Sparks Electrical News October 2015

DANGEROUS & UNSAFE electrical cable Two simple tests

A variety of electric cable is used to bring electricity into buildings, to distribute it within a building and to power devices in daily use. There is a large amount of sub-standard and dangerous cable being distributed in South Africa.

One of the most frequent and dangerous measures taken by unscrupulous suppliers to reduce cost, is to use other metal and alloys instead of specified material as the conductor, and this is not discernible from the appearance of the cable. Here are two simple tests which can be conducted to identify unsafe cable.

Flame test for Aluminium in finely-stranded cable: Strip off the insulation, spread the wire strands a bit and hold a flame under the strands.

Magnet test for steel content in cable: Apply a magnet to the cable.

Test Conducted

Test Conducted

If the magnet is attracted, it is likely to be a sub-standard and dangerous power cable as neither copper nor aluminium (which is permissible in sizes from 16 mm 2 and larger) is magnetic.

Copper-coated material such as aluminium, instead of specified pure copper, will burn and droop. Such cable is illegal and unsafe.

SAFEhouse members have signed a code of conduct: Your assurance of commitment to offer only safe electrical products

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Suppliers you can trust

The SAFEhouse code of conduct includes:

TVE LECTRIC

AMEMBEROFTHE Hudaco GROUP

• To offer only products that are safe • To advise customers if any of their sold products fail this undertaking • To recall unsafe products • To replace unsafe products or render them safe The SAFEhouse Association is a non-profit, industry organisation committed to the fight against sub-standard, unsafe electrical products. For more information contact : Pierre Nothard Cell: 083 414 4980 Tel: 011 396 8140 | Email: pierren@safehousesa.co.za www.safehousesa.co.za

As at 07/09/2015