I feel like jumping in on this very interesting and enlightening thread. As it reinforces a few issues I have often had to explain to the various design engineers and gives me more ammunition to support the need for fault testing.
Just because a product is UL approved does not mean it is safe or suitable for the application. In Europe the LVD covers this quite clearly by stating that testing to a standard alone, is inadequate for demonstrating compliance to the directive. We have to go that one step further and consider forcible use and misuse. After all standards evolve as lessons, like this one, are learnt. If there were never any electrical fires, there would be no safety standards. When a new revision of a UL standard is issued, manufactures generally have 5 years before they must submit their old products for approval to the new level of standard. Even then, this does not apply to products already within the supply chain. The chap actually selling the goods might have no idea that the UL marked goods they are dutifully selling, were approved to a now defunct standard and they nolonger comply ! Also reinforces the basic rule, if it is plastic and the ignition source is large enough, it will burn. A 5V or V0 flame rating does not mean it is fire proof, just that it will not contribute to the fire. Personally though I have never been comfortable with US plugs and outlets with out an inbuilt on/off switch. I like our big chunky UK plugs. Anyway, slightly off track. But it Friday night, so time to say have a good weekend everyone. PS. Enough of the fish jokes ! Kenneth McCormick wrote: > I think the answer to the problem exists. The 2002 version of the National > Electric Code will require Arc Fault Interrupters in bedrooms. > > See the link below from the CPSC for details. > > http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/afci.html > > >From: "Colgan, Chris" <chris.col...@tagmclaren.com> > >Reply-To: "Colgan, Chris" <chris.col...@tagmclaren.com> > >To: emc-p...@majordomo.ieee.org > >Subject: RE: skinny power cords. > >Date: Fri, 26 Oct 2001 09:51:20 +0100 > > > > > >I used to curse the size of our British BS1363 plugs and socket outlets. I > >won't be so hasty in the future. > > > >Chris Colgan > >Compliance Engineer > >TAG McLaren Audio Ltd > >The Summit, Latham Road > >Huntingdon, Cambs, PE29 6ZU > >*Tel: +44 (0)1480 415 627 > >*Fax: +44 (0)1480 52159 > >* Mailto:chris.col...@tagmclaren.com > >* http://www.tagmclaren.com > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > From: Dan Kwok [SMTP:dk...@intetron.com] > > > Sent: 26 October 2001 00:10 > > > To: Robert Macy > > > Cc: emc-p...@majordomo.ieee.org > > > Subject: Re: skinny power cords. > > > > > > > > > Robert, > > > > > > It would seem this kind of problem may also happen without an extension > > > cord. I know a fellow that used to unplug most of his appliances from > > > the wall in anticipation of a lightning storm. I guess you can't be too > > > careful. > > > > > > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > Dan Kwok, P.Eng. > > > Principal Engineer > > > Electromagnetic Compatibility > > > Intetron Consulting, Inc. > > > Ph (604) 432-9874 > > > E-mail dk...@intetron.com > > > Internet http://www.intetron.com > > > > > > > > > > > > Robert Macy wrote: > > > > > > > > It definitely was not supplied by the heater company. It was a high > > > quality > > > > UL approved cord. It's just that this cord carbonized and burst into > > > flame > > > > as the arc was existing. The flames did immediately extinguish when > >the > > > arc > > > > was stopped by unplugging the cord which is good. > > > > > > > > But again, it was disturbing that the 15A breaker provided no > > > protection. > > > > > > > > Anyway, it was a good lesson for this "sleeping" guy. Now I take > > > electrical > > > > distribution inside my home much more seriously. > > > > > > > > - Robert - > > > > > > > > Robert A. Macy, PE m...@california.com > > > > 408 286 3985 fx 408 297 9121 > > > > AJM International Electronics Consultants > > > > 619 North First St, San Jose, CA 95112 > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > > From: Dan Kwok <dk...@intetron.com> > > > > To: Robert Macy <m...@california.com>; emc-p...@majordomo.ieee.org > > > > <emc-p...@majordomo.ieee.org> > > > > Date: Thursday, October 25, 2001 1:42 PM > > > > Subject: Re: skinny power cords. > > > > > > > > > > > > > >Hi Robert, > > > > > > > > > >Recently, I bought several similar heaters for my home. I recall > > > reading in > > > > >the operation instructions, explicit safety warnings against using > > > > extension > > > > >cords with the heater. Was the extension cord supplied with the > >heater? > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >--------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > > >Dan Kwok, P.Eng. > > > > >Principal Engineer > > > > >Electromagnetic Compatibility > > > > >Intetron Consulting, Inc. > > > > >Ph (604) 432-9874 > > > > >E-mail dk...@intetron.com > > > > >Internet http://www.intetron.com > > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------------- > > > 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: > > > majord...@ieee.org > > > with the single line: > > > unsubscribe emc-pstc > > > > > > For help, send mail to the list administrators: > > > Michael Garretson: pstc_ad...@garretson.org > > > Dave Heald davehe...@mediaone.net > > > > > > For policy questions, send mail to: > > > Richard Nute: ri...@ieee.org > > > Jim Bacher: j.bac...@ieee.org > > > > > > 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. > > > > > >************************************************************** > > Please visit us at www.tagmclaren.com > >************************************************************** > > > >The contents of this E-mail are confidential and for the exclusive > >use of the intended recipient. 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Visit our web site at: http://www.ewh.ieee.org/soc/emcs/pstc/ To cancel your subscription, send mail to: majord...@ieee.org with the single line: unsubscribe emc-pstc For help, send mail to the list administrators: Michael Garretson: pstc_ad...@garretson.org Dave Heald davehe...@mediaone.net For policy questions, send mail to: Richard Nute: ri...@ieee.org Jim Bacher: j.bac...@ieee.org 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.
