Extension Lead Test

Phil Allison Inscribed thus:

25 to 30 amps. :-)

--
Best Regards:
                     Baron.

A guess, based on the probability that it is a no-name Chinese cable, about 16A.

7.5A

I don't know the answer.You must remember thought that the 75c cable rating is the highest temperature of the environment that a cable of that rating can be used. Could you explain what the rating of your cable has to do with your project. Presumably you didn't have any protection for your cable otherwise it would have tripped.

Metro

** You think Chinese copper has more ohms than others ??

.... Phil

"Baron"

** Close - the cable stabilised at 75 C when passing 24 amps.

Temp rise above room ambient was 50 degrees C.

At this temp, the cable itself is still perfectly safe to use but the possibility remains that the plug and socket may get rather hot if the pins are not reasonably free of tarnish.

Fact is though that 24 amps will soon trip a 16 amp or even 20 amp breaker in the AC supply circuit.

.... Phil

Fact is Phil has no idea. Take a guess at how long a 20A circuit breaker will take to trip at 24A? For extra credit, how long will a 16A circuit breaker take to trip at 24A?

At least Phil has acknowledged he was wrong last time when he was talking about 15A breakers, and has used the correct ratings.

Note that the current rating for flexible cable subject to flexing is taken for a maximum temperature of 60C (ambient 40C). Where flexible cords are used as fixed wiring, higher temperature rise is permitted (ie higher current).

David

"David the Psychotic Autistic Pedant"

** So says a grossly autistic, anonymous, lying lunatic pedant.

BTW:

The only good pedant is a DEAD one.

I do sincerely hope David the Pedant's death is not soon -

but rather as long and agonising as possible.

..... Phil

One wonders why Phil in his project twisted the blue and brown cores together? He should have bared the ends and held each end between finger and thumb. He would then easily find out at what amperage the breaker would trip. 'nough said really.

No, but I buy a lot of stuff from China. My experience is just because the manufacturer says it has "whatever" specification there is no guarantee as to the truth of the mater if the market is competitive or an extra dollar can be made - examples might be fake pharmaceuticals, pet food filled with melamine because it improves the result of fixed nitrogen tests and 200Amp jumper cables with lots of plastic but less copper than a single 10 amp conductor (not kidding - "Supercheap" got stuck with thousands of them)

My experience is about 70% of stuff is as spec, 20% is usable but deficient in some way eg missing features, missing accessory, lower rating etc, and 10% is just crap. Which means you either have to always deal with shipping agencies and companies you have found reliable or always know that your taking a chance of your money disappearing in return for nothing of value.

take to trip at 24A? For extra credit, how long will a 16A circuit breaker take to trip at 24A?

about 15A breakers, and has used the correct ratings.

for a maximum temperature of 60C (ambient 40C). Where flexible cords are used as fixed wiring, higher temperature rise is permitted (ie higher current).

Whats up Phil?

Unable to answer a simple question about a circuit breaker?

How long will it take to trip to trip a 20A circuit at 24A? Not a really difficult question if you have any idea about circuit protection.

How long is "soon"?

You really should have tried to complete Uni. You might have learnt a little bit about electricity. Fuse and circuit breaker behaviour was probably covered in third year subject.

Come on Phil, you must have an some idea. Go out an buy one if you must. Be careful though you don't blow the one fuse supplying power to your apartment.

David

Hint. Think hours rather than seconds.

Phil Allison Inscribed thus:

That mirrors my experience ! The contact faces are the weak points... Phenolic stinks.

--
Best Regards:
                     Baron.

** Wot a lot of piffle.

Anyone can check and see if the conductors are really 1 sq mm copper inside or simply compare the self heating with another known lead connected in series.

If that lead had really reached 75C with only 7.5 amps - I would have notified the relevant safety authority and all hell would then break loose with product recalls and the lot.

.... Phil

You must remember though that the 75c cable rating is the highest temperature of the environment that a cable of that rating can be used. It has nothing to do with the amperage of the conductor. It is the insulation that is the rating. It is the job of the breaker or overload to control the load.

Yes, anyone *can* - but mostly they don't, that is until someone gets burnt (no puns intended) or some external force points out in an undeniable public way that there is already a fly in the ointment.

I have no doubt that you would (and it is the right thing to do of course) and there would be recalls.

But, you might be surprised that if you were their employee, many larger companies would not thank you for your diligence. Finding such a problem would point out failures in the management and control structures (hence faults with the top management) and a string of incompetences all down the management line and now that the problem has been pointed out (ie they are aware of it) they are liable for damages caused if they don't take steps to fix the problem.

This is much worse than if there becomes a public problem (like someone else's home burning down), when they are not liable because the product was properly certified as complying to Australian standards and it is not their fault that some overseas dodgy supplier lied and cheated (hence the various pushes to get supplier certified).

** Only takes ONE consumer to notice the BLOODY OBVIOUS and report it to the safety authority.

You are deliberately IGNORING the facts of this * particular * situation and fabricating a false argument.

I suspect nothing I say will stop you from continuing to do so.

The bee in your bonnet is indeed a very busy one .......

** Thing is, the makers and suppliers of such extension leads are also well aware of the VERY SERIOUS repercussions of the blatant and CRIMINAL type fraud you blithely imagine can easily be happening.

My comment about 'all hell breaking loose' was meant quite literally.

** True enough - but irrelevant to the issue here.

On more than a few occasions and while acting as a concerned outsider - I have felt compelled to inform particular businesses & companies in Australia that they were making, selling, advertising or publishing things in a way that was VERY FAR outside of what is fair or legally acceptable practice.

For my trouble, I have received in consequence threatening letters from the culprit's lawyers, several very hostile phone calls, an attempted smear campaign against myself and my own small business in one case a direct threat against my personal safety.

The culprits involved are mostly very well known to readers of this newsgroup.

You don't need to tell me anything.

.... Phil

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Regardless of what you may think of Phil, I fully believe this and would advise others to consider this advice carefully before any action.

& would add that with QLD state government, they don't just threaten, they act. Assuming other states are as bad, be very careful if you start on a gov department, especially if they tell you they aren't interested in your complaint (no matter how legit).

Personally now know 2 people who have tried this, and one paid a very high price..

Yes, I remember cases of this type being exposed on this group going back to at least 2002. IEC leads. I still remember a certain d*****ad who despite the technical facts, continued to argue the point.

I think you are being a pedant, David.

One thing I do believe is that Phil A is pretty competent and knowledgeable with electronics/electrical and I wouldn't hesitate to ask him to work on gear of my if he would do so.

I would just suggest that most consumers won't cut their extension lead in half to check the conductors.

I've been in the same boat.