Quote:
Originally Posted by Kat Manton
Many years ago, the wiring on my sister's hairdryer failed (spectacularly!) Due to repeated movement, the wiring fractured. This caused internal arcing which blew out a chunk of both inner and outer insulation, leaving a hole in the side of the cable and only the neutral wire attached, just where the cable exited the plug.
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That happened to me once, with a fan heater. The heater drew enough current so that, once the conductor fractured, there was a sufficient internal arc to puncture the insulation and flash over live-neutral. There was a loud bang and the fuse blew - but not before a ball of molten copper shot out of the side of the cable.
I always use minimum-rated fuses in mains plugs. I leave quite a lot of equipment (VCR, DVD-recorder, radio alarm clock) permanently 'on'. As for vintage equipment - mains transformers do have the potential to die due to enamelled-wire breakdown, and if wax impregnated could catch fire. Luckily, I've only had 2 transformers do this, and I've been present each time, and not waited for the flames. Conversely, AC/DC equipment with a mains dropper does not have this mechanism to self-destruct under power, and so although running hotter, could also be said to be safer!