Bad Electrical Cables: The Timebomb

This turned up at the Knock Off Gear (private) Facebook Group. An incompetent at best, possibly duplicitous, cunning, and conniving importer has dumped vast quantities of very dangerous domestic TPS cable into the Australian market. Woolworth’s owned Masters Hardware were silly enough to sell it, as were some other vendors (list below).

The affected cable came with Infinity and Olsent branding. It has been wired into countless homes and businesses across the country, and must be replaced as it WILL break down and it WILL short circuit, which CAN cause fires.

The offender is claiming she too was duped. The laws of defamation prevent us from expressing very deep skepticism and indeed even asserting she was either plain stupid, or had darker motives – like, making a massive profit without any care or consideration of the massive on-costs now faced by electricians, and by the duped suppliers of this cable. Her shonky import firm conveniently filed itself into the protection of bankruptcy, and she probably will walk away from everyone’s problem. And maybe do it all again.

This begs a larger question. How much inferior and dangerous cable exists WITHIN cheap or even well branded equipment?

Here follows the official recall info, from this website.

Product description

All ‘INFINITY’ and ‘OLSENT’ branded Infinity TPS (flat and flexible) and Orange Round low voltage electrical cables of all sizes, configurations and models that are polymeric insulated and PVC sheathed/insulated

Identifying features

All sizes and configurations of TPS and Orange Round mains power cables sourced from Infinity Cable Co Pty Ltd and supplied under ‘INFINITY’ and ‘OLSENT’ brands are affected. The cable is labelled ‘INFINITY’ or ‘OLSENT’ at 1 metre intervals.

What are the defects?

The cables fail the required ageing tests of AS/NZS 5000.2:2006. The insulation could become prematurely brittle with age.

What are the hazards?

If the insulation becomes brittle and the cables are disturbed, the insulation could break and expose live conductors, resulting in possible electric shock or fires.

(1) Mitre 10 (Sep – Oct 2013)
(2) John Danks & Son to “Home Timber & Hardware” (Jul – Sep 2013)
(3) John Danks & Son to “Thrifty-Link Hardware” (Jul – Sep 2013)
(4) John Danks & Son to “Plants Plus” and independent hardware stores (Jul – Sep 2013)
(5) Pioneer Electrical Supplies
(6) Salmon Bros. Data and Electrical
(7) United Electrical and Data Supplies
(8) Alliance Electrical Wholesalers
(9) Sydney Electrical Wholesalers
(10) HEM Queensland
(11) Ramax Electrical Wholesalers
(12) Network Electrical Supplies
(13) Go Electrical
(14) Advanced Electrical Wholesalers
(15) EZLEC Trade Supplies
(16) Project Lighting
(17) Popes Electrical and Data Supplies

Both ‘INFINITY’ and ‘OLSENT’ branded cables were supplied by:

(18) Masters Home Improvement (Mar 2012 – Sep 2013)