Colour coding for LV cords

B

Bruce Varley

Guest
Just wondering if there are any regs prohibiting the use of mains standard
wire colouring in LV service. I've just taken delivery of an Antex XS-25 24v
soldering iron, and the cores in the cord are exactly the standard blue,
brown and green/yellow.
 
"Bruce Varley"
Just wondering if there are any regs prohibiting the use of mains standard
wire colouring in LV service. I've just taken delivery of an Antex XS-25
24v soldering iron, and the cores in the cord are exactly the standard
blue, brown and green/yellow.
Click to expand...

** Folk have been using mains power cable ( 2 core and 3 core ) for speaker
leads since forever. The only prohibition I know of is in using 3 pin AC
plugs and sockets for other than mains power - cos THAT would be stupid.

Anecdote:

I once came across a set up where a 12V car battery was connected to a 12V
motor used for starting model engines using a switched GPO and 3 pin AC
plug. I did an instant "double take" when I first saw it.

I pointed out how dodgy the set up was to the guy that made it.

He was not persuaded and immune to all criticism.

And he made his living as an electrician.



.... Phil
 
On Dec 1, 9:19 pm, "Phil Allison" <phi...@tpg.com.au> wrote:
"Bruce Varley"



Just wondering if there are any regs prohibiting the use of mains standard
wire colouring in LV service. I've just taken delivery of an Antex XS-25
24v soldering iron, and the cores in the cord are exactly the standard
blue, brown and green/yellow.

** Folk have been using mains power cable ( 2 core and 3 core ) for speaker
leads since forever. The only prohibition I know of is in using 3 pin AC
plugs and sockets for other than mains power  - cos THAT would be stupid.

Anecdote:

I once came across a set up where a 12V car battery was connected to a 12V
motor used for starting model engines using a switched GPO and 3 pin AC
plug.  I did an instant "double take" when I first saw it.

I pointed out how dodgy the set up was to the guy that made it.

He was not persuaded and immune to all criticism.

And he made his living as an electrician.

...  Phil
Click to expand...
Also that one in EA or ETI back 30+ years ago where a guy wired his
telephone line to several rooms in his house using 240v GPO's, and a
standard mains 3 pin plug on the phone.
 
On 1/12/2011 10:19 PM, Phil Allison wrote:
"Bruce Varley"

Just wondering if there are any regs prohibiting the use of mains standard
wire colouring in LV service. I've just taken delivery of an Antex XS-25
24v soldering iron, and the cores in the cord are exactly the standard
blue, brown and green/yellow.


** Folk have been using mains power cable ( 2 core and 3 core ) for speaker
leads since forever. The only prohibition I know of is in using 3 pin AC
plugs and sockets for other than mains power - cos THAT would be stupid.

Anecdote:

I once came across a set up where a 12V car battery was connected to a 12V
motor used for starting model engines using a switched GPO and 3 pin AC
plug. I did an instant "double take" when I first saw it.

I pointed out how dodgy the set up was to the guy that made it.

He was not persuaded and immune to all criticism.

And he made his living as an electrician.



.... Phil

Especially stupid when you can actually buy similar 2 pin plugs and
Click to expand...
switched wall outlets to suit. These were used for sub 32V appliances
such as one might find in an automotive garage for eg. lead lights for
working under cars.

A much safer proposition and no chance of mixing them up...

--

Krypsis
 
"Bruce Varley" <bv@NoSpam.com> wrote in message
news:fqWdnWn3Ab1m1krTnZ2dnUVZ8iOdnZ2d@westnet.com.au...
Just wondering if there are any regs prohibiting the use of mains standard
wire colouring in LV service. I've just taken delivery of an Antex XS-25
24v soldering iron, and the cores in the cord are exactly the standard
blue, brown and green/yellow.
Click to expand...

Wish I'd known the X25 was available in 24V - wouldn't have slung the
Weller/Cooper tools 24VAC base stand.

The 240V X25 has a very fine wound element and seems vulnerable to mains
transients, I have to use loads of MOVs and filters to get a decent life out
of the iron.
 
"Ian Field" <gangprobing.alien@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:iqSBq.64560$3Y.48431@newsfe18.ams2...
"Bruce Varley" <bv@NoSpam.com> wrote in message
news:fqWdnWn3Ab1m1krTnZ2dnUVZ8iOdnZ2d@westnet.com.au...
Just wondering if there are any regs prohibiting the use of mains
standard wire colouring in LV service. I've just taken delivery of an
Antex XS-25 24v soldering iron, and the cores in the cord are exactly the
standard blue, brown and green/yellow.


Wish I'd known the X25 was available in 24V - wouldn't have slung the
Weller/Cooper tools 24VAC base stand.

The 240V X25 has a very fine wound element and seems vulnerable to mains
transients, I have to use loads of MOVs and filters to get a decent life
out of the iron.
From RS components, ex stock in Perth. Stock no 157-0140.
Click to expand...
 
On 12/02/11 08:35, Ian Field wrote:
"Bruce Varley"<bv@NoSpam.com> wrote:
I've just taken delivery of an Antex XS-25
24v soldering iron,...
Wish I'd known the X25 was available in 24V - wouldn't have slung the
Weller/Cooper tools 24VAC base stand.
The 240V X25 has a very fine wound element and seems vulnerable to mains
transients, I have to use loads of MOVs and filters to get a decent life out
of the iron.
Click to expand...
My old 24V Weller's element has died for the 2nd time, so I'm in the market
for a new iron. Is the 24V Antex a good option, and available? Otherwise what do
folk recommend these days. I do larger-size SMD work and sometimes through-hole,
and I'd like an iron with good power and adjustable temperature regulation
without spending the earth.
 
