this post was submitted on 21 Jun 2025
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I changed two controllers/transformers earlier for a friend. I was there to do six. I connected the first two and well, they blew up .

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[–] SomeRandomNoob@discuss.tchncs.de 10 points 19 hours ago

My Rule of Thumb for ordering in the cheep (Chinese) online shops: If it's electric, comes in contact with skin or food it's probably dangerous.

[–] trk@aussie.zone 8 points 19 hours ago (4 children)

I've bought heaps of 240VAC rated items from AliExpress and not had a problem. They're definitely cheaply made for the most part, and I generally give them a once over to identify any glaring issues... but I've got heaps of stuff out there working just fine.

Is it possible you got the wired mains to the low voltage side? I remember a box of LED drivers I bought came with the 240V side using red+black, and the low voltage side using brown+blue that looked awfully similar. Had one go pop before we busted it open and realised the version that came on the unit had the wiring colours the exact opposite. What made life even harder is that the top cover was symmetrical and had been put on back to front.... so 240V was on the "correct" colour side.

[–] DiaDeLosMuertos@aussie.zone 2 points 8 hours ago

Fourth reply. I'm seriously doubting myself now.

[–] DiaDeLosMuertos@aussie.zone 2 points 8 hours ago

Third reply. Ok I can see the L and N and also the + and - symbols on the board. I'm currently having trouble remembering which way around I went. But I did pull the first one apart before connecting the second one. I'm "rather" sure I had it the correct way around.

[–] DiaDeLosMuertos@aussie.zone 2 points 8 hours ago (1 children)

Second reply mate. Having had a quick look, one would assume that the transformer would be at the 240 end in my mind anyway. But I really don't know.

[–] Dimand@aussie.zone 3 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

Nah mate. The transformer is usually used as an inductor for the switch mode conversion.

It looks like you have it right though. The big brown cap should be rated for 250v + and will be on the mains AC side.

The DC side will have lower voltage rated smoothing caps.

Post the link to the device or better photos and I'll have a closer look for you.

[–] DiaDeLosMuertos@aussie.zone 2 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

I'm seriously thinking that I got it backwards. I connected it according to the writing on the enclosure. But as TRK said, he has had them back to front due to the same thing. The guts can be placed into the enclosure either way and I reckon that's what's happened.

I left them at my friends house also.

[–] PeterLG@theblower.au 2 points 1 hour ago

@DiaDeLosMuertos @Dimand

The L and N are for Live and Neutral - the 240V end. The small black chip is a bridge rectifier with its big brown capacitor.

[–] DiaDeLosMuertos@aussie.zone 2 points 8 hours ago

Hmmmm. Yes quite possible I suppose. I didn't investigate any further. It's a love job and my second visit already. I thought it was going to be a simple swap over, but some of the existing lights were 240 v AC. That's when I told her to order the controllers, and then they came without 240 v plugs. So it was all annoying to be honest. She's going to Bunnings to buy new stuff.

I wonder if we can tell from the photo if it is indeed the wrong way around.

[–] princessnorah@lemmy.blahaj.zone 19 points 23 hours ago (4 children)

You say this like a lot of the stuff you buy from Aussie shelves isn't bought in bulk from the exact same suppliers as Aliexpress. You just need to do the work to find reputable stores. If it's the cheapest price available, and the store has a bunch of random numbers in its name, pawbably give it a miss.

[–] Salvo@aussie.zone 10 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

The difference is testing and warranty.

If you buy it local, it has to adhere to ACCC guidelines.

They will import 50, do local quality control, send back the defective ones and sell what is left at a markup.

[–] princessnorah@lemmy.blahaj.zone 11 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

If you think QC is happening locally, then I have a bridge across the Yangtze to sell you bestie.

[–] Salvo@aussie.zone 5 points 18 hours ago

Only one? I want to buy in bulk.

[–] DiaDeLosMuertos@aussie.zone 7 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

Sorry for pointing something out.....

[–] princessnorah@lemmy.blahaj.zone -2 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

Sorry, it just came across as the whole "China makes low-quality goods" racism that's been around for decades at this point.

[–] TimePencil@infosec.exchange 8 points 21 hours ago* (last edited 21 hours ago) (1 children)

@princessnorah

China does make a LOT of really low quality goods. However...
... those goods are made to the quality specified by the importer / wholesaler / buyer...
... because 'cheap' goods are often preferred over 'more expensive but higher quality' goods...
... by the people who buy them.

Which is probably what happened in this case!

I *think* that most Ming dynasty vases are still 'under warranty'!

@DiaDeLosMuertos

[–] princessnorah@lemmy.blahaj.zone -1 points 20 hours ago

That's just a product of them making a LOT of goods for the world. If you have a flagship smartphone, it was probably made in China.

[–] yetAnotherUser@discuss.tchncs.de 3 points 19 hours ago

The store will be liable for any and all damages to life and property which incurs from selling faulty products though.

There's significantly more risk when purchasing directly from a Chinese supplier. It's borderline impossible to hold a foreign company with no actual presence in your country accountable for damages.

[–] EmilyIsTrans@lemmy.blahaj.zone 5 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

Stuff you buy from physical Aussie store shelves have been validated to meet our standards though. Doesn't stop me from buying plenty of stuff from AliExpress though

[–] Taleya@aussie.zone -2 points 22 hours ago

Other way around. Hence recalls.

[–] jet@hackertalks.com 30 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Your saying I'll be shocked at by the low resistance deals? Ohm my god! You could not induce more topical current event news.

[–] DiaDeLosMuertos@aussie.zone 6 points 22 hours ago (1 children)
[–] jet@hackertalks.com 2 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

you really put me in laplace ; it really resonated with me, and since I'm open to feedback I'll attenuate the frequency

[–] DarkDarkHouse@lemmy.sdf.org 2 points 19 hours ago

Please, now it megahertz

[–] Shadow@lemmy.ca 22 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Oddly this doesn't deter me at all, but I don't buy mains connected components off aliexpress. Tons of DC stuff and I've never had an issue

[–] otacon239@lemmy.world 13 points 1 day ago

Pretty much anything that has the capacity to kill you should be avoided for the most part on these sites. Which is to say, most if not everything.

[–] Oisteink@feddit.nl 7 points 1 day ago (1 children)

If you dont aim for the cheapest, you can buy pretty much anything you want there without worries

[–] DiaDeLosMuertos@aussie.zone 2 points 22 hours ago

Sounds reasonable.

[–] remotelove@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

The insulation between the windings was probably non-existent.

Also... uh.. TO-263 packages are surface mount and likely require heat dissipation of some kind. There is a chance that heat sinking isn't required, but it's standard practice to at least ground the tab. (Using the package like that for quick at home projects is fine. Putting it in a production power supply like that is just silly.)

Throw the rest of those powes supplies you have directly in the bin. It's not worth the risk with those shitty transformers and that poor design. It would really suck if a failure mode sent mains voltage through what you are powering. (It needs a full teardown to say for certain though.)

[–] DiaDeLosMuertos@aussie.zone 1 points 22 hours ago

No worries. They were bought by the home owner.

[–] ozeng@aus.social -1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

@DiaDeLosMuertos I bought the cheapest thing on the market from someone who’s not contractually obliged to look after me, and bad things happened!

Colour me surprised..

[–] DiaDeLosMuertos@aussie.zone 1 points 22 hours ago

I didn't buy them.