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Old 20th Apr 2014, 2:51 pm   #1
sp10mk11
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Default 1 Amp mains Cable

anyone know where I can get some 1 amp 3 core mains cable (very thin and pliable).

I cannot trace it anywhere doers that mean it has been withdrawn from sale because of some law?

I only want to change the mains cables on 15 watt soldering irons

Gary
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Old 20th Apr 2014, 2:58 pm   #2
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Default Re: 1 Amp mains Cable

I don't think this is legal, as it won't be possible to protect against a fire using a plug fuse. The fuse must always blow before the mains cable has time to overheat if there's a fault.
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Old 20th Apr 2014, 3:07 pm   #3
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Default Re: 1 Amp mains Cable

In my late-1970s/early-1980s working on telephone-exchanges it was normal to retrofit our 240V soldering irons with curly-coil wiring claimed from stores on the basis that it was needed for use on BT '706' telephone-handsets.

[Legal-disclaimer] I'm not suggesting you should try this at home [/Legal-disclaimer]
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Old 20th Apr 2014, 3:18 pm   #4
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Default Re: 1 Amp mains Cable

0.5mm2 flex is the smallest you can get, and is available from Maplin. It is not really recommended for general use any more as it's rather fragile, and with a 13amp fuse in the plug is a risk of fire under fault conditions. It is however the largest flex that will fit into some table lamps and similar items. Under sensible use with a small fuse in the plug it will be perfectly safe. I use 0.5mm2 silicone rubber mains flex for all my soldering irons as it doesn't melt or burn. It's quite difficult to find a supplier, I got mine off a load of broken Antex irons that my old school was throwing out.

The 1 amp flex is 0.25mm2 but I don't think is made any more.
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Old 20th Apr 2014, 4:02 pm   #5
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Default Re: 1 Amp mains Cable

Bah! fuses what are they?

and double Bah to not being able to get it anymore, the silicon stuff sounds good though, it is because the 3 core 5 amp cable is so stiff I wanted to fit the 1 amp cable

I remember a TV engineer had only two core thin cable on his iron........I have never tried not earthing a soldering iron

Ok chaps thanks again

Gary
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Old 20th Apr 2014, 4:10 pm   #6
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Default Re: 1 Amp mains Cable

Yes silicone is great as it's heatproof and very flexible. Where I use to work we had an iron with the earth wire disconnected apparently to allow soldering in replacement indicator lamps into live control panels, that were not allowed to be switched off as that would stop production!
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Old 20th Apr 2014, 6:11 pm   #7
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Default Re: 1 Amp mains Cable

I inherited a French CE-marked 15W double insulated soldering iron with thin 2-core flex and Europlug from my late brother-in-law in France, branded "Express".

I too was wondering about where to source a new thin mains lead for my 1970's vintage 15W Antex that is getting a bit stiff with age. Thanks for the suggestions.
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Old 22nd Apr 2014, 7:35 pm   #8
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Default Re: 1 Amp mains Cable

I measured the diameter of the mains flex on my Henley 25W and Antex C 15W soldering irons.
They are 4.4mm and 4.6mm respectively.

I noticed that some hair straighteners have thin round flexible leads that feel like silicon rubber. However they may be 2 core.
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Old 23rd Apr 2014, 6:38 pm   #9
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Default Re: 1 Amp mains Cable

Try giving Antex themselves a call, I've found them to be quite helpful with spares in the past and they must have a stock of the 0.5mm silicone flex, they still fit it to current models.

Antex (Electronics) Limited 2 Westbridge Industrial Estate, Tavistock, Devon. PL19 8DE
Tel : +44 (0)1822 613565 Fax: +44 (0)1822 617598
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Old 23rd Apr 2014, 9:55 pm   #10
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Default Re: 1 Amp mains Cable

I've got some 0.5mm silicone LNE mains cable, but it's 5.9mm OD? Very flexible, however.

John
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Old 23rd Apr 2014, 10:35 pm   #11
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Default Re: 1 Amp mains Cable

I have a couple of things with the silicone insulated flex and even for the thicker wires it's very flexible and light compared to PVC.

My soldering iron came with PVC however, which I'd avoid in future, but I find it's ok if I select just enough length for free movement around the work area and put something like a heavy book on it at that point. Lots of excess cable caused it to move around and pull at the iron unpredictably, and it just felt heavier and was at more risk of getting caught on something.
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Old 24th Apr 2014, 12:42 am   #12
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Default Re: 1 Amp mains Cable

Farnell used to (in 1985) sell the necessary replacement handle/body to take 0.5mm^^2 flex, but I can't find it now.
Rapid do the current version of the C15 with silicone lead and a plug at £16.27 + post
http://www.rapidonline.com/Tools-Equ...93112ffa6f1764
and you could keep your existing one (if Antex) as a spare element.
If it's not an Antex, there may still be a corresponding "new improved safety" version available.

Last edited by G8UWM-MildMartin; 24th Apr 2014 at 12:46 am. Reason: Assumed Antex, but may be other.
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Old 24th Apr 2014, 12:23 pm   #13
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Default Re: 1 Amp mains Cable

I've got a length of silicone rubber 3-core from a dead Weller TCP kicking about which you can have for postage if you like. PM if interested.
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Old 24th Apr 2014, 4:44 pm   #14
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Default Re: 1 Amp mains Cable

I found this

0.5mm is the smallest size but the min order is a 50 mtr drum
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Old 25th Apr 2014, 9:42 am   #15
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Default Re: 1 Amp mains Cable

The diameter of the smaller silicon cable from rapidonline is 6.1mm.

What we want is a light flexible cable with a small diameter and heat resistant properties if possible.
What I need now is a time machine or a good boot sale.
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Old 25th Apr 2014, 10:43 am   #16
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Default Re: 1 Amp mains Cable

The silicone cable on my VERY old Weller TU1PD is 5.93mm, this is very flexible and not a problem in use in any way. I'm going to check in with a very large local electrical factors this afternoon to see what they have or know of.
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Old 25th Apr 2014, 3:28 pm   #17
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Default Re: 1 Amp mains Cable

There is some .5mm flat here.http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Electrical...item1c3e6d9d33
or if your iron is low voltage,? you could always use thin microphone cable.
John
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Old 25th Apr 2014, 6:23 pm   #18
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Default Re: 1 Amp mains Cable

Hi this coming along well, thanks to everyone who has contributed, the .5mm looks great stuff, how important is it to earth a soldering iron?

Jonnybear
Mine are both Antex mains ones

Thing is have a 60 watt Wolf one that is very old but it has a lovely very flexible rubber cable, I only use it for special jobs though

The 3 core silicon cable sounds good aswell these stiff 3 core fitted are a pain at times.

Gary
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Old 27th Apr 2014, 11:21 pm   #19
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Default Re: 1 Amp mains Cable

Today I bought some 3 core 0.5mm flex (2183Y) for 50p per metre at Wilkinson in Sutton.

It is available in white PVC and the diameter is 5mm.
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Old 30th Apr 2014, 11:24 pm   #20
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Default Re: 1 Amp mains Cable

Quote:
Originally Posted by sp10mk11 View Post
Hi this coming along well, thanks to everyone who has contributed, the .5mm looks great stuff, how important is it to earth a soldering iron?
At one time it was important not to earth a soldering iron. Something must have changed.
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