restorer-john
Grand Contributor
BUT...I have this power supply I could try on it....
That's a cool cold war era look power supply. I like it.
BUT...I have this power supply I could try on it....
Just ordered a Mean Well SDR-480-48 Power Supply (10amp 480 Watt) off eBay for $40. I noticed in the specs they explicitly state a peak load rating of 150% 740watt (for 3 seconds). I wonder what kind of peak loads these Audio brand power supplies could handle? I find it really tough to compare without load measurements.
Probably yes, when you and your insurance assessor are sifting through the charred remains of what was once your house...
At least in the U.S. context, this is more myth than fact -- maybe it's true elsewhere, but hereabouts most abodes have dozens of uncertified items from extension cords to nightlights connected up to AC mains without any insurance consequences in the event of a mishap.
Have you ever needed to make a claim for an electrical fire?
Items left plugged in or turned on and unattended are grounds for denying claims, as are faulty, non-compliant or overloaded items. Insurance companies are evil- they try to get out of everything.
So, every wall wart in the U.S. without a UL mark is an insurance risk, including the one packed with my so-called "smartphone" from a major U.S. carrier, which has neither UL nor CE markings? An interesting supposition, John...
Presuming typo/autocorrect of 'lithium ion' rather than incomplete 'lithium iron phosphate' which is much less prone to self immolation but has lower energy density.lithium iron cell technology
Presuming typo/autocorrect of 'lithium ion' rather than incomplete 'lithium iron phosphate' which is much less prone to self immolation but has lower energy density.
I lost count of all the high energy (capable of starting a fire) Li-ion batteries I have around the place.
One of my best friends (Europe) is a top dog in insurance and I can assure you it's their absolute delight to search and find such stuff so to avoid claims.At least in the U.S. context, this is more myth than fact -- maybe it's true elsewhere, but hereabouts most abodes have dozens of uncertified items from extension cords to nightlights connected up to AC mains without any insurance consequences in the event of a mishap.
There are a multitude of duly certified industrial power supplies, including name brand stuff, that have naked terminals carrying mains voltage, something that would disqualify them from certification as a standalone consumer product -- IMO that clearly implies different certification criteria for industrial subassemblies vs. consumer products.
I don't think that an American manufacturer would deliver a power supply or charger in the USA without a certificate.So, every wall wart in the U.S. without a UL mark is an insurance risk, including the one packed with my so-called "smartphone" from a major U.S. carrier, which has neither UL nor CE markings? An interesting supposition, John...
At such cases insurance goes as far as searching people's photos on Facebook and Instagram to find probable causes for denial based on uncertified devices,bad electrical practices,etc.If it involves building damage in the 7 or 8-digit range, or even personal injury, I don't want to be responsible, especially because of the legal consequences.
At such cases insurance goes as far as searching people's photos on Facebook and Instagram to find probable causes for denial based on uncertified devices,bad electrical practices,etc.
@restorer-john said they're evil and I want to add that this is an understatement.
They have an enormous database that they share worldwide about all kinds of stuff,and consumer habits is key to that,based on clients net-worth,etc.
You simply can't win if they can prove stuff.
The bare connections on so-called industrial power supplies are generally not a problem, as the same applies here: the person who connects it is also responsible for the correct connection. Otherwise, ovens, ceramic/induction hobs, lamps, etc. would not be allowed to be sold. Not all devices that you can buy have a plug connection.There are a multitude of duly certified industrial power supplies, including name brand stuff, that have naked terminals carrying mains voltage, something that would disqualify them from certification as a standalone consumer product -- IMO that clearly implies different certification criteria for industrial subassemblies vs. consumer products.
True for most devices, although there is an exception for devices maintaining a network connection while in standby. I've called out some of these apparent violations before. California has a similar rule for efficiency and standby power for PSUs.Furthermore,aside from certs,what's also illegal in Europe are devices that consume more than 0.5W doing nothing (as a stand-by state,not idle) .
People here claim that some of these bricks consume about 5-10W just plugging them to mains,doing nothing.
Personally, I don't think it's a good idea to saddle @amirm with such tests. And I say that because I know about such stress tests and know how high the requirements are. Devices, systems, safety devices, extraction devices, extinguishing systems, etc. We're talking about 5-6-digit investments here.Im still at a loss why ASR didn't test the amps with one PSU?
That's a cool cold war era look power supply. I like it.
One of my best friends (Europe) is a top dog in insurance and I can assure you it's their absolute delight to search and find such stuff so to avoid claims.
They think it's a given that they find something with all this cheapo stuff people get from Ali and elsewhere.
Furthermore,aside from certs,what's also illegal in Europe are devices that consume more than 0.5W doing nothing (as a stand-by state,not idle) .
People here claim that some of these bricks consume about 5-10W just plugging them to mains,doing nothing.
I would pay attention to all those stuff.
Edit:As a fun story (or not so fun) they refused claims cause they once found one of those stuff that keep drinks warm
Here we go..... throw some salt water on it!Yep.
I should out him,I know,we tell him in the company that we love him but we don't like himThat's operation in obvious bad faith on the part of that insurer. Consumers would love to know which insurer your friend works for so that they can avoid this bad faith business. Insurance is always a balancing act but insurers in the US are pushing hard on the "screw you" aspect of their business models in recent years and I predict the worst offenders will go defunct as consumers reject them and competitors provide better terms and good faith service.
Also, I suspect that some posts here about the safety of these power bricks are made simply to undermine these Class D amps coming from China. Add a little fear to the conversations where possible to sow doubt about these products.
Many thousands of homes in the US are old enough so that their entire electrical systems are out of date and out of code. There are plenty living in the US who still have knob and wire systems in the walls. There are millions of devices with old cords, cracked sockets, loose internal connections, etc. etc.. There are millions of internal wires running in houses that have been nicked, soaked, chewed on by squirrels, etc. Small Li-Ion units are plugged in by the literal millions. The failure rates are infinitesimally small for all of these gadgets.
One thing I know is that I'm much more comfortable living with Chinese power bricks than some of the old Class A and Class AB amps I've had in the house.