CPSC warns consumers to stop using male-to-male extension cords sold on Amazon • Hacker News Board

Re: CPSC warns consumers to stop using male-to-male extension cords sold on Amazon

#21

Post by ridgered4 » Fri, Sep 16, 2022, 2:49 PM UTC

h2odragon wrote: post #2

I recall a holocaust among hand crafted toys, a few years ago: They were enforcing "materiel origin" labeling or something and you couldn't sell home made toys without a lot of paperwork to certify they were lead free. Amazon is too big for laws to apply, and its umbrella apparently covers foreign sellers on its platform. Another fun toy they sell is the "heated shower heads", a tankless water heater element integrat…

IIRC that lead law was spawned in response to Mattel selling lead painted toys and Mattel was made exempt!

Re: CPSC warns consumers to stop using male-to-male extension cords sold on Amazon

#22

Post by ridgered4 » Fri, Sep 16, 2022, 2:52 PM UTC

ABeeSea wrote: post #15

zibby8 wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are you sure that Lowes can't sell heated shower heads? Maybe they choose not to sell them for liability reasons.

Or demand reasons. If Amazon only sells a couple dozen a year, they just need to keep a few in a single warehouse at all times whereas lowes would need to keep it in stock in a minimum number of stores that is greater than 1.

My experience with Lowes has been they "carry" many items that can actually only be shipped to you or the store after being purchased online.

Re: CPSC warns consumers to stop using male-to-male extension cords sold on Amazon

#23

Post by mmastrac » Fri, Sep 16, 2022, 2:52 PM UTC

jvolkman wrote: post #4

A.k.a suicide cables. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/suicide_cable

Lots more here, as well: https://twitter.com/cursedcables?lang=en

AliExpress is filled with cursed connectors!

Re: CPSC warns consumers to stop using male-to-male extension cords sold on Amazon

#24

Post by josephcsible » Fri, Sep 16, 2022, 2:52 PM UTC

zibby8 wrote: post #8

Back feeding seems insane. Most residential circuits are rated for 15A. A 5000 watt generator can produce over 40 amps at 120V. Seems like a good way to start an electrical fire.

There's not a big risk of overcurrent here, since the 15A breaker will trip on overcurrent even when it's being backfed. The main hazard with these suicide cables is of electrocution, both inside your house due to the exposed blades being energized, and of linemen working to restore the power.

Re: CPSC warns consumers to stop using male-to-male extension cords sold on Amazon

#25

Post by eternityforest » Fri, Sep 16, 2022, 2:52 PM UTC

TOGoS wrote: post #20

zibby8 wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What other use is there for male-to-male cables?

NEMA power inlets are weirdly expensive and therefore hard to come by. So if you want to have a wall-powered device with a detachable cord, using an outlet as an inlet and a male-to-male cord is a simple solution. (And yes, I'm aware of other solutions, like using IEC inlets, but it just feels a little wrong to use one of those on e.g. a power strip with NEMA outlets.)

That's what IEC inlets are for

Re: CPSC warns consumers to stop using male-to-male extension cords sold on Amazon

#26

Post by notacoward » Fri, Sep 16, 2022, 2:52 PM UTC

RL hardware stores are well aware of the problem, and often put up signs (especially around Christmas time) to discourage these shenanigans. Here's a nice collection.

https://twitter.com/kobunheat/status/1336134415336964096

Re: CPSC warns consumers to stop using male-to-male extension cords sold on Amazon

#27

Post by elzbardico » Fri, Sep 16, 2022, 2:53 PM UTC

How can folks not see that using such contraption is obviously a shitty idea?

That’s why we need to completely overhaul the teaching of physics in middle and high school.

Every citizen should have at least a basic understanding of basic physical concepts that allow then to understand why this kind of thing is a bad idea

Re: CPSC warns consumers to stop using male-to-male extension cords sold on Amazon

#28

Post by criddell » Fri, Sep 16, 2022, 2:53 PM UTC

I kind of hate that the notice points to a safety code (NFPA 70 in this case) but in order to see it, you have create an account in order to read it. If you want a copy of the code, you have to pay.

Re: CPSC warns consumers to stop using male-to-male extension cords sold on Amazon

#29

Post by 14 » Fri, Sep 16, 2022, 2:53 PM UTC

When I read the article and it said they sell for $40-$72 my jaw dropped. You could make one of these for under $10 pretty easily. Hell if you were resourceful you could make it for free by finding someone giving away a couple plug in appliances for free and cut the cord and make it. Also I believe these cords are also sold for christmas lights if you hang them the wrong way but if used with a generator I believe there is risk you send power to the pole outside your house which is extremely dangerous if a linemen is working on said pole with the belief that the power is dead.

Re: CPSC warns consumers to stop using male-to-male extension cords sold on Amazon

#30

Post by [deleted] » Fri, Sep 16, 2022, 2:53 PM UTC

zibby8 wrote: post #9

h2odragon wrote: post #2

I recall a holocaust among hand crafted toys, a few years ago: They were enforcing "materiel origin" labeling or something and you couldn't sell home made toys without a lot of paperwork to certify they were lead free. Amazon is too big for laws to apply, and its umbrella apparently covers foreign sellers on its platform. Another fun toy they sell is the "heated shower heads", a tankless water heater element integrat…

Are you sure that Lowes can't sell heated shower heads? Maybe they choose not to sell them for liability reasons.

[deleted]