19 Feb
2006
19 Feb
'06
3:47 p.m.
I don't understand how a receptacle can trip a
circuit breaker. At worst,
it would seem that it would fail to make contact or have high resistance
contacts.
Well, if the insulation carbonised and became slightly conductive, it
could pass enough leakage current to trip an RCD/RCCB/ELCB/whatever it's
called thise week.
I once witnessed a metalclad socket outlet fail in the UK. Apparently,
repeated unplging of high-power devices without turning off the built-in
switch (UK socket outlets often contain a double-pole switch) had either
depostied enough metal on the insulator to become conductive, or had
carbonised the insulator. Anyway, the resulting failure caused a
spectacular arc that lasted for several minutes.
Hospital-grade receptacles are distinguished by "Hospital Only" or
"Hospital Grade" printing and a green dot. $30 retail for a duplex
receptacle is pretty typical.
Whilst browsing around, I discovered another bit of audiophile folly.
I call such people 'audiophools' :-).
CRYOGENICALLY TREATED AC PLUGS AND RECEPTACLES:
http://www.audioexcellenceaz.com/acproducts.htm
It seems now that solid-silver speaker wire isn't sufficient.
Unfortunately, the site shown above doesn't specify what's to be used for
wiring between the plug and receptacle. It's pretty safe to assume that
it's not zip cord!
Just out of curiousity, what wire is supposed to be used between the
power stations (generatiing stations) and substations (transformer
stations), and between the substation and your house?
My view is that if your audio amplifier is so badly designed that the
mains connector makes a difference to the final sound then you should
start by re-designing the amplifier.
-tony