[Elecraft] OT - Outlet Strips

[Byron Servies]

On Dec 8, 2009, at 4:30 PM, elelist984 wrote:

> I think one needs to be careful about using el cheapo outlet strips.  I 
> know conditions down here are different from the U.S., but our fire 
> chief has warned of fires cause by these items.

My older brother, a Captain in the USN, recently returned from Iraq where he was one of the most recent officers in charge of dealing with the shoddy wiring and electrical-related fires our troops have been experiencing. When the team began fixing the problem (before my brother arrived), they were having 4-5 electrical fires a day theatre wide.

I am told analysis showed they were being mostly caused by the cheap power strips from the bazaar and shoddy ballast installation.  The ballasts were re-installed, and the soldiers issued US-standard power strips with extra long cords (like they apparently do in the Navy already).  It seems far too small a gauge wire was being used in the strips and often had empty insulation where the ground wire was supposed to be.

All of this is a long winded way of saying I, too, would caution against cheap power strips of uncertain provenance.

Byron KI6NUL