Wylex RECSW2S

If you want to emulate the BS test, you need a lamp dimmer and a low voltage transformer - the old style halogen lamp transformers are good and a short length of nichrome wire like the sort of thing in the open would heating elements of yesteryear (available on ebay in short lengths).


The brightness of the wire can be adjusted with the lamp dimmer.

I agree with DZ here - passing the test in the sense of not flaming when touched by the hot wire is all the makers have to do, and that does not make it safe, or even show the test is appropriate for the problems that can arise in  that sort of equipment at all.


BUT,  just pass the test is all the makers will do, as if they go beyond, their product is then more costly, and they will  lose business to those who do the minimum. In terms of minimum, in some parts of the world clear bodied MCBs  and so on are available, that I am told, are very flammable. Probably important however in some less regulated places to see what is inside though, harder to fake. (and educational )


Consider the tragedy of the cladding at Grenfell - it had been tested to, and passed,  completely unsuitable tests, which had been deemed acceptable by customers who did not really know what the standards involved, , because the letters BS XYZ make everyone feel good. (and partly also because the standards are quite pricey for what they are, so most folk in the supply chain do not have a copy, but that is another matter )

Understandably reducing the amount of toxic flame retardant used willy nilly in plastic cups and cutlery makes sense, I'm less clear that the same argument should be applied to something like an MCB, which is not going to be ingested, but at the plastic moulders, having one batch of ABS flakes or whatever, rather than paying more for an extra one for electrical stuff  that needs special handling is attractive.

Mike.

If you want to emulate the BS test, you need a lamp dimmer and a low voltage transformer - the old style halogen lamp transformers are good and a short length of nichrome wire like the sort of thing in the open would heating elements of yesteryear (available on ebay in short lengths).


The brightness of the wire can be adjusted with the lamp dimmer.

I agree with DZ here - passing the test in the sense of not flaming when touched by the hot wire is all the makers have to do, and that does not make it safe, or even show the test is appropriate for the problems that can arise in  that sort of equipment at all.


BUT,  just pass the test is all the makers will do, as if they go beyond, their product is then more costly, and they will  lose business to those who do the minimum. In terms of minimum, in some parts of the world clear bodied MCBs  and so on are available, that I am told, are very flammable. Probably important however in some less regulated places to see what is inside though, harder to fake. (and educational )


Consider the tragedy of the cladding at Grenfell - it had been tested to, and passed,  completely unsuitable tests, which had been deemed acceptable by customers who did not really know what the standards involved, , because the letters BS XYZ make everyone feel good. (and partly also because the standards are quite pricey for what they are, so most folk in the supply chain do not have a copy, but that is another matter )

Understandably reducing the amount of toxic flame retardant used willy nilly in plastic cups and cutlery makes sense, I'm less clear that the same argument should be applied to something like an MCB, which is not going to be ingested, but at the plastic moulders, having one batch of ABS flakes or whatever, rather than paying more for an extra one for electrical stuff  that needs special handling is attractive.

Mike.