With extension cords in our country, the situation is approximately the same as with LED bulbs: shops are packed Russian-Chinese trash with a low cross-section, aluminum-copper wires and eerie quality socket blocks made of fuel plastic.
Fortunately, there is a well-known chain of stores where you can buy relatively inexpensive, ideal quality extension cords. Guess which one? ;)
Four types of extension cords are sold in Ikea: 1.5 meters 3 sockets (499 rubles for 2 pcs), 1.5 meters 6 sockets with a switch (799 rubles per pair) and 1 outlet 5 meters (499 rubles).
There is also a three-meter one with four sockets and two USB connectors for 1299 rubles, but I did not buy it and I don’t know anything about it.
These extension cords have a maximum current rating of 16A (maximum power 3680W) and they do indeed withstand such a load with minimal heating of the cable - a three-core copper cable with an honest cross-section of 1.5 is used mm².
The sockets have protective shutters, and unlike the sockets of cheap extension cords, nothing gets loose, even after repeated inserting euro plugs with grounding with thick contacts, plugs without grounding with thin contacts are held in the sockets fine.
The switch breaks both wires.
According to European standards, the extension cords are made non-separable - the halves of the body of the block of outlets are fastened with self-tapping screws with a tri-groove head, for which it is almost impossible to find a screwdriver.
In order to check how the extension cord holds the maximum load, I passed a current of 16 amperes through it.
After 10 minutes, the cable warmed up to 40 degrees, this is quite acceptable.
The temperature of the case next to the switch is 34 degrees.
The temperature of the wire sheath at the point of entry into the body of the socket strip is 41 degrees.
The ground line resistance of a one and a half meter extension cord with a switch is 24.4 mOhm (milliohm).
Resistance of the main lines is 24.5 mOhm. This suggests that a very high-quality switch is used in the extension cord (usually the switch adds fifteen milliohms to the total resistance).
The resistance of the main lines of the extension cord is 1.5 m without a switch, 22.4-22.6 mOhm.
The resistance of the main lines of the extension cord is 5 m 69.5-71.4 mOhm.
According to GOST 22483-2012, the resistance of a kilometer of flexible copper conductors (Table 7) with a cross section of 1.5 mm² should be no more than 13.3 Ohm, respectively 1.5 m - 19.95 mΩ, 5 m - 66.5 mΩ. A very high quality plug and socket add about 5 mΩ.
It can be concluded that the extension cords use a wire with a real cross-section of 1.5 mm², and the plug and the sockets are made of very high quality.
These extension cords are really made conscientiously and are no worse than expensive extension cords from top manufacturers. I have been using them at home and in the country for several years now and I can say that these are the best extension cords that can be bought at this price.
© 2021, Alexey Nadezhin
For ten years I have been writing every day about technology, discounts, places of interest and events. Read my blog on the site ammo1.ru, in LJ, Zen, Mirtesen, Telegram .
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