nanog mailing list archives

Re: L6-20P -> L6-30R


From: Jay Ashworth <jra () baylink com>
Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2014 13:18:19 -0400 (EDT)

---- Original Message -----
From: "William Herrin" <bill () herrin us>

On Wed, Mar 19, 2014 at 11:22 AM, Lamar Owen <lowen () pari edu> wrote:
Just replacing an L6-20P with an L6-30P on a 20A-listed PDU would be unsafe
and (IMO) unwise, since the breaker in the input of the PDU does not protect
the flexible cord's conductors from internal overcurrent faults.

Yet an 18 awg PC power cable is perfectly safe when plugged in to a
5-20R on a circuit with a 20 amp breaker. Get real man.

A PC isn't a power distribution device.

You got two things right:

The NEC (and related fire codes) don't apply to supply cords of
appliances in circumstances such as OP's PDU.

A PDU is *not* an appliance.
 
The modification cancels the UL certification. If you have an external
requirement to use only UL certified components then you can't make
any modifications no matter how obviously safe they are.

UL doesn't "certify" items.  It "lists" them.

It does so *specifically on behalf of* fire insurors.
 
By the way, you either don't have that requirement or you're breaking
it. Your custom network cables are not UL certified.

Network cables don't carry power.

Generally, Bill, you're one of the Smart People here.

But what Lamar says accords with my (limited) formal electrical training,
and what you say does not.

Cheers,
-- jra
-- 
Jay R. Ashworth                  Baylink                       jra () baylink com
Designer                     The Things I Think                       RFC 2100
Ashworth & Associates       http://www.bcp38.info          2000 Land Rover DII
St Petersburg FL USA      BCP38: Ask For It By Name!           +1 727 647 1274


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