some time in the future but for now I'll wrap it in tape.

The fault was highlighted in another thread so I did some asking and found someone who knew what was going on. Hence the heads-up for anyone who may have bought any kind of Chinese plasma set that they should be checked.

I know that a few people have them...

Regards
Peter

 

[weldequip]

My missus is in an argument with the 'bay at the moment.

I had a listing removed because I was offering a choice!
MIG spares kit... "Please state size of Contact Tip required with order, 0.6/0.8 or 0.9mm"... and they took it off!! Contested it, not a chance. Big stick American business (getting their arses spanked now with the sub-prime fiasco though eh!).
weldequip

 

[slagmaster]

please please please can someone put a picture up of the faulty ones and i can see if me is similar, also can you give me steps on how to avoid electrocution if worst case scenario mine was faulty, thanks

 

[MrFluffy]

Wrap self amalgamating tape around any exposed metal parts of the connectors on the front of the unit so theres no exposed bits...

Voila, insulated, compliant, splashproof, fixed.

 

[zardoz]

Then eBay suspended her account for seven days for relisting items that infringed trademark. Two things:

1. The items they claimed were relisted were ones that weren't pulled the last time, not relisted.

2. The items they cited were players of teams that don't use Umbro!

She had to fax off some stuff to get her account back, which she did a month ago. It's still not back, and she still hasn't had a satisfactory explanation of why she was suspended.

It's supposed to be our busiest month this month.

open another account with a different ebay name and use another credit/debit card to link it to paypal.

 

[peterd51]

Hi,

in the initial report on the one I bought I posted some photos...

In the first photo here http://http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=3573&highlight=berlan+plasma+cutter look at the middle connection at the bottom of the set.

Regards
Peter

 

[marknotgeorge]

open another account with a different ebay name and use another credit/debit card to link it to paypal.

She's come a cropper doing that before.