BR>From: Bob Brister <[email protected]>
BR>Subject: Input power connections with removable cord set.
BR>I may have inquired of this forum on this subject before, I can't
BR>remember. I
BR>am interested in what your experience has been with overheating of
BR>removable cord sets at the equipment input end. This would include the
BR>cord and the
BR>appliance connector.
BR>Bob Brister
BR>Digital Equipment Corp.
BR>Bob Brister
This is not an industrial situation but does relate to AC power cords:
BACKGROUND: In our bedroom near our bed, we have a UL approved multi
outlet plugin unit (converts 2 outlets to 4) Plugged into that adapter
outlet is a high quality UL approved extension cord that then supplies
power to a bedside lamp and a DeLonghi portable heater - both were *NOT*
being powered when this event occurred.
EVENT: One night my wife was sitting on the edge of the bed and heard a
sizzling sound. She could not tell where it was coming from. The
sizzling got louder until suddenly flames lapped up the wall from the
above mentioned AC outlet. The flames were around 2 feet in height and
only 4-6 inches away from a curtain.
She called to me and I ran into the room, seeing the flames I quickly
unplugged the extension cord and all fire self extinguished.
ANALYSIS: An arc had been created between the two AC blades of the
extension cord which drew sufficient current to "carbonize" both the
plastic between the blades of the extension cord *and* the plastic
between the holes of the adapter. Evidently the current was not enough
to cause the 20 amp breaker to trip, but enough to turn the UL approved
materials into dangerous burning, flaming material.
EPILOGUE: Checking with the vendors for the items. They claim to have
*never* seen such a thing occur. However, mentioning it on the
networks, a fireman responded that this single item was the major cause
of home fires. That indeed these arcs are made, draw sufficient current
to flame, yet do not trip a breaker.
Remember that *NO* power was being drawn from the offending extension
cord (it was the only item plugged into the outlet at this time) so all
these claims of ratings and poor contacts for supplying current do not
apply.
As a result of this experience, we now unplug all unnecessary items from
the outlets when we are not present. Since we can't trust what we
thought we could.
This is anecdotal information, but I must tell you how angry I am with
the situation. What if we had not been home, or even in the room, when
this occurred? This (evidently common occurrence per the fireman's
comment) could have resulted in a real personal tragedy.
- Robert -
[email protected]
AJM Electronics
---
~ OLX 2.1 TD ~ Give weeds an inch and they'll take a yard.
