jeff@abnji.UUCP (jeff) (01/13/85)
[trumpeting melodiously, tootling with vigor] WARNING: The "Electripak" brand of multiple outlet center (an extension cord with 6 outlets, switch & circuit breaker, commonly used with micros) has loose wires!!!!! Internally, there are 3 duplex outlets connected using the push-in connectors. Some of the wires are not pushed in all the way. I had one pull out with no problem - suggesting faulty assembly. All the parts are U.L. listed. At $8.97 at Grossman's it's the cheapest (least expensive), but the wiring is gross, man. I wouldn't trust it at more than 5 amps, let alone the alleged rating of 15. I see no rating on the circuit breaker (maybe its not 15 amps). SOLUTION: push all the wires in all the way If the wire is still loose, try the other insert IDENTIFICATION: strangely enough, the product name is not on the product itself It is characterized by: a brown case the line cord enters in the middle of the side black rocker ON/OFF switch neon (orange) pilot light label: 725E UL listed E60767 Temporary Power Taps CAUTION max load 15 amps 125 VAC CAT NO MOC-6C PS: I noticed this since I was installing MOVs (two for a buck at Marlin P. Jones mail order electronics) WARNING: there is a light dimmer/switch being sold that is rated at 600 watts at 120 VAC (on the package and the switch). Internally, the on/off switch is rated at 3 amperes, thus limiting it to 360 watts. name on package "Ranco Tecmaster Dimmer" name on switch "Teccor Electronics Euless, Texas" you have been warned! Buyer beware! (caveat emptor, I believe) +---------------------------------------+ | Jeff 'oh no -- not another' Skot | | at beautiful downtown Somerset NJ | | AT&T Info Systems | | ..!abnji!jeff | +---------------------------------------+
dts@gitpyr.UUCP (Danny Sharpe) (01/17/85)
In article <176@abnji.UUCP> jeff@abnji.UUCP (jeff) writes: > WARNING: The "Electripak" brand of multiple outlet center (an extension > cord with 6 outlets, switch & circuit breaker, commonly used with micros) > has loose wires!!!!! Internally, there are 3 duplex outlets connected > using the push-in connectors. Some of the wires are not pushed in all > the way. I had one pull out with no problem - suggesting faulty > assembly. All the parts are U.L. listed. At $8.97 at Grossman's it's > the cheapest (least expensive), but the wiring is gross, man. Boy, I'm glad you posted this. I just happen to have one of these (got it for Christmas. Just wait 'til I get my hands on the cheapskate who gave it to me! (:-))) I opened mine up last night. All the wires are pushed in the holes firmly, BUT the middle duplex outlet was the only one that was connected to the green wire from the power cord. The result was that only two out of the six outlets in the power strip had their third holes grounded. Sounds to me like it's recall time! -- Either Argle-Bargle IV or someone else. -- Danny Sharpe School of ICS Georgia Insitute of Technology, Atlanta Georgia, 30332 ...!{akgua,allegra,amd,hplabs,ihnp4,seismo,ut-ngp}!gatech!gitpyr!dts
doug@terak.UUCP (Doug Pardee) (01/22/85)
> > WARNING: The "Electripak" brand of multiple outlet center (an extension > > cord with 6 outlets, switch & circuit breaker, commonly used with micros) > > has loose wires!!!!! > > I opened mine up last night. All the wires are pushed in the holes > firmly, BUT the middle duplex outlet was the only one that was connected > to the green wire from the power cord. The result was that only two > out of the six outlets in the power strip had their third holes grounded. We checked two that we have here. The ground to the other two duplex outlets is supposed to be via the outlet mounting screws and the metal case. Unfortunately, the outlet mounting screws on ours were not tightened down enough for the lock washers to cut through the paint on the case. We fixed that! -- Doug Pardee -- Terak Corp. -- !{hao,ihnp4,decvax}!noao!terak!doug
jerry@oliveb.UUCP (Jerry Aguirre) (01/22/85)
>From: dts@gitpyr.UUCP (Danny Sharpe) >I opened mine up last night. All the wires are pushed in the holes >firmly, BUT the middle duplex outlet was the only one that was connected >to the green wire from the power cord. The result was that only two >out of the six outlets in the power strip had their third holes grounded. Ground wires don't necessarily have to connect to every socket. The ground connection on an electrical outlet is CONNECTED TO THE METAL MOUNTING BRACKET. This means that as long as all the outlets are screwed into a COMMON PIECE OF METAL then they all share the ground connection. Connecting the green wire to the center outlet sounds like a good way of providing a ground for all of them. All of the outlet boxes I have seen are either all metal or have a front panel made of metal. So if the outlets are all screwed or riveted to that common piece of metal THEY ARE ALL GROUNDED if any one of them is. Grounded outlets run in metal conduit don't connect a ground wire to any of the outlets. The ground connection is made when the outlet is screwed into the box. In case you are worried about how good this connection is, remember that the mounting bracket is heavier than the copper wire and secured by two screws. It is therefor a much better connection than a single screw or push on clip. Jerry Aguirre @ Olivetti ATC {hplabs|fortune|idi|ihnp4|tolerant|allegra|tymix}!oliveb!jerry