Inverters (part 2)

Submitted: Friday, Oct 31, 2008 at 23:06
ThreadID: 63096 Views:2860 Replies:4 FollowUps:7
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Thanks everyone for most constructive suggestions. I will definitely explore all suggested alternatives. Yes, you very right – it is incredibly difficult nowadays to buy anything that as leas has not got some contents made in our beloved and well-respected northern trade partner (Jesus Christ! Have you see sarcasm here?!?!?). But my conspiracy theory suggests that if as least final assembly done somewhere else that as least QA doing its job properly. It is getting virtually impossible to source electric motor or anything that meant to be soldered that been made not “off-shore”. (Why they call “off-shore” only our beloved and well-respected northern trade partner? As for me Switzerland also off-shore). Thus appears as we have to learn to live with > > made in > > China. I have only one question – where is freedom of choice?!?!?!?!?

Cheers
Serg
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Reply By: Gramps (NSW) - Friday, Oct 31, 2008 at 23:22

Friday, Oct 31, 2008 at 23:22
Look out Serge. JC may get you into trouble as well :)))

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Reply By: Member - Footloose - Friday, Oct 31, 2008 at 23:24

Friday, Oct 31, 2008 at 23:24
What's this freedom of choice business ? We are argueably the most over governed country in the world, and we bring it all on ourselves.
Surely a minor thing such as quality can't get in the way of turning a profit ?
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Follow Up By: Member - Serg (VIC) - Friday, Oct 31, 2008 at 23:39

Friday, Oct 31, 2008 at 23:39
Freedom of choice? Simple enough. For example if I choose to buy a luxury car with manual transmission I have no chances because automatic is regarded as compulsory part of up-market car. Thus I have to have an automatic or go to another direction like sports car. Therefore I have no choice. Frankly in many countries that particular choice exists and I am not asking for something completely out of this word. IMHO it is plain attack on my freedom. YMMV.

Cheers
Serg


PS. Regarding to OP – I have a great choice – get inverter made in China or have not got it at all. Even If you call it a choice I have another opinion

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Follow Up By: Member - Footloose - Saturday, Nov 01, 2008 at 00:54

Saturday, Nov 01, 2008 at 00:54
I agree. The very freedom that throws you in gaol or fines you for not voting.
Freedom ? Choice ?
Its just the way of the world I guess :(
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Reply By: Bonz (Vic) - Saturday, Nov 01, 2008 at 10:13

Saturday, Nov 01, 2008 at 10:13
We used to say the same type of things about stuff made in Japan, and I think China is catching up re quality, its still not the best but sometimes the quality is as good as the price
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Follow Up By: Member - Serg (VIC) - Monday, Nov 03, 2008 at 12:26

Monday, Nov 03, 2008 at 12:26
May be – I do not know. Perhaps it was before my age (I am 46). In my lifetime “made in Japan” undoubtfully associates with quality.

Cheers
Serg
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Reply By: _gmd_pps - Saturday, Nov 01, 2008 at 16:32

Saturday, Nov 01, 2008 at 16:32
This is utter nonsense. There is high quality stuff coming out of China, it just depends on the target group it is aimed for. If you have a good designed product with high end parts and a good assembly line with quality assurance at the end the products are as good as they get, but most Australians are not willing to pay for it.

I say the majority of Australians are not quality aware and buy for price. This has influence on what you can buy here and what importers are going to bring in. Many Australian businesses are small companies and when they more overseas with their production they have problems in many cases to achieve desired quality levels for several reasons.

And the statement that Australian made is better is just a myth. Production standards and workmanship is not really as high as people may want to believe. Larger volume production usually turns out better quality when it is done right and Australia is not a large volume market.

Inverters are actually a good example.

There is a whole spectrum of quality coming out of China and some from Taiwan. You find a lot of the real cheap ebay stuff coming from China and Taiwan and a lot of the low end stuff sold at TJM or Jaycar or Dick Smith for that matter. There is the upper low end with some Australian consumer products and the middle range with a couple of consumer/industrial designs.

One of the higher quality brands for example is Xantrex and Canadian company, with production in China. I have a Xantrex 1800i inverter with hardwired connections and internal transfer switch. Most inverters do not have a transfer switch and you add another 300$ or you do it manually, which is not very elegant.

The Xantrex inverter is surely amongst the most expensive consumer models but it is extremely well built and very small for the wattage it provides.

