In no unsure phrases, the US Client Product Security Fee (CPSC) has issued a warning advising anybody who bought a male-to-male extension cable on Amazon to cease utilizing it instantly and throw it away. Utilizing these kinds of cables is harmful and presents quite a few hazards, together with danger of electrocution, fireplace, and carbon monoxide poisoning, the company says.
In contrast to the kind of extension cable you will discover at your native ironmongery shop, those being warned towards have three prong plugs on each ends of the wire. Most individuals haven’t got trigger to make use of male-to-male extension cords, although some shoppers search them out to “back-feed” electrical energy from a generator to a house, with out utilizing a switch panel. There are different potential use-cases as properly—similar to Christmas lights—although that is in all probability the commonest software.
“When plugged right into a generator or outlet, the other finish has dwell electrical energy posing a danger of significant shock or electrocution. Moreover, the circulate of electrical energy within the route reverse to that of the standard circulate of energy circumvents security options of the house’s electrical system and may end up in a fireplace,” the CPSC warns.
Moreover, there is a danger of carbon monoxide poisoning, because the brief size of those cords encourages inserting the generator dangerously near the house. Suffice to say, “these cords don’t adjust to relevant nationwide security codes” and may by no means be used.
Even so, it is not terribly tough to search out and purchase these kinds of cords. In accordance with the CPSC, they have been offered in a number of colours and lengths on Amazon for between $40 and $72. This is a listing of identified Amazon Commonplace Identification Numbers (ASINs) hooked up to those cables…
- B0953LWLDN
- B095LHT5M5
- B096VT4495
- B095LRG6MH
- B0933CJG16
- B097TGQDQ6
- B097BLRDTQ
- B0953MSP65
- B0953QGLZZ
It appears to be like like most or all of these have been de-listed on Amazon, although we have been capable of finding a couple of different listings priced between $18.99 and $22.99.
The hazard of utilizing male-to-male extension cables shouldn’t be new info. Electricians generally seek advice from them as “suicide cords” and “widow makers,” phrases that will also be present in among the consumer opinions. As for why the CPSC selected now to problem a warning, it is attainable that these solely not too long ago confirmed up on Amazon—the listings we discovered seem to have solely been dwell for a couple of weeks.
