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In Reply to: RE: Held Captive posted by dirtyvinyl on February 01, 2015 at 10:26:09
yikes! I don't even see a single mention of UL ratings or approval. Are there UL markings on the product or its packaging somewhere? I have trouble imagining that saran wrap insulation has proper ratings though I don't really know. Looks suspicious to me.
Follow Ups:
I would be surprised if any "audiophile" power cord is submitted for UL testing and approval.
-Wendell
Edits: 02/01/15
I'm assuming the user would be held liable for any failures due to improper application but I'm no lawyer. Seems a bit risky no matter how well it performs.
The construction is the same wire used for their speaker cable. While in theory it would seem very questionable about the wire handling high current,
I never experienced suspicious things like connectors getting warm or any warning signs. Used it for several years while the jacket was fine.
It does hold up to it's claims at least in my system.
Doesn't matter as I'm not using it. The sonic improvement, however was easily noticed.
Might as well made it out of sever paralleled twisted pairs of CAT 5e or CAT 6 data cable. Might even sound better than the Mapleshade power cord.> > >
As for the Mapleshade cord.High current would be a factor.... One problem if the current draw is higher than the wire is rated for, the wire will heat up causing the insulation to heat up and may increase the temperature to rise above the temperature rating of the insulation. If the temperature gets high enough the insulation will break down and cause arcing or a short. A short will cause the branch circuit breaker to hopefully trip open. Parallel arcing of a non AFCI protected branch will not. (See farther below in my post.)
One other point to be made about exceeding the current rating of the Mapleshade cord if the temperature of the insulation only gets marginally higher than its rating in time the insulation will harden and become brittle, especially at the terminated connector ends and crack and break apart with the least amount of physical movement.
Also just as important is the voltage rating of the insulation covering the conductors, wires. Note the wires are tightly twisted together. The insulation should be rated for at least 300V for it to be used as a power cord. If the insulation is not rated for at least 150V the insulation could break down and start leaking across from the hot conductor to the neutral conductor. The insulation is breaking down... Carbon is a semi conductor and given time a small amount of current could start passing through the carbon semi conductor from one current carrying conductor to the other current carrying conductor of the tightly twisted pair. More leakage, more carbon, more heat, eventually arcing. Before you know it a small fire. Regular old style non AFCI breakers found in homes built before around 2009 - 2010 will not trip open due to parallel/series arcing of live 120V circuit wires.
Next problem I see the cord has little if any physical safeguards in it's exterior construction to protect the current carrying conductors from physical damage. A small dog or cat could chew through the cord in short order, bye-bye pet.
Jim
Edits: 02/03/15
I'm pretty sure that if it DID happen, you'd have read about it here.
I got talked out of using the Mapleshade PC by threads like this, despite the fact that it never got remotely warm, never did anything except sound great. "If looks could kill" seems to be an appropriate comment.
After speaking with Mapleshade, I have been assured the power cord(which has been in production for over a decade, will exceed far more voltage/current than what the average piece of audio//video gear needs.
I was encouraged to use it on my amp.
The reason it is no longer offered-a new and improved version will be out soon.
Pierre supposedly, regularly trips over and tears the thin film on these cables and He doesn't even use the film covering!
While I certainly WON't be doing that...
As mentioned earlier, I have been using it for a few years with great results.
The new version will have a different wire composition and connectors will be adorned with...
SURPRISE-maple
Very encouraging to say the least. I am glad to hear Mapleshade says the wire they used in the cord for over a decade was used in the manner, use intended, the manufacture designed/manufactured the wire per NEMA/UL standards for use as "power wiring" for a general use electronic equipment power cord.I am sure if you asked them for the manufacture of the wire and data spec sheet of the manufacture for the wire, describing its' designed intended use, they will be more than happy to supply it to you and you could post it here. Please also ask where the manufacture of the wire says the power wire does not need any further protection from physical damage/abuse when used as a 120V power cord.
Thanks,
Jim
Edits: 02/04/15
....of all the aftermarket suppliers of all the audiophile power cords they sell.
??
... bearing in mind that none of them is "well known" in a conventional (non-audiophile) sense, AFAIK.
Just picked a Shunyata power cord at random.
Specs
ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS
- Shunyata ΞTRON™
- 10 AWG Coincident Concentric Conductors
- CDA-101 Copper
- Alpha Cryogenic Processed
STANDARD CONNECTORS
- IEC-C15: Shunyata CopperCONN™ (UL Listed, CE Mark)
- IEC-C19: Shunyata CopperCONN™ (UL Listed, CE Mark)
- US NEMA P15: Shunyata CopperCONN™ (UL Listed)
- EU CEE-7/7: Shunyata CopperCONN™ (VDE, CE Mark)
AVAILABLE CONNECTORS
- US P20
- Germany Schuko
- Australia
- Swiss
Call for custom terminations
MAXIMUM VOLTAGE
- Max Voltage (US): 90-240 VAC (connector dependent)
- Max Voltage (Asia): 90-240 VAC (connector dependent)
- Max Voltage (Euro): 240VAC (connector dependent)
- Maximum Instantaneous Voltage: 1250 VAC
CURRENT RATINGS
- Max continuous current: 20 Amps (connector dependent)
- Max instantaneous current: > 200 Amps (800ms)
ELECTRICAL TESTS
- Polarity and continuity tests x2 (each cable tested)
- HiPOT Test: 2,000 VAC @ 5s (each cable tested)
- Insulation Breakdown Test: > 4,000 VAC @ 2 minutes
I don't doubt any of the things you mention. I have plugged it in for a few songs to remind me how my recent power cord buy failed to match its performance.
Great sonics won't trump safety. I am wondering why it has been pulled from their website recently?
Just guessing the secret of the Mapleshade power cord is the tightly twisted together hot and neutral current carrying conductors of the power cord.
I would be willing to bet A DIY power cord using conductors that are designed for power wiring with an insulation voltage rating of at least 300V then covered with a good overall covering that will protect the conductors from physical damage, terminated on good quality connectors would outperform the Mapleshade power cord.
Jim
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