Extra flexible main lead

  • Thread starter Thread starter Alex Coleman
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Alex Coleman

Is it possible to get more flexible 13 Amp mains lead to replace those
leads which hardly seem to bend?

I guess that these "inflexible flexes" are made of tough version of PVC
and contain and fewer but larger individual wires in the cores.

Presumably having fewer cores is a cheaper way to make a mains lead. is
this correct?
 
Alex said:
Is it possible to get more flexible 13 Amp mains lead to replace those
leads which hardly seem to bend?

I guess that these "inflexible flexes" are made of tough version of PVC
and contain and fewer but larger individual wires in the cores.

Presumably having fewer cores is a cheaper way to make a mains lead. is
this correct?
Click to expand...

You need the type with fabric woven in, used to be cotton. They used to
be utilised on electric irons etc, since the outer braid does not melt.
Lots of strands of loosely wound conductor and cotton. Not sure of the
current rating for these.
Simon.
 
Is it possible to get more flexible 13 Amp mains lead to replace those
leads which hardly seem to bend?
Click to expand...

Artic flex is better than straight PVC, but rubber better still. But 1 mm
rubber is over twice the price of 1mm PVC in the TLC cat.
 
[email protected] said:
You need the type with fabric woven in, used to be cotton. They used to
be utilised on electric irons etc, since the outer braid does not melt.
Lots of strands of loosely wound conductor and cotton. Not sure of the
current rating for these.
Simon.
Click to expand...

My Bosch SDS has very flexible cable (and a good useful length of it,
too). No sign of any fabric in it. IMHO the fabric stuff is no better
than normal mains cable wrt flexibility.

So, yes, you can get it but I have no idea where.

MBQ
 
Dave said:
Artic flex is better than straight PVC, but rubber better still. But 1 mm
rubber is over twice the price of 1mm PVC in the TLC cat.
Click to expand...

As much as I love rubber, I've stopped using it in favour of arctic
flex. The main reason is abrasion resistance - the latter is much
tougher than rubber.

I bought a 100m drum of 1.5mm yellow arctic flex, and am still working
my way through it.
 
I guess that these "inflexible flexes" are made of tough version of PVC
and contain and fewer but larger individual wires in the cores.
Click to expand...

You can get ultra-flexible flex. However, it tends to be rubber based, so
has a shorter life expectancy even if not continuously flexed.

Christian.
 
You can get ultra-flexible flex. However, it tends to be rubber based, so
has a shorter life expectancy even if not continuously flexed.

Christian.
Click to expand...

Harmonised standard reference for what was 'TRS' or Tough Rubber Sheath is HOFR
- Heat Oil Fire Resistant or HO7.

Also CSP for extra fire/temperature resistance.

Both available from wholesalers, we use up to 16mm twin in HOFR, find it is
better on outdoor rail equipment where the ground is likely to be granite
chippings are wet.

Artic grades are normally only available up to 2.5mm IIRC.

Welding cable is the most flexible and has CSP double sheath in the version we
buy, not available for mains voltages though.

Peter
 
As much as I love rubber, I've stopped using it in favour of arctic
flex. The main reason is abrasion resistance - the latter is much
tougher than rubber.
Click to expand...

Strangely all the cables sparks use for lights on location filming are
rubber. And they get a fair amount of abuse.

It's TRS which I think is stronger than some rubber cables but still
pretty flexible and coils well/ lays flat.
 
Owain said:
Is it permissible to use yellow arctic on visibility grounds on 240V or
does it have to be blue? (Yellow is 110V and blue is 240V in standard
BS4343 connector colouring, for those across the pond.)
Click to expand...

Good question - I don't know. I've mainly used it to replace short mains
flex on power tools etc., where it is always terminated in a 13A plug.
 
Arctic is availible upto 6mm sq local to us.
Click to expand...

Yes, I think there are supplies of larger sizes, but 'normally' assumes normal
outlets rather than 'specialist' wholesalers. We use a couple ourselves, most
wholesalers run a mile if you mention 16mm twin TRS! :-))

Peter
 
Alex said:
Is it possible to get more flexible 13 Amp mains lead to replace those
leads which hardly seem to bend?

I guess that these "inflexible flexes" are made of tough version of PVC
and contain and fewer but larger individual wires in the cores.