I guess that there might be at least 30 brands of inverters coming out of China and you can find any level of quality you wish. If you are willing to pay for what you are asking for is a different matter.

There is plenty of choice but if you have a tunnel vision as far as price is concerned or are simply ignorant towards the quality differences than the choice seems limited.

have fun
gmd
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Follow Up By: OzTroopy - Saturday, Nov 01, 2008 at 16:51

Saturday, Nov 01, 2008 at 16:51
> " I say the majority of Australians are not quality aware and buy for price. "

Have to agree with that ... and I believe it occurs at both ends of the pricing scale .... see plenty of people outlay BIG dollars just because an item has a well marketed brand on it ... yet better quality can be found elsewhere for less. ........

Inverters ... just attended a auction site reselling warranty and shop soiled bits and pieces ... paid $5.00 for a 100w inverter ( yet to see if its a goer and a 100w is plenty for my needs ) All the gear for sale is suspect ... yet I watched one bloke pay about $80.00 for two suspect kmart brand 400w & 200w units. Whats the bet he complains if they dont work ... lolol
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Follow Up By: RV Powerstream P/L - Saturday, Nov 01, 2008 at 17:47

Saturday, Nov 01, 2008 at 17:47
I think you might be a bit short with 30 makers in China and probably even 300 would be short.

Taiwan is quality oriented now and a lot of top goods that you think are not Chinese are.

I know one firm of Engineers that designs products then makes a prototype then sends it to USA for a sister company approval and then the USA company manufactures the product in a factory in Taiwan and the product quality is not compromised in any way.

The factory in Taiwan is a manufacturer for major computer brand accessories so most of us are probably using them now anyway.

Regards
Ian
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Follow Up By: OzTroopy - Saturday, Nov 01, 2008 at 21:19

Saturday, Nov 01, 2008 at 21:19
Well ll, I'll be ....

Just finished running the multimeter over it and plugged it in ....

My $5 junk auction, chinese copy of a waeco can size 100w inverter works.

UHF, Camera and phone charging facility now in place.

Hope the bloke that spent $80 is as lucky .... LOLOLOL
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Follow Up By: Member - Serg (VIC) - Monday, Nov 03, 2008 at 12:52

Monday, Nov 03, 2008 at 12:52
GMD,

Your theory DOES make sense and I fail disproof it logically. However when I have problem with something it is 99.9% {{self-censored}} {{self-censored}} came from {{self-censored}}{{self-censored}} China. Surely you can argue that I have more stuff in my garage made in {{self-censored}}{{self-censored}} China that anywhere else and therefore those stuff more likely to fail, but lets me assure you that in my particular case this argument is invalid because I am buying {{self-censored}} China-made only when I can not source anything else.

Actually I do have conspiracy theory that partially echoed with your statement. For example 90%+ of electric motors made in {{self-censored}}{{self-censored}} China, thus if I am buying say Taiwanese made (BTW VERY happy with anything made n Taiwan – even despite that “Taiwan PRC” it is NOT {{self-censored}} {{self-censored}} China) circular saw I am almost guaranteed that electric motor made in {{self-censored}} {{self-censored}} China. However my conspiracy theory says that during much stricter QA it is OK. Furthermore same theory says that in China plant they sort out final products and those that pass stricter QA went outside China, but those that not so good went into {{self-censored}}{{self-censored}} Chinese plants and eventually sells as {{self-censored}} brands like Ozitto.

About some myth. Probably for you Australia-made does not sounds as “the best quality on the globe” and perhaps it is not. However I do not have any problem with Australia-made stuff and some stuff like drill bits, die and taps I prefer strictly Australia-made and frankly I never had problem with them. {{self-censored}}{{self-censored}}{{self-censored}}{{self-censored}} Chinese-made taps or drill bits? Please, leave me alone!

But there is real myth that {{self-censored}}{{self-censored}}{{self-censored}} China-made is cheaper. It is – for manufacture, but not for you to buy. First-hand example. I bought cordless hummer drill in Bunnings. It Bosch brand and made in Swaziland. When I was buying it I have seen by my own eyes equivalent {{self-censored}} {{self-censored}} China made {{self-censored}} drill of {{self-censored}} brand like Ozitto that was retailed for more. Thus {{self-censored}} from {{self-censored}} China actually cheap stuff that retailed for more money then normal.

Your statement that average Joe buy by price, not by quality is VERY true though.

Cheers
Serg

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