Aluminium flex.
Added 2018-09-04 09:46:09 +0000 UTCAnother short video made at work. Don't worry, I'll be back at the usual bench in a few days and normal service will resume.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7aa-cJ1ki0
This is a look at a cheap box-ticking flex supplied with an imported product, and how to test for the dreaded copper coated aluminium (CCA) core flex that is fundamentally a fire waiting to happen.
If in doubt, swap it out.
Comments
Forgot to mention it being CCA and you didn't know to check it out, how many people had fires because them not being aware it was aluminum. Just evil. If you work with copper wire alot you can tell its aluminum immediately because it feels so different then copper.
Cleveland Prescott
2018-09-27 19:35:39 +0000 UTCAs a electrician I came across aluminum wire every now and then. What I noticed is that when you tighten down on the wire if its just a lug connection, the wire will expand slightly as you tighten it. Then when it cools down and contracts the connection would be loose. I learned when forced to work with it I would have to go back 2 to 4 times and tighten it further, I would tell who ever was in charge that if they have to mess with keep going back every 15 mins till it would stay tight.
Cleveland Prescott
2018-09-27 19:31:46 +0000 UTCI always cut off the crappy plugs and replace them with a quality, CE approved plug bought in bulk from CPC. I've seen a few cables, once beheaded, which have a normal thickness insulator with only 3 or 4 strands of super-thin CCA inside. It seems the cable is designed to act as the fuse, since the plug doesn't have one - so inventive those Chinese...
Gordo
2018-09-10 20:37:55 +0000 UTCgreat demonstration! Be vigilant
Michael Thompson
2018-09-05 16:17:22 +0000 UTCIt's not just mains leads - I bought a USB to DC power jack cable off eBay so that I could power a router off a power bank. To my surprise, the router's power LED barely glowed with this lead no matter what power bank or USB charger I tried, but worked fine with a mains 5V power supply. I then got my multimeter to check for a continuity issue and turned out to be a 2.5 Ohm resistance between the DC jack and the USB end despite the lead only being 1m long, i.e. 5 Ohms total resistance for the full circuit. No wonder it couldn't power the router. I also have a micro USB lead I'm suspicious of also (but bought from 7dayshop) as anything I attach it to will only draw about 300mA going by a USB power meter.
Seán Byrne
2018-09-04 20:35:26 +0000 UTCWe learned that the bad way in the 70’s here in the U.S. They were allowed to use aluminum wiring in prefabricated homes(trailer homes). We found out those things burn pretty well and the code was updated.
Lostngone
2018-09-04 15:57:07 +0000 UTCI missed the fake copper
God 420
2018-09-04 15:20:58 +0000 UTC1 no fuse 2 sleeved ground 3 the shape of the body
God 420
2018-09-04 15:16:56 +0000 UTCClassic festival Lurgy. The result of lots of people attending the festival from far flung countries with exotic diseases.
Big Clive
2018-09-04 13:43:52 +0000 UTCI have a massive box of those, I use them when people bug me for free cables "Hey - you've always got a cable to spare, can I have one?" "Sure... Here you go" Mean? Possibly - but then asking for things for nowt should have a downside...
2018-09-04 12:52:31 +0000 UTCOne very large glass of the Scottish remedy and a good night's sleep.
Neil Tonks
2018-09-04 09:59:18 +0000 UTC
