Power Cables - Amp Rating

[spooks1982]

So, I happened to have a few 'audiophile' (yes I know) power cables to hand - now I realise this is a bit contentious and I'm not debating whether they make an audible difference. What I want to know and this is after the fact because I've been running this cable on my power amp for a week or two without issues relates to the amp rating on the cable. I read in the small print online that the cable is only rated to 5Amps and is suitable for source devices and low power amps. My amp is 120-Watt per channel.... I've actually never known of a power cable not rated to run stuff plugged into a uk standard power socket. Have I been running in an unsafe fashion or at risk of anything? The cable is a Black Rhodium Libra. They actually made a specific one for higher power devices at one point....

Thanks!

 

[insider9]

Only 5A? At 220V mains that fuse is fine up to 1,100W. I'd be surprised if your amp uses half of it.

 

[Al ears]

So where is the original cable for your power amp?

 

[Al ears]

Only 5A? At 220V mains that fuse is fine up to 1,100W. I'd be surprised if your amp uses half of it.

He's saying the cable is only rated to 5 amp not the fuse.

 

[Gray]

......the cable is only rated to 5Amps

....meaning it's fuse will be 5A. The fuse is in the plug solely to protect the wire (and the IEC plug where there is one) - which will always have a higher current rating than the (correct) fuse.
It's worth you checking to confirm the rating of the fitted fuse.

 

[Gray]

He's saying the cable is only rated to 5 amp not the fuse.

Right, he didn't mention the fuse.....but it's probably 5A.

 

[spooks1982]

So it’s got a 13 amp fuse in it - go figure. 🤔 brown / white fuse.

 

[spooks1982]

So where is the original cable for your power amp?

Now attached back on my power amp.

 

[Gray]

So it’s got a 13 amp fuse in it - go figure. 🤔 brown / white fuse.

I did have to go and figure.
They say that there are 16 strands of 0.2mm per core, so 3.2mm of conductor - which will handle more than the 13A of the fuse (as you would expect).
They do indeed rate the cable at 5A continuous - it would comfortably do that (and more).
That's a conservative rating, not that it matters. As Insider said, in practice 5A is way more than you will actually put through it.

 

[abacus]

Throw it in the bin and fit the one supplied by the manufacture back in, as this will be designed to be safe and meet all electrical standards, as well as be appropriate for the equipment.

Avoid anything made by cable manufactures that are not certified, (Hi-Fi cable manufactures very seldom show certifications) as there is no guarantee that they are electrically safe for use on the mains.

Bill

 

[Gray]

Throw it in the bin

A 50 metre drum of the stuff is £1000 Bill, it must be good.
It uses silicone rubber insulation 'for accurate portrayal of the leading edges and decays in music'

 

[spooks1982]

Thanks for the advice all. I'm gonna flog the cables, if I can get a bit of money for them its better than chucking them. HiFi is a strange one isn't it. So many conflicting opinions, snake oil salesman etc. Best to just use your own ears and rational thought.