Do I have to be an Australian licensed electrician to refurbish & sell power tools batteries on eBay

[ndn2010]

I have some experience in rebuilding tools battery packs, I've done before for my personal use, I'm thinking why I cannot rebuild dead original batteries & sell them on eBay as "seller refurbished" are there any requirements either from eBay or Australian laws in general that should prohibit me from doing that?

[horizon1907]

IMO & I'm most certainly not an Expert in any way, shape or form on this subject, but I would think you would be leaving yourself wide open with Flags waving "Come & Get Me"  for a barrage of Defects, that would put you out of business within days. Let's see what others & hopefully some Professionals will say.

[cmcoins2000]

I agree H.

Chargers - plugged in.

The poor person charging her phone while using it was 'whacked'.

Think it has to be Australian Standards.

[clarry100]

I agree with Horizon.

With all these new ebay policies regarding defects and 6-month money back guarantees I would think to try to sell this kind of item will leave you wide open to abuse by scammers.

Personally I'd be staying away from this one.

[collect247]

If you were able to sell them then I think that they would all need to have been tested and tagged by a professional first for safety.

[mesonquark]

Having refurbished batteries for myself, a few years ago I thought it would be a bright idea to do so to on-sell them like the Chinese now do by the bucketloads. Well I was in for a rude shock.

There are no shortcuts when you "manufacture" a battery.  There are many Australian rules and regulations that apply if you want to be legit. I gave up in the end as I couldn't even find a place that stipulates everything you need to do.

"Standards Australia" is just one regulatory body. There are EPA rules, disposal rules, transportation rules, hazards identification, handling & storage, exposure controls, fire controls, flamability, toxicity as the battery cells are poisonous, stability, reactivity, all things that you have to comply with to just to produce an MSDS. That by itself is an eye-opener.

No, you don't have to be a licensed electrician to "refurbish" a battery. The process itself is simple enough as all you're doing is taking out the old cells and replacing them with new ones. You may need to do a bit of soldering or you can buy fully assembled packs. But in doing so, if you're going to sell the product, you become the manufacturer and need to consider the red tape that comes with being one.

Out of sheer frustration I gave up, but if you persevere you may do OK, but remember the Chinese already have the "refurbished battery" market already sewn up on eBay due to ultra low pricing and free China Post. They don't need to go through the hoops we have to in Australia.

All the best.

[clarry100]

IMO the batteries themselves pose no potential user risk (ie electric shock) and therefore would not require certification test & tag.

Electrical appliances that you plug into a mains outlet would have to be certified tho. Different story.

If the OP is just selling batteries then I would think such testing and certification would not apply.

[kane1417]

As a registered second hand dealer and a Portable appliance test and tag Certificate holder I advise the following;

Do not sell anything electrical (refurbished or second hand) on ebay or anywhere else ! without reading the following.

If you are selling  a second hand  battery charger with your battery (or anything,lamp,hairdryer, tv, which is 2nd hand)  which fits into a Single phase GPO (General purpose outlet 240 volts), the charger  will either  be single insulation (class 1 equipment) or double insulation (class 2 equipment) .The charger must have the following tags, fitted to the power supply (plug pin end) of the flexible power supply lead.

1. Mandatory -á tag which says  ''Second Hand  Electrical Equipment''.

2. Plus either one of the following, which ever applys;

    If  the charger has been tested and tagged by a certificate holder, they will attach a tag,  which says the appliance has passed and complies to AS/NZS3760.The tester will provide you with a log detailing the appliance,test tag number etc etc.

    If the charger  has not been tested, attach the following tag.

    ''Danger - Do not use or connect to supply.

     This second hand electrical equipment may be faulty and should be inspected and tested by a competent person in accordance with AS/NZS3760.

If you intend to sell the battery only, without the charger, you will need to investigate further (Maybe another ebayer can offer advice) on what requirements (there maybe a compliance standard) your refurbished  battery has to pass, before being able to be resold, try searching on google, Australian electrical equipment standards etc,or maybe try calling a battery supply shop that deals in batterys only, they may be able to help.The power tool battery packs I possess, do have a ''Notice Plate'' on the battery stating type, place of manufacture as well as a unique serial number, which obviously is on there for a reason.To be sold in Australia in the beginning (retail) the appliance must conform to the applicable Australian standard before it is allowed to be sold, don't hold me on this but I believe the seller obtains a certificate from the applicable government body before they are allowed to sell that particular item or must supply info that the appliance meets the applicable Australian standard.If you sold a refurbished battery without investigating fully, and god forbid, it blew up,caught fire etc on recharge, could be a tricky situation for you,especially if an injury occurred, or damage to property, fire etc.

I will say the battery has been made to a standard.and therefore a refurbished battery should also meet that standard.

A little ground work , checking out what is and what is not required will reap rewards later, and you will be able to concentrate fully on your refurbishing/selling and not have to think about all the ''what -if's ".All the best with your new business venture.Regards.

[i-once-was-bump]

Would the Dept of Fair Trading (for those in NSW) be able to offer you all the information you need even if you have to go through several other government departments?

[ausbargainbasement]

Come on people, he just reco poer tool batteries ( low voltage DC), not  240VAC equipment, whats the worst that can happen the battery doesnt work, or does not last very long, anyway do you do Makita 18V batteries as we have some still chargable via a 12V charger but wont charge on the Makita charger.