Tag: power cords

electrical power cords

Put the Power Cord to the Test

Today we’ll be discussing the various “testing” cords must go through in order to be 100% ready to go and meet the requirements for the UL standards (or international safety agency approvals) of cord sets and power cord supplies.

UL generates standards and test procedures for products and equipment focusing on product safety. Power cords undergo some of the most common tests:insulation

  1. A grounding test. The purpose of a grounding test is to protect the consumer from hazards that can be caused by a faulty ground connection. A ground bond test is a high current AC test that measures resistance of the ground path under high current conditions.
  2. The continuity test is carried out under high current, simulating a fault to earth. This test is performed by applying an AC or DC current between the conductive surface and protective earth.
  3. There is a hi-pot test. This is a stress test of the insulation of a device under test DUT (Device Under Test). This means the voltage used in a hi-pot test can either be AC or DC.

Continue reading Put the Power Cord to the Test

Coiled VS. Coiled

Picture this: you’re in need of some power cords. You call Quail Electronics requesting a coiled cord. The sales representative asks you, “would you like a coiled cord or for your cords to be packaged in a coiled form?” Well, now you’re confused, thinking ‘what’s the difference?’ Today I will be explaining coiled vs. coiled.

First, we have coiled as in the way it’s packaged. For example, you can have your cords packaged in a form which can either be hanked (often described as a figure 8 wrapping) see Image 1,   hanked

OR you can have them coiled as a “loop,” as shown in Image 2. image 2

Continue reading Coiled VS. Coiled

Universal 3500 series is now Approved for China!

Universal Approved for China

Universal approvedUniversal 3500 series is now approved for China. We’re happy to announce the new CCC approval. At the moment, Quail Electronics offers the IEC-C14 to IEC-C13 jumpers on the market to be internationally and domestically approved. However, our 3500 series power cord now carries UL, C-UL, VDE and China’s CCC approval. That means you can take it all over North America, Europe and China without ever having to switch a thing. Travel the globe with our 3500 series!

How to Crimp Terminals

I bet you’re wondering what an electrical terminal is. A terminal is the point at which the conductor of an electrical component comes to an end and provides connection to external circuits.

And how do we crimp terminals, you ask?
Let me explain. The word crimping, in this context, means to combine two pieces of metal together by deforming one (or both) to hold the other. It’s called “crimp” because of the deformity.

You’ll need a crimping tool in order to correctly crimp connectors onto the wire. Please remember that pliers are NOT crimpers! To verify that you have the right crimper, the crimper Continue reading How to Crimp Terminals

Electric Vehicle Part 1

EV plug 1

Electric vehicles have become a way of life. To prove that is true is the new Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standard put into place by the Obama Administration. By 2025, every new vehicle sold in the United States will need to reach at least 54.5 mpg. In order to operate, the plug-in hybrid EVs that function on batteries need to be charged occasionally. No more trips to the over-populated, busy gas stations. You can fill up right at home overnight or at work during the day. The car simply plugs in while it is immobile for a given period of time. It can also charge while being driven – once the car is coming to a stop and the brakes are applied, kinetic energy is transformed into chemical energy in the battery.

In order to operate, the plug-in hybrid EVs that function on batteries need to be charged occasionally. No more trips to the over-populated, busy gas stations. You can fill up right at home overnight or at work during the day. The car simply plugs in while it is immobile for a given period of time. It can also charge while being driven – once the car is coming to a stop and the brakes are applied, kinetic energy is transformed into chemical energy in the battery.

Continue reading Electric Vehicle Part 1

How an Electrical Cable is made

The world of electricity can be very complicated. But what about electricity do we in fact know? Well, we do know electrical cables are designed to carry current from one element to another. What we DON’T know is how an electrical cable is even made. Of course, as always, I am here to help with any confusion!

An electrical cable consists of conductors, which is an uninsulated wiHow an electrical cable is made 1re suitable for carrying electrical current. Electrical conductors are made up of metals such as, copper, aluminum, etc. Most wires are made out of copper because it conducts electricity with high flexibility and very little resistance.

Electrical wires come in solid core, stranded, or braided together to form a single assembly, where the ends connect to two devices, therefore, allowing the electrical signals to transfer from one device to the other. Continue reading How an Electrical Cable is made

The CE Marking

CE rating 1All electronic devices sold in Europe carry an additional feature, the CE Marking. However, the power cord does not require the marking because it is an electrical component, not the finished product. This mark is the “European Conformity”, or in French known as the “Conformité Européenne.” It is essentially the electronic devices passport that allows it to gain access to Europe. Continue reading The CE Marking

Understanding the Overall Rating of a Power Cord

electricity-1-1024x768When it comes to understanding the rating of a power cord, there are a handful of factors to consider directly related to the amperage and voltage of the cord. Each element of a power cord has a maximum rating as an individual component. The elements are the plug, the wire, and the connector.  The overall rating of a power cord is effectively the weakest link out of these ratings.  Here, we take our popular 2500.072 power cord as an example:

Continue reading Understanding the Overall Rating of a Power Cord

MD&M West 2015 Preview

MDM_West_2013_4cFor our first trade show of 2015, Quail Electronics will head west to Southern California to demonstrate our top-of-the-line medical industry power products. Quail will be showcasing our industry-leading product line at the Medical Design & Manufacturers trade show exposition at the Anaheim Convention Center from February 10-12. MD&M West is hosted by MedTechWorld and is the largest OEM medical device and manufacturing event in the world. The event features over 2,000 exhibiting suppliers demonstrating leading edge technology in the medical field. This tradeshow offers a variety of informative expert insight, hands-on workshops, as well as networking events.

Continue reading MD&M West 2015 Preview

CES 2015 Roundup

international-ces-2015-las-vegasAs the new year begins, it’s also time to roll out the fancy new gadgets. The 2015 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) roared through Las Vegas last week.  The weeklong showcases over 3,600 exhibitors and attracts over 160,000 attendees. Previous CES events have included high-profile introductions such as the world’s first VCR, camcorder, DVD player, household robots, and most recently, 3D printers and 4k televisions.

Continue reading CES 2015 Roundup