"Clifford Heath" <cjh@no.spam.please.net> wrote in message
news:8t2Cq.2895$Ee3.2586@newsfe04.iad...
On 12/02/11 08:35, Ian Field wrote:
"Bruce Varley"<bv@NoSpam.com> wrote:
I've just taken delivery of an Antex XS-25
24v soldering iron,...
Wish I'd known the X25 was available in 24V - wouldn't have slung the
Weller/Cooper tools 24VAC base stand.
The 240V X25 has a very fine wound element and seems vulnerable to mains
transients, I have to use loads of MOVs and filters to get a decent life
out
of the iron.

My old 24V Weller's element has died for the 2nd time, so I'm in the
market
for a new iron. Is the 24V Antex a good option, and available? Otherwise
what do
folk recommend these days. I do larger-size SMD work and sometimes
through-hole,
and I'd like an iron with good power and adjustable temperature regulation
without spending the earth.
Click to expand...
I bought the Antex for hand SMD soldering, there's a good range of fine tips
available. Don't think it has closed loop regulation, there are only 3
wires, and one is a tip ground that's not connected to anything. Don't
suppose they sense temperature somehow from the resistance of the element..?
I might investigate that myself.
 
On Dec 2, 9:17 pm, Clifford Heath <c...@no.spam.please.net> wrote:
On 12/02/11 08:35, Ian Field wrote:

"Bruce Varley"<b...@NoSpam.com>  wrote:
 I've just taken delivery of an Antex XS-25
24v soldering iron,...
Wish I'd known the X25 was available in 24V - wouldn't have slung the
Weller/Cooper tools 24VAC base stand.
The 240V X25 has a very fine wound element and seems vulnerable to mains
transients, I have to use loads of MOVs and filters to get a decent life out
of the iron.

My old 24V Weller's element has died for the 2nd time, so I'm in the market
for a new iron. Is the 24V Antex a good option, and available? Otherwise what do
folk recommend these days. I do larger-size SMD work and sometimes through-hole,
and I'd like an iron with good power and adjustable temperature regulation
without spending the earth.
Click to expand...

I had the same problem in later years with the Weller. The ones they
sold in the '80s seemed more reliable as I remember.


I haven't used an Antex iron, but not heard anything bad about them
over the years,

I use regularly use an ERSA RDS 80 for the last 5 years or so, and
been extremely happy with it, and also a hakko 936 which I also have
no complaints about.

The Ersa can definitely pump out more power and recover faster than
the ERSA, and this is great when doing heavy tracks, lugs, terminals
etc - but it is still good with PCB work etc. Have not tried it with
any SMD other than larger devices like SMD power transistors, SMD
electros etc where more heat may be needed due to large PCB track
areas.


The Hakko is better for this sort of fine work, and also isn't so
bulky.



I still have the good ol' scope 3.3v 90w iron from the 1970's, but
that rarely ever gets used now, and only for tough jobs like soldering
to metal sheet etc.
 
"Clifford Heath" <cjh@no.spam.please.net> wrote in message
news:8t2Cq.2895$Ee3.2586@newsfe04.iad...
On 12/02/11 08:35, Ian Field wrote:
"Bruce Varley"<bv@NoSpam.com> wrote:
I've just taken delivery of an Antex XS-25
24v soldering iron,...
Wish I'd known the X25 was available in 24V - wouldn't have slung the
Weller/Cooper tools 24VAC base stand.
The 240V X25 has a very fine wound element and seems vulnerable to mains
transients, I have to use loads of MOVs and filters to get a decent life
out
of the iron.

My old 24V Weller's element has died for the 2nd time, so I'm in the
market
for a new iron. Is the 24V Antex a good option, and available? Otherwise
what do
folk recommend these days. I do larger-size SMD work and sometimes
through-hole,
and I'd like an iron with good power and adjustable temperature regulation
without spending the earth.
Click to expand...
My only experience with the later weller irons is that they're rather
fragile (luckily it was the boss that broke it).

Upto about the 80s, the old weller TCP1 was a superb iron - then cooper
tools took over!!!

A company I used to work for asset stripped a competitor and piled all the
stuff they didn't want on a loading bay with a sign; "help yourself" - I
helped myself to a large box of dismantled weller irons, as well as selling
a few I rebuilt it kept me going for a couple of decades.

Eventually I had to start buying new (A TCP1 iron) the thermostat didn't
even last a full week! TBF cooper tools sent a replacement no questions
asked - but that only lasted a couple of months, this time the contacts
welded while I was away from the bench and the element burned out.

After buying a new element, I stripped the contacts off an old stat and
glued an opto-interruptor onto the plastic shoulder - with a triac circuit
built into the stand there were no more thermostat troubles - but cooper
tools bean counters decreed thinner iron plating on the bits, so these now
split and destroyed the element.

With the difference in price I didn't expect the Antex irons to last as long
as the weller should have, but they last not far short, although I had to
install plenty of MOVs and mains filters because of the 240V version's
vulnerability to mains transients.
 
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