More dodgey electrics. - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Kibi
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 21, 2013, 07:39:48 pm
content: Who's done that?!?!

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 21, 2013, 08:04:19 pm
content: Is that an audio plug on the end !

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 21, 2013, 08:09:37 pm
content: Can't ID the left plug.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 21, 2013, 08:10:26 pm
content: It is rated for mains use..........I have sort of stabilised on XLR connectors for solar power, cheap, capable of 10A and small, as well as being totally incompatible with any mains cabling connectors.

author: ResR
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 21, 2013, 08:14:46 pm
content: Home-made?https://www.elfa.se/elfa3~ee_et/elfa/init.do?item=42-288-39&toc=18940The socket is mains rated though, if I found correct one, but 40A on 16A plug?That is a mistake. Nice find, Kibi.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 21, 2013, 08:21:10 pm
content: Fine to overspec the equipment connector to be higher rated than the supply, but not if you try to draw more than the rating of the supply. Those connectors are used often in stage lighting to connect multiple lights to a controller via a single multicore mains cable.

author: david77
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 21, 2013, 08:28:39 pm
content: The left connector is from Neutrik's PowerCon Series and if I remember correctly is capable of 20A @ 250V. It only looks like Speakon but is incompatible.Judging by the size compared to the PowerCon plug the CEE plug is a 16A version.Nothing wrong with this cable.

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 21, 2013, 08:37:17 pm
content: Quote from: Bored@Work on March 21, 2013, 08:09:37 pmOk, found it. It is a PowerConhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PowerCon

author: Kibi
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 21, 2013, 08:41:51 pm
content: OK, the connector is rated at 20A. It is a Neutrik PowerCon connector. Correct so far.However more specifically the White Neutrik PowerCon is an OUT connector and is keyed differently to the Blue PowerCon IN connector.So,Quote from: david77 on March 21, 2013, 08:28:39 pmThere is everything wrong with this cable.It gets worse though because there are two of them wired out of the single BS4343 connector.This is the risk that is presented. A correctly wired BS4343 with a blue PowerCon IN connector on the right with the incorrectly wired White PowerCon OUT connector to male BS4343 connector on the left. There is nothing wrong with the PDU, it is wired correctly.The Wikipedia link only shows the PowerCon IN connector.Here are the details:http://www.neutrik.co.uk/en-uk/lighting/powercon/powercon-20-a/

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 22, 2013, 06:20:37 am
content: So the left one should be a blue line socket instead.

author: Kibi
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 22, 2013, 01:18:03 pm
content: Yes, that is correct. It turns out that the electricians decided to change the connector from blue to white and feed the PDU via it's white, and clearly labelled, OUT connector in order to facilitate neater wiring.They completely neglected the fact that the front IN connector is now live.Being the first person to spot the error, I now have a mountain of forms to fill in. Joy.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 22, 2013, 03:30:36 pm
content: Did you consider dropping the one connector in his lap while powered up? That will be a memorable lesson, especially if he is drinking a cup of tea at the time.

author: Kibi
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 22, 2013, 06:00:41 pm
content: You could do that, but you could get even more entertainment out of plugging the other end into a different phase.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 22, 2013, 06:25:00 pm
content: Only if you also swap out the breakers to disconnects as well for the circuits concerned. As well as arrange for an audience to be there when it is plugged in, along with a camera going.