China making Iron Wire Copper plated test leads

[labnet]

Checkout this video


Sure enough, went around the workshop and we found a few alligator cables and USB cables were ferrous!
Lots of open mouthed engineers not believing their eyes. What will China think of next!

[pcprogrammer]

Already discussed and this video posted in this thread: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/dodgy-technology/who-needs-solder-between-alligator-clips-and-the-wire/msg5703239/#msg5703239

And same video posted here: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/dodgy-technology/clip-leads-made-with-fake-wire/?topicseen

[coppercone2]

stalin wire

[jonpaul]

CCP Chi Com junk ...Donald will tarriff them

j

[SiliconWizard]

The Chinese are simply trying to teach westerners that all that glitters is not gold.

[H.O]

It's not new either, personally I fell vicitim for this in 2013.
Bought three types of test leads from three different EBAY vendors, all magnetic.

[eTobey]

There is another scam, and that does not come from china:
Cables having less than advertised crosssection: They have 20% less! And those not just from some small shops, and even in germany (4 out of 5 tried to scam me)!

[coppercone2]

the way to do it is to measure 1 strand with a micrometer and use the CSA formula after you count the strands. annoying but its the only certain way

[eTobey]

the way to do it is to measure 1 strand with a micrometer and use the CSA formula after you count the strands. annoying but its the only certain way

Wrong!



Have you ever heard of U = R * I?

You can also use a microscope to measure the width. Or even weigh the copper without the isolation.

[coppercone2]

I think its more direct that when you get a specified wire, you measure it with the most simple easy tool to use, unless its 600 strand.

you strip 1cm of wire. count how many strands. then measure one with a micrometer.

Thats the only way you will find it can be done accurately in a normal shop.

ALot of the people here facing fake wire problems (i.e. electricians) don't have measurement microscopes or accurate scales or even kelvin. A micrometer is something that is ubiquitous.


Here is a real situation: you routed a solar cable on the roof and got second thoughts

I am realistic. Have you ever dealt with installed wiring before? Some one leaves and your left with 8 inches sticking out of a wall, barely enough to get 1 rewiring out of it.


If you actually followed the fake wire problems on the forum, you would see how the big trouble actually starts.

[Monkeh]

ALot of the people here facing fake wire problems (i.e. electricians) don't have measurement microscopes or accurate scales or even kelvin. A micrometer is something that is ubiquitous.

Your electricians have micrometers but not half way competent ohmmeters?

Oh, right, the flag.. testing not a thing.

Here is a real situation: you routed a solar cable on the roof and got second thoughts

I am realistic. Have you ever dealt with installed wiring before?

Have you? Using tools appropriate for dealing with wiring, not a hammer and a chisel?

[coppercone2]

Electricians typically have fucked up test leads on a 3.5 digit fluke that won't read resistance under 1 ohm 

hammer and chisel, no, im not in chicago.

[Monkeh]

Electricians typically have fucked up test leads on a 3.5 digit fluke that won't read resistance under 1 ohm 

I keep forgetting you don't have electricians, you have professional cable staplers.

[eTobey]

Here is a real situation: you routed a solar cable on the roof and got second thoughts

I am realistic. Have you ever dealt with installed wiring before? Some one leaves and your left with 8 inches sticking out of a wall, barely enough to get 1 rewiring out of it.

If you have second thoughts on that stage, you are not doing a great job...

[coppercone2]

you probobly did not do much at all if you run into that situation 


they kind of just present themselves to you.

[eTobey]

you probobly did not do much at all if you run into that situation 


they kind of just present themselves to you.

Run into what situation?

[wilfred]

I checked the ones I recently bought in the Arrow electronics sale. The Adafruit ones are folded and unsoldered. But at 20 cents or so for 10 leads I ain't complaining. There are none left.

The Meuller Electric BU-00285 are AU$3.38 or about US$2 for a pack of 10. They are not magnetic wire and are soldered. And they are still available.
https://www.arrow.com/en/products/bu-00285/mueller-electric-company?q=BU-00285