Presumably having fewer cores is a cheaper way to make a mains lead. is
this correct?
Click to expand...

It should certainly be possible. The first thing to think about is "why
a 13A mains lead?". Is your computer really likely to be consuming over
2.8kW? (220V X 13). A 5A mains lead would still allow you over 1kW and
that should be enough for even a wildly overclocked SLI system. I've had
great luck with electrical cords made with fine stranded conductors
combined with a silicone rubber insulation although where I'd look for
one in the UK I have no idea.
 
Dave Plowman (News) said:
Strangely all the cables sparks use for lights on location filming are
rubber. And they get a fair amount of abuse.

It's TRS which I think is stronger than some rubber cables but still
pretty flexible and coils well/ lays flat.
Click to expand...
We use rubber (or rubber compounds) in the railway industry for
signalling because it has great abrasion qualities. You pull several
cables over each other in a run and rubber shrugs it off. Use PVC outer
sheathes and before long you have melting (localised heating) or splits.

The biggest problem is when you mix different sheaths - they then react
with each other and cause no end of problems.
 
Is it possible to get more flexible 13 Amp mains lead to replace those
leads which hardly seem to bend?

I guess that these "inflexible flexes" are made of tough version of PVC
and contain and fewer but larger individual wires in the cores.

Presumably having fewer cores is a cheaper way to make a mains lead. is
this correct?
Click to expand...


You posted to several groups, it might be prudent to mention
the APPLICATION of this cable, all those little specifics
that resulted in there being myriad types of cable on earth.

In general, yes having more and smaller strands will make it
more flexible, as will looser bundling and certain
insulators. Cable can get expensive fast, the more details
you post the more likely the cost effective solution can be
found.
 
You posted to several groups, it might be prudent to mention
the APPLICATION of this cable, all those little specifics
that resulted in there being myriad types of cable on earth.

In general, yes having more and smaller strands will make it
more flexible, as will looser bundling and certain
insulators. Cable can get expensive fast, the more details
you post the more likely the cost effective solution can be
found.
Click to expand...

One thing I didn't see mentioned yet is the twisting. People have said that
loose bundling makes more flexibilty, but looser bundling usually means
less twist, and actually more twist makes better flexibility. Try it for
yourself, that will show you better than anything I can tell you. (How it
works is, when one conductor is on the outside of the bend, it very soon is
on the inside again to give slack to itself on the outside bend. This
allows tighter bend radius as well as better flex and wear resistance).

Interesting thread, this. Now, if anyone would be willing to tackle my far
less interesting Frequency to Pitch voltage conversion question in
group sci.electronics.components, I shall be extremely grateful. :)
 
Must be a bugger, getting a 1 mile reel of 16mm into the back of the
Transit.

Owain
Click to expand...

Fortunately, we only buy it in 100m at a time, which is heavy enough.

We did locate some 25mm twin and have a bit left, but I believe that it was
discontinued due to lack of demand.

We use this cable for the outputs of our mobile chargers:

http://www.prepair.co.uk/Mobile1.htm

Highest output with 16mm is 50A or 100A, we go up to 2 strands of 50mm welding
cable for the 200A. Cable lengths are fairly short because of volt drop, usually
5metres or 10metres for the 50mm.

Peter
 
As much as I love rubber, I've stopped using it in favour of arctic
flex. The main reason is abrasion resistance - the latter is much
tougher than rubber.

I bought a 100m drum of 1.5mm yellow arctic flex, and am still
working my way through it.
Click to expand...


How does the price of arctic flex compare to regular flex?
 
You can get ultra-flexible flex. However, it tends to be rubber
based, so has a shorter life expectancy even if not continuously
flexed.

Christian.
Click to expand...


Is silicon flex more flexible than regular PVC?

Can anyone compare the quality or merits of the two?
 
Is silicon flex more flexible than regular PVC?

Can anyone compare the quality or merits of the two?
Click to expand...

Silicone rubber covering is MUCH more flexible, and stands higher
temperatures, but is more expensive and much less resistant to
abrasion, cutting and especially crushing. While it's rubbery, it crumbles
like a weak crystal under moderate pressure, wheras PVC would be more
ductile even at higher pressures. Both give off harmful gasses if you heat
them enough to burn. I think silicone rubber might have a higher dielectric
strength than similar thickness on PVC, but I'm not sure.
 
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