Is the cable inside a socket outlet / power strip attached firmly?

[kenny1999]

I have a power strip that has fallen from height accidentally for a couple of times, there is no observable crack or damage, however, could this lead to bad contacts or anything bad to the
electrical/electronic appliance? I'm thinking if the power cable inside is usually well attached

 

[Drakkith]

It's probably fine but there's really no way to tell without opening it up or using it.

 

[kenny1999]

It's probably fine but there's really no way to tell without opening it up or using it.

I'd like to know, if wires and connections inside electric socket of power strip are tough or fragile by design?

 

[anorlunda]

I'd like to know, if wires and connections inside electric socket of power strip are tough or fragile by design?

The quality of such devices vary widely from very good to very bad. I once examined an extension cord purchased in the dollar store. I was shocked (figuratively) by what I found. I'll never buy stuff like that in the dollar store again.

 

[DaveC426913]

Agree with anorlunda. There was a flap a few years ago about cheap power cords (or was it extension cords) shipped from China that were spontaneously shorting and bursting into flames.

 

[Drakkith]

I'd like to know, if wires and connections inside electric socket of power strip are tough or fragile by design?

Yes.

 

[berkeman]

Does it have internal transient protection? If so, depending on how the components are mounted, they could have broken off or otherwise been compromised. Since you probably are not plugging a computer into this power strip that keeps falling from significant height, that may not matter.

I'd like to know, if wires and connections inside electric socket of power strip are tough or fragile by design?

That depends, as others have said. I myself would open it up for a good inspection, but I'm an EE with a fair amount of AC mains experience. What is your background in electronics and AC Mains safety stuff? If no background, I'd just buy a new one and fix the setup where it keeps falling...

 

[kenny1999]

The quality of such devices vary widely from very good to very bad. I once examined an extension cord purchased in the dollar store. I was shocked (figuratively) by what I found. I'll never buy stuff like that in the dollar store again.

How bad was it? Overheated?

 

[kenny1999]

Does it have internal transient protection? If so, depending on how the components are mounted, they could have broken off or otherwise been compromised. Since you probably are not plugging a computer into this power strip that keeps falling from significant height, that may not matter.That depends, as others have said. I myself would open it up for a good inspection, but I'm an EE with a fair amount of AC mains experience. What is your background in electronics and AC