Australia Based Deals / Info / Links / Discussion

I was looking for a psu and came across this relatively cheap yet powerful 48v 62a 3000w psu

If 48v is not your flavour then this one costs a little more but has more flavours in the 1500w range - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000390769952.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.4132c3479iiV3H&s=p&algo_pvid=73b02b3e-1bd9-4d30-8202-cd322515d95f&algo_expid=73b02b3e-1bd9-4d30-8202-cd322515d95f-7&btsid=e2f951be-3f0c-4bc6-abff-04a86cfcde9d&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_2,searchweb201603_53

Does anyone know of sellers that don’t pay GST to the ATO?

I don’t know the ins and outs of it but it would give them a competitive advantage. In my limited online travels I’m thinking that Fasttech and the Convoy store on AliExpress could be two that don’t.

I’m pretty sure aliexpress adds the gst at checkout. Don’t know about fasttech or other standalone stores.

Intl Outdoor doesn’t, iirc.

It also depends on how you pay.
If you use PayPal the GST is added on to the cost if no GST included in invoice from the dealer.

Can confirm that FastTech and NealsGadgets don’t. AliExpress does. The Wildtrail D80v2 is $US27.71 shipped (with tracking) from NealsGadgets.

Then you’re stuck in the dilemma of who is worse to deal with…

I am looking to draw from the BLF brains trust and ask what is the most cost effective way of getting torch-grade lithium ion batteries to/in Australia?

Battery packs (laptop, power tool) would be completely fine depending on the quality of the cells inside.

@ Colonel Light.

Hobby King for battery packs. They have an Aussie Warehouse.

Supersport600 on ebay for batteries locally.

I use Kaidomain and Banggood for batteries from China.

I picked up the guts of a Ryobi 18v battery on eBay for ~$30, all LG HE2s. Other ones are Sanyo UX…

Seller was factory-price-au.

I like Tech Around You for 18650s - they sell Samsung 30Qs for $8 each including postage if you order two or more. Based in Melbourne, delivery has always been very fast for me.

Aldi torch

Very disappointing I found. Dull blue emitter, poorly controlled zoom, spongy switch, rough and sharp threads. Gave mine to Vinnies after a couple of weeks.

May be ok if you crave a 3D Maglite, but don’t expect the Mag quality of finish.

Is it a twist zoom or push pull?

My recollection is twisty, but with a loose and imprecise action. It was many months ago now, and I was so disappointed in it I moved it on quickly.

Thanks for the input so far, no “gold standard” for obtaining new 18650s in Australia it seems, since the restrictions on transporting lithium ion batteries by air.

eBay sellers (and their websites) sound like the best way to go. And maybe a power tool battery pack (eg. Ozito, Workzone) if they’re discounted heavily enough.

auplazaplace seems to have good prices on local stock as well. Sofirn sells batteries with low shipping, no GST and 10% coupon for first order but I haven’t tried a test order.

saves seller

Did I mention ecocell earlier? They were pretty good.

So far there’s:

  • Tech around you
  • Supersports600
  • Ecocell
  • AUPlazaPlace

I’m hesitant to add Lanplus as they were where I got my first 30Qs from which have turned out to be… somewhat less than genuine, or at least highly suspect (discovered long after purchase).

I just put an order in at Liitokala store for some 26650 and 21700s the shipping was only a few bucks.

You can pickup some decent lights now at Bunnings for a good price look for the clearance items and brands like Eiger and Teller they always go on sale. The ones i have bought have a mix of LEDs one was a XPG2 another was a XML2 U3 another was a XPG3.

I picked up a car bonnet light it does 700 lumens for $10 its rechargeable great for the shed.

I didn’t see any batteries on the Liitokala AliExpress store with postage that low to Australia unfortunately. Lowest was US$7.37, most were US$11.58. Maybe I could keep looking, I notice that battery packs have only US $3.16 postage (untracked).

Try to add a few things to your cart and see if shipping changes? Right now its showing me $7 AUD but i paid less.