And this is why you don't use unlisted power cords that come with imported electronics.
- Thread starter Todd0x1
- Start date
petersonra
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern illinois
- Occupation
- engineer
If the device it is powering only pulls half an amp, what difference does it make?
until that device which only pulls half and amp contains a MOV across its input that decides to go into supernova mode and your cord turns into a burning fuse before anything else opens.
petersonra
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern illinois
- Occupation
- engineer
If the device is UL listed, that kind of thing is accounted for. In any case, the amount of current that a type 3 SPD will fail on is a lot less than you apparently think.
Speedskater
Senior Member
- Location
- Cleveland, Ohio
- Occupation
- retired broadcast, audio and industrial R&D engineering
One day with time on my hands, I measured several IEC cords in my spares box. Some were from PCs, printers and hi-fi equipment.
I used a 6½ digit 4 terminal Ohm meter. Some had a lot higher end-to-end resistance than their AWG suggested.
* * * * * * * *
I have read anecdotal reports about problems with cords from a cable company for A/V installers and another for test equipment.
I think that common problems (other than undersized conductors) might be:
a] swapped Hot & Neutral wire.
b] Safety Ground (EGC) not connected.
c] Wire strands not crimped.
d] poorly machined contacts.
I used a 6½ digit 4 terminal Ohm meter. Some had a lot higher end-to-end resistance than their AWG suggested.
* * * * * * * *
I have read anecdotal reports about problems with cords from a cable company for A/V installers and another for test equipment.
I think that common problems (other than undersized conductors) might be:
a] swapped Hot & Neutral wire.
b] Safety Ground (EGC) not connected.
c] Wire strands not crimped.
d] poorly machined contacts.
VirutalElectrician
Senior Member
- Location
- Mpls, MN
- Occupation
- Sparky - Trying to be retired
This is why UL mandates that the minimum size of an extension cord be 16awg. Using a removable appliance cord is really no different. That same IEC connector is used on data center computers needing 14awg conductors.
Imagine some teenager grabbing that cord out of a box and using it to power their 1000 watt gaming computer.
Imagine some teenager grabbing that cord out of a box and using it to power their 1000 watt gaming computer.
Had this problem all the time with IEC computer cords we kept in storage boxes. They ranged from #18 to #14. Some people would just grab a nice flexible 18 AWG cord intended for an LCD monitor and put it on their big server that originally came with a 14 AWG cord. Part of the problem is the C13/C14 cord has an amp limit of 10A internationally, and 15A in the US. The saving grace is many servers that appear to use 15A don't really draw that much power, at least on a nearly continuous basis.