Overloaded cables, anyone seen any really bad ones?

[dw3101]

Im sure my spot welder could overload the cable pretty quick!

I think its around 1000 - 2000A at 1 or 2v

David

 

[sm1thson]

Im sure my spot welder could overload the cable pretty quick!

yes indeed hence RF's post here (not a spot welder but a welder none the less)

 

[securespark]

does the fact that T+E having earth in the middle add to safety (with RCD), if anything melts the first thing it should touch would be earth. Is this a reason why you use T+E rather than flexible cable?

Not really. It is acceptable to use flexibles for fixed wiring, too.

 

[RigidRaider]

I managed to melt the insulation on an extension reel of cable once when vacuuming the car or mowing the lawn or even possibly using a 110V tranny (can't remember which) and I hadn't uncoiled the entire reel as instructed on the side. It eventually went bang.

I also installed a clock in my ex-MOD Land Rover using a spare feed behind the dash, which I thought was fused. The clock feed fretted against a bracket behind the instruments and one fine day with my baby son in the car it worked through and overheated, filling the LR very fast with horrible fumes. Luckily I had a battery isolator on the seatbox so I was able to turn it off before jumping out with the baby. The cable was completely fried. Didn't stop the Landy though - being a diesel I just drove it home with no electrics, with the AA van following.