Q: Beyond the agency testing conducted by Product Develop Manager Ron Barnett at Interpower’s testing lab in Ames, Iowa, what real-time testing does Interpower conduct at its on-site manufacturing locations in Oskaloosa and Lamoni during the manufacturing process?
Ford: Cords that are manufactured at these Interpower locations are 100% tested. That includes cords and cord sets in Oskaloosa, and cords and cord sets and cable in Lamoni. For cords and cord sets, electrical testing includes hipot, continuity, and pull testing. One Hipot test checks for shorts between the ground and line and the ground and neutral. A second Hipot test checks for shorts between the line and neutral wires. The purpose of the continuity test is to confirm the assembly is wired correctly and there are no breaks in the wire from one end to the other. The pull test ensures that a quality crimp exists. All plugs, connectors, and cable are also visually inspected for surface quality, molding flash and markings.
Note: Next in the series we will delve into specifications of cable manufactured in Lamoni.
Q: What is another common question customers have?
Ford: “Can I get a C14 inlet rated for 20A?” That answer is “No,” since the IEC 60320 standard devices are assigned ratings by the standard and must be adhered to strictly. There are multiple Sheet Styles within the standards that have different ampacity ratings assigned. If an ampacity rating is needed that is higher than the rating you are looking at, you cannot use that device and must choose the appropriate Sheet Style—in this case above, you would choose a C20 inlet (North American use).
Q: Can you use a Continental European plug on North American cable?
Ford: You can’t use a Continental European plug on North American cable because of the different type of cable and the difference in North American and International standards. For example, International H05VV-F cable is measured in millimeters, ranging from 0.75mm² to 2.50mm². As far as larger cable such as 4mm², it’s impossible to mold to. North American cable is measured in American Wire Gauge (AWG). For example, a small gauge North American cable with three conductors would be 3 x 18 AWG (or 18/3 AWG). A large gauge cable would be 3 x 10 AWG (10/3 AWG). Common types of North American cable are SJT, SJTO, SJTOW, SVT, and many others. Below is a comprehensive list of cable types:
There are a variety of North American cable types with letter designations indicating different kinds. The types of North American cable offered by Interpower include:
See more information on North American cable types.
A series of numbers and letters indicate the jacket material, ratings, and size of the cable. The types of international cable offered by Interpower include: