Cost of 'lead-free' (or < 300 ppm) building wire

Status
Not open for further replies.
MasterTheNEC said:
NO. It is about the conductive material. However, it is possible to have lead in the curing component of a vulcanized product but rare.
Click to expand...

All documentation I've been able to find indicates the opposite. The lead in building wire is found in the lead-based heat stabilizers in PVC insulation.
 
SteamDonkey said:
All documentation I've been able to find indicates the opposite. The lead in building wire is found in the lead-based heat stabilizers in PVC insulation.
Click to expand...

Provide your documentation. The ROHS standards and many others limit the levels of lead and while tracws can be found in many components the levels are well below acceptable values. I can only speak for the company I represent and the ppm is well below 300. The industry concern was driven to be about the conductive media and not the insulation for the overall compliance.

PS....why wont a mod ban me again please, it was peaceful before bugged again by an old post. How shall I offend the...let me count the ways.
 
MasterTheNEC said:
Nevermind....I ban myself....Bye Bye!
Click to expand...

Honestly, while I profoundly disagree with your views on AFCIs and the code making process, you still have the right to free speech. Meaning that if you are censored, in the end so will I. Just my thoughts on the matter.
 
MasterTheNEC said:
Provide your documentation. The ROHS standards and many others limit the levels of lead and while tracws can be found in many components the levels are well below acceptable values. I can only speak for the company I represent and the ppm is well below 300. The industry concern was driven to be about the conductive media and not the insulation for the overall compliance.

PS....why wont a mod ban me again please, it was peaceful before bugged again by an old post. How shall I offend the...let me count the ways.
Click to expand...

From post #8.

I agree that the lead is not in the wire. This may be outdated but from the Cerrowire website:

Polyvinyl Chloride Compounds
Dispose of the THHN insulating material utilizing the correct procedures as required by EPA and DOT due to its Lead and Antimony Trioxide content.
 
packersparky said:
From post #8.

I agree that the lead is not in the wire. This may be outdated but from the Cerrowire website:

Polyvinyl Chloride Compounds
Dispose of the THHN insulating material utilizing the correct procedures as required by EPA and DOT due to its Lead and Antimony Trioxide content.
Click to expand...
It was never said (that I recall) that there were not traces of lead in the insulation compounds. What was said is that the levels are so far below the ROHS, which is actually 1000 ppm but most manufacturers are well below 300 ppm. Also the largest concern in the industry was less about the insulation (which I am not sure why people would even be worrying about that with todays building wire) and more of the concern was in the MC and AC Armor products and the levels that could be obtained in the conductive medium as well.

Trace amount is the insulation of Thermoplastic have taken care of itself over the evolution of the building wire industry with EPA and so on involved.

FYI- Peter d....Bite Me....;)
 
FWIW there is a long history of lead being added to PVC to stabilize it.
http://www.pvc.org/en/p/lead-stabilisers

This is not a trace impurity (as it would be in the copper itself), but an intentional addition.

It is a real hazard in some situations, eg. vinyl window blinds where sunlight breaks down the surface leaving lead dust. In other situations, not so much. THHN wire? Don't chew on it. Disposal is another issue to consider.

Really: Don't chew pvc insulation: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00020984.htm ( note 10000-39000 ppm, or 1-3.9%!! lead)

-Jon
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top