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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.
DANGEROUS & UNSAFE electrical cable
Two simple tests
Magnet test for steel content in cable:
Apply a magnet to the
cable.
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.
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.
Copper-coated material such as aluminium, instead of specified
pure copper, will burn and droop. Such cable is illegal and unsafe.
Test Conducted
Test Conducted
Suppliers you can trust
TM
The SAFEhouse code of conduct includes:
• 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.zaAs at 07/09/2015
AMEMBEROFTHE Hudaco GROUP TVE LECTRIC SAFEhouse members have signed a code of conduct: Your assurance of commitment to offer only safe electrical products