When one extension cord is simply not enough - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Warhawk
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2016, 06:40:01 am
content: Munich, March 27, Some weird-ass modern art exposition.I found it funny.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 30, 2016, 06:48:20 am
content: Reminded me of a really cool exhibit I saw at MONA last time I was in Tasmania. It would spell out words in water (it's cooler than it sounds). I think it was linked in to display Google searches or some other "live" thing on the internet.

author: iampoor
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2016, 06:49:42 am
content: Brilliant way to discard old inventory.

author: Ian.M
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2016, 06:52:08 am
content: Well, if you really need 6561 Schuko sockets that probably aren't good for more than 2.4mA each . . . .

author: TerraHertz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2016, 07:27:46 am
content: 3^7+3^6+3^5+3^4+3^3+3^2+3+1Is that about right?So, if it was plugged in, what is the current draw due to wiring capacitance?Edit: Oops. Too many powers. Fixed.

author: ataradov
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2016, 07:36:42 am
content: That's kind of cool. I'd actually let people grab some, provided they have not been discarded due to some defect.

author: MrSlack
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2016, 10:58:45 am
content: A certain nameless large defence company I worked for had a ring main in a temporary portakabin office made of chained together mains blocks like this. This had a pile of HP desktops attached. They gradually got hotter as you got closer to the supply feed. We were taking bets on when it burned down and came to the conclusion that if all the CPUs cranked up at the same time, the wattage would pop the supply instantly. It never happened, perhaps disappointingly.

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2016, 01:05:37 pm
content: A story from the past, the family used to own an aluminum benchtop frypan. The thing was an absolute beast and probably came out of the 60s.When I was around 9 years old our school class had a cooked breakfast morning where in small groups of a few people we would use one frypan to cook breakfast (sausages and eggs etc).The extension cable set up reminded me of that.Here is the best part, as the frypan was one of the few that had a lamp indicator to show it had power and was high wattage it was able to heat up quick and cook our food really quick.While eating, the entertainment in tripping the circuit breakers on the multi-way extension cables at the turn of my frypans thermostat control was priceless. Some raw food was eaten that day I'm sure.

author: Warhawk
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2016, 07:16:15 pm
content: Quote from: Halcyon on March 30, 2016, 06:48:20 amWow, really nice !

author: Ian.M
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2016, 07:58:41 pm
content: Quote from: TerraHertz on March 30, 2016, 07:27:46 amThey are all three way extension leads. I was counting the number of sockets in the final pile. There are six rows of socket ends in-shot, with nine leads entering bottom right so the total number of unfilled sockets is 3^8, or 6561. Your expression looks right for counting the leads, and unless I've slipped a digit somewhere that's 3280 leadsEstimating the capacitance is a little harder. From the floor tiles, I estimate the leads to be 1.8m long. They are certainly at least 1.5m and I don't think they are 2m. As an order of magnitude estimate (spherical cow level of accuracy), 100pF per lead would seem reasonable, (in the absence of any measurements on L-N capacitance of similar leads, or data to the cable used), giving a total capacitance of about 1/3 uF, and a no-load current of the order of 20mA

author: German_EE
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2016, 08:58:07 pm
content: I just had a vision of someone walking into Conrad and asking a sales droid for 6561 extension leads. As a Conrad plastic bag falls apart easily that would also be about 3250 carrier bags at 0.10 Euro each.

author: SL4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2016, 10:24:25 pm
content: Pay the children $5 to tidy them up. Then a trip to the beach.

author: mmagin
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2016, 11:59:55 pm
content: Quote from: MrSlack on March 30, 2016, 10:58:45 amWhen I was in high school, the Intel 386 and the HP LaserJet III were still reasonably modern. The computer lab had rows of 4 or 5 computers with a typical 14-15 inch VGA monitor and a LaserJet at the end of each row. At least some of these rows were powered by chained-together power strips. One day while I was there, the carpet caught on fire. Fortunately the chemistry teacher was nearby and had the good sense to use the CO2 extinguisher instead of the messy dry chemical and the computer lab was open the next day. Seems like the junction between an extension cord and a power strip got hot enough from resistance of dirty contacts + high currents that the plug melted enough to cause a small fire.And this is why today I won't use cheap power strips at home. And if plugs (such as to a space heater or air conditioner) run excessively warm, I replace the plug and/or the outlet for a good one with a tight fit.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 31, 2016, 07:21:38 pm
content: Was testing a repair today, and had a slightly warm extension cord, which is not a surprise, as I was drawing around 15A on the 1.5mm copper cord. There are a pair of sealing machines which regularly kill the socket outlets they are on, because they have 3kW of heater and 600VA of sealer transformer in them. Thus an intermittent 16A plus draw of poser, which the cheaper Chinese made socket outlets are unable to provide reliably for a long period. Solution was to replace the socket outlet, but place the new one in a less demanding place, and grab that outlet as the one for the machine. If the socket does die again I will have to bit the bullet and change out the socket and plug to an industrial solution and forgo portability. Plugs ( old ones, or good quality ones) survive 20A no problem, just the switches and thin brass stampings in the sockets do not at all, even with a supposed 20A rating on them.Had plenty of the cheap 2 pin adaptors used for cellphones either fall apart or break, I am not a fan on those things. Luckily SA has now introduced a type M 3 pin connector ( right that thing will do 15A without catching fire for sure) which I am using as phone charge connections, as they come with a switch and a nice safe recess so the wall warts are non touchable pin wise. Got a whole load of DECT bases running off a few high on a wall, much neater than the original thought of using a few multiplug units, just use 4 surface boxes in a square.

author: Rick Law
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2016, 10:12:42 pm
content: Fact is, many non technical person would just look at the number of outlets available and never give a thought to electrical limitations (Amps).As long as it fits (mechanically), they plug it in. Not enough outlets? Just get another splitter, you get 3 outlets out of one. At least most AC outlets here are equipped with circuit breakers so you just trip the circuit breaker.One of the "funny" issue I had faced was, after deploying a new generation of VAIO's (16Volt) replacing an older generation of VAIO's (19.5Volt), I had a significant rise in failure. You guessed it. Both VAIO 19.5V and VAIO 16V power-bricks use exactly the same power plug to the laptop... It is not unusual for folks to have extra power-brick permanently in the office while another one for travel. So they kept the extra travel-power-brick "since it fits". It is also common that in a meeting, folks borrow the power brick from the guy sitting next to him. As long as it mechanically fit...

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 02, 2016, 03:50:38 am
content: Quote from: Rick Law on April 01, 2016, 10:12:42 pmThat brings back a facepalm moment of some years ago ...The standard Australian power point is rated for a maximum 10A - and power boards usually are rated the same. The fun I had was trying to explain to one non-technical person was that a four way power board did NOT mean he could magically pull 10A out of ALL of them at the same time.To this day, I don't know if he ever 'got it'.

author: AntiProtonBoy
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2016, 01:37:43 pm
content: Quote from: Halcyon on March 30, 2016, 06:48:20 amsome of those search terms seems like straight our of /pol/