Cotton-covered mains leads (thread contains links). - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Sam · 27th Sep 2005, 2:03 pm

I guess these are loosely a component...

What are peoples' opinions on keeping the cotton-covered mains leads? I have recently bought a Smiths electric Alarm-clock, and it appears to have its original mains lead - cotton covered flex with black and red insulation. It looks in good external condition, and the insulation looked fine when I put a plug on to check it. My thought was I would give it a zap at 500v or 1000v on a megger and check its insulation. If it was OK I woul leave it.

I've never really had to think about this with radios - I have always just replaced an old 2-core lead with a 3-core one to earth the chassis. My universal sets haven't reached the top of the pile yet!

Sam

Jeremy M0RVB · 27th Sep 2005, 2:29 pm

I'm no expert but given you can still buy it for irons and the like you could just replace with new? If the insulation is rubber it may bebreaking down even if it meggers ok - you'd need to flex every bit while you wound the handle...

Mike Phelan · 27th Sep 2005, 2:42 pm

Like Jeremy says, it is not so much the fabric, but the rubber that is the problem.

If you do not want to fit modern cable, this is may be useful:
http://www.periodhouseshops.com/acat..._Cable_28.html
You can indeed get fabric cable in such as B & Q, but it is too hefty for a clock, and the yellow spots look garish.

Sam · 27th Sep 2005, 2:52 pm

OK, thanks for the replies. I think I will just fit two-core black-coloured cable that I have here for radios. Won't look out of place, and I don't want to run the risk of the old one shorting out.

Sam

PWH · 27th Sep 2005, 7:37 pm

I have some new black and gold stuff you can get from my website www.vintage-radio-resources.com

2 sorts, one is 0.75mm which is good for radios and some 1.0mm for radiograms, if that helps.

broadgage · 11th Dec 2013, 1:02 pm

This ebay supplier might be of interest to those restoring vintage radio sets or other appliances.
Newly manufactured mains flex of vintage apearance.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Coloured-t...#ht_1424wt_805

I have no connection with them.

Pamphonica · 11th Dec 2013, 2:30 pm

I don't think that link works.
But this one seems to work and lists a lot of possible suppliers.
- Jeremy

paulsherwin · 11th Dec 2013, 2:32 pm

Link now corrected.

27th Sep 2005, 2:03 pm	#1
Sam Hexode Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Higham-on-the-Hill, Leicestershire, UK. Posts: 338	Cotton-covered mains leads (thread contains links). I guess these are loosely a component... What are peoples' opinions on keeping the cotton-covered mains leads? I have recently bought a Smiths electric Alarm-clock, and it appears to have its original mains lead - cotton covered flex with black and red insulation. It looks in good external condition, and the insulation looked fine when I put a plug on to check it. My thought was I would give it a zap at 500v or 1000v on a megger and check its insulation. If it was OK I woul leave it. I've never really had to think about this with radios - I have always just replaced an old 2-core lead with a 3-core one to earth the chassis. My universal sets haven't reached the top of the pile yet! Sam __________________ Can he lead a Normal life, Doctor? No, he will be ... an Engineer.

27th Sep 2005, 2:29 pm	#2
Jeremy M0RVB Hexode Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 458	Re: Cotton-covered mains leads I'm no expert but given you can still buy it for irons and the like you could just replace with new? If the insulation is rubber it may bebreaking down even if it meggers ok - you'd need to flex every bit while you wound the handle...

27th Sep 2005, 2:42 pm	#3
Mike Phelan Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Near Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK Posts: 4,609	Re: Cotton-covered mains leads Like Jeremy says, it is not so much the fabric, but the rubber that is the problem. If you do not want to fit modern cable, this is may be useful: http://www.periodhouseshops.com/acat..._Cable_28.html You can indeed get fabric cable in such as B & Q, but it is too hefty for a clock, and the yellow spots look garish. __________________ Mike.

27th Sep 2005, 2:52 pm	#4
Sam Hexode Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Higham-on-the-Hill, Leicestershire, UK. Posts: 338	Re: Cotton-covered mains leads OK, thanks for the replies. I think I will just fit two-core black-coloured cable that I have here for radios. Won't look out of place, and I don't want to run the risk of the old one shorting out. Sam __________________ Can he lead a Normal life, Doctor? No, he will be ... an Engineer.

27th Sep 2005, 7:37 pm	#5
PWH Heptode Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Waiheke Island, New Zealand Posts: 503	Re: Cotton-covered mains leads I have some new black and gold stuff you can get from my website www.vintage-radio-resources.com 2 sorts, one is 0.75mm which is good for radios and some 1.0mm for radiograms, if that helps.

11th Dec 2013, 1:02 pm	#6
broadgage Nonode Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: North Somerset, UK. Posts: 2,130	Cotton-covered mains leads (thread contains links). This ebay supplier might be of interest to those restoring vintage radio sets or other appliances. Newly manufactured mains flex of vintage apearance. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Coloured-t...#ht_1424wt_805 I have no connection with them.

11th Dec 2013, 2:30 pm	#7
Pamphonica Nonode Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Virginia Water, Surrey, UK. Posts: 2,879	Re: Vintage style mains flex I don't think that link works. But this one seems to work and lists a lot of possible suppliers. - Jeremy __________________ Jeremy, G8MLK, BVWTVM Friend, VMARS, BVWS Secretary. www.pamphonic.co.uk www.bttt.org.uk

11th Dec 2013, 2:32 pm	#8
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 27,969	Re: Vintage style mains flex Link now corrected.