Got it - thanks for the explanation. Jim
-----Original Message----- From: Rich Nute [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Thursday, October 25, 2001 1:58 PM To: [email protected] Cc: [email protected] Subject: Re: skinny power cords. Hi Jim: > Thanks Rich: I suspect you're right. Isn't that mechanism exactly what the > tracking index tests are meant to address? I thought that any UL-approved > wiring device like this would have a material that is designed to resist > tracking, hence my speculation that contamination might be involved. No, I believe the UL tracking index tests do not address the scenario I described. My scenario starts with heating the insulating material to the point where it begins to pyrolyze, i.e., decompose by heat alone. The UL tracking index test starts with a drop of saline solution to provide a resistive path on the surface of the plastic insulator. The micro-arcs occur in the saline solution. In my scenario, pyrolysis, not pollution, leads to the micro-arcs. So, I don't believe the tracking index is necessarily a predictor of tracking due to pyrolysis. I could be wrong... Best regards, Rich ------------------------------------------- This message is from the IEEE EMC Society Product Safety Technical Committee emc-pstc discussion list. Visit our web site at: http://www.ewh.ieee.org/soc/emcs/pstc/ To cancel your subscription, send mail to: [email protected] with the single line: unsubscribe emc-pstc For help, send mail to the list administrators: Michael Garretson: [email protected] Dave Heald [email protected] For policy questions, send mail to: Richard Nute: [email protected] Jim Bacher: [email protected] All emc-pstc postings are archived and searchable on the web at: No longer online until our new server is brought online and the old messages are imported into the new server.
