[Steve Eddy]

If the coating is thick enough to prevent arcing at the voltages and amperages in use, then it's enough.

Enough for what? Sure, enough to prevent arcing, but we're not talking about transformer windings or internal chassis wiring, we're talking about an exposed, external power cord. I'd like to think most folks would prefer a bit greater margin of safety than these things afford.

I could care less if some audiophile electrocutes himself with these things. But I'd hate to see some innocent injured or worse in the name of "better sound."

se

[bpape]

Well, let's see if we can argue in a civil way 

My point is that it may make you feel better to have 1/8" of rubber around the conductors, but it will be no safer than any other coating that is of sufficient thickness and chemical nature to tolerate the voltages and heat required of a power cord. 

The 'bag' is basically useless IMO in that it offers about zero protection from anything. 

Now, as to your point about not being a transformer...  If the coating isn't good enough there, then it's no safer than one would be exposed out in the open.  It's just that the shock/fire would be inside a chassis.

Bryan

[James Romeyn]

Power cables for components are not normally exposed to the mechanical chafing & physical abuse of consumer extension cords.  So that does temper this point.  I'd imagine UL Labs puts cords to quite a thorough trashing & array of physical abuse before attaching their seal.  If extension cord companies could save 1/2c w/ less rubber insulator, they'd do it in a hearbeat I'd guess.  Yes, most of the fires I've been to were higher current sources like rice cookers (the biggest one) & hot-plates, also in Pierre's favor.  But not all.  Several bad fires from a lowly computer & yes TVs too.  Usually it was internal, but some from the cables &/or too many appliances on an extension cord, none of which would be similar to Pierre's cords in normal use. 
 

[bpape]

I'll buy the chafing argument.  Guess that's what the dry cleaning bag is for? 

Bryan

[rollo]

UL certification can cost upwards of $5000 thats is why.I guess the price is the issue.Safety should come first especially at the price of the active series.I own the Omega Mikro active and would not use anything else.Tried almost all the top rated cords and nothing comes close except Kimber Palladian for amps.For front end stuff its a feat to out perform this power cord.
     As said before these cords see little in the way of being abused by the user and probably will not be an issue.However if i had a choice I would prefer a UL approval on any powercord in use.
rollo

[James Romeyn]

The only way an audiophile power cord would find its way into use on a regular appliance is by accident.  But of course if it's there, it could be used on anything w/ a similar IEC socket, which is several hundred million appliances I suppose. 

Audiohile dies or is taken away by aliens (it could happen), mother in law helps clean up the soundroom, next thing you know the illegal alien cleaning lady has it on her....well, maybe her Pass Audio XA160 power amp......

[Berndt]

In regards to Ul, I have built thousands of designer lamps that were not UL approved, the designer of said lamp felt it to be too large of an expense, considering all his components were UL tagged, just not the assembly.
I feel Mr Jimbo, aka ribbonspeakers.net has a unique perspective concerning UL approval as well. A working fire chief in Sn Francisco has got to see quite a few power cord related fires...Correct me if I am wrong, Jim.
Personally I can't have a dedicated sound room, so my stuff all has to be child (visitors, I don't have any), and cat proof.
So Jim, your cleaning lady has a pass 160? One of your hand me downs?

[pearsall001]

If the coating is thick enough to prevent arcing at the voltages and amperages in use, then it's enough.

Enough for what? Sure, enough to prevent arcing, but we're not talking about transformer windings or internal chassis wiring, we're talking about an exposed, external power cord. I'd like to think most folks would prefer a bit greater margin of safety than these things afford.

I could care less if some audiophile electrocutes himself with these things. But I'd hate to see some innocent injured or worse in the name of "better sound."

se

I thought same thing about the safety of the power cords. So instead of looking at a picture & speculating on it's safety merits, I called Pierre at mapleshade for information. Now keep in mind that I'm not a technical kind of guy so I can't give a detailed explanation that Pierre gave me. He said the wire itself is coated with an Aerospace plastic, & the clear sheath is also another form of insulation. He started getting technical & lost me on what he was telling me. Give Pierre a call for the exact specification of how the power cords are perfectly safe according to him. Remember, you can't always judge a book by it's cover!

[maxwalrath]

I'm glad for this thread....I've got a few mapleshade albums and like them a lot, and I haven't bought any new tunes in a while.  After reading the thread, I got back on the mailing list.  I'll have new Mapleshade CD's as soon as I pick 'em out.

[James Romeyn]

Pierre makes some spooky realistic recordings...

Only a Capt.  Lots of fires caused by power cords.  Biggest one displaced over a hundred people from a 5th alarm apt fire in the 'loin.  A perfectly good 20 year old rice cooker on about its 5000th pot of rice...Wonder if the rice was really that good that night?  Definitely one of those "No cooking appliances allowed in the apartment" kind of fires..."No, that most defiinitely is NOT my rice cooker!  Who planted that in my apartment?!  I don't even LIKE rice!" 

I love this fire a couple months ago.  You're talking about 20 people in the single family dwelling looking for the circuit breakers, which we can't find in the garage or anywhere else, & the renters in other units in the flat don't know anything.  A Chief, peopel w/ construction experience, all kinds of people running around..."...no still no sign of the panel, Chief...I'll check the kitchen again...nothing in the closets..."

Typical SF: It's in the far corner of the kitchen, just above the floor, inside & at the rearmost of one of the cabinets w/ all kinds of pots & pans IFO it.  How many drinks did the builder have before picking that ideal spot?