Count Arthur
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This was one of the designs that didn’t meet regulations.
I see a lot of IEC19/20 cables today rated for 10A
Are the IEC19 plugs/sockets any less wobbly/fally-outy than the IEC16 type?
The current (since 1971) 1p coin fits snugly between the prongs of a power plug. Of course, on modern plugs the prongs have a plastic surround that prevents such mischief.There was a time in the UK when one of the small denomination coins – I think it was the 2p – fit precisely between the prongs of the UK plug shorting all three together. I remember it was a popular prank at school to fit such a coin on the plug of the overhead projector. Teacher comes into class, plugs in overhead projector ... huge bang, sparks and lights go out on that floor of school. Sometimes whole school. Instant free period! Those were the days ...
Ah it was the 1p. I haven't been in Britain for 35 years so memory is getting hazy. I'm surprised they're still in circulation. The smallest coin around here is about 7p.The current (since 1971) 1p coin fits snugly between the prongs of a power plug.
Spoilsports!Of course, on modern plugs the prongs have a plastic surround that prevents such mischief.
Even more surprisingly, you can still find 1971 coins marked "1 NEW PENNY" in circulation.Ah it was the 1p. I haven't been in Britain for 35 years so memory is getting hazy. I'm surprised they're still in circulation. The smallest coin around here is about 7p.
Don't want to derail this thread, but will anyway!There was a time in the UK when one of the small denomination coins – I think it was the 2p – fit precisely between the prongs of the UK plug shorting all three together. I remember it was a popular prank at school to fit such a coin on the plug of the overhead projector. Teacher comes into class, plugs in overhead projector ... huge bang, sparks and lights go out on that floor of school. Sometimes whole school. Instant free period! Those were the days ...
In my tear down articles, I routinely emphasize safety factors which are often missed. In reviews I also note at times when equipment has regulatory certification or not.
Often the retort is when was the last time something had gone wrong with electronics this way. So I thought I share a recent experience on this front.
I went to hook up a passive speaker to my Purifi amplifier on my desk. As I hooked up the wire, I am hearing sparking sound. I immediately think the speaker terminals are shorted but quick glance indicates they are fine. No spark is visible and at any rate, the amplifier is still off. Yet the "buzzing" and clear and loud sparking sound continues. I immediately reach for the power strip and hit off and the noise goes away.
Guessing that it may be the IEC cable, I touch that and realize that it was not inserted all the way. I pulled it out and smelled it and indeed it smelled like burnt rubber. Pushed it all in and it was fine. The amp is in standby mode and with its switching supply being on all the time, it was causing that sparking.
The reason to tell this story is that it is not the scenarios we can think of that are unsafe, but the ones we can't! I would have never thought of such a fire risk before it happened this way. Imagine if I were not home and this thing was sparking this way for hours on end. And the cord was a non-name one with no fire or safety rating (UL, CE, CSA, etc.).
So please, unless you really have to, buy audio electronics with proper safety regulations. I can't tell you the exact scenario they may be unsafe. What I can tell you is that it can manifest itself per above when you least expect it.
Now I have to go and check to see if that outlet was on Arc Fault breaker and still did that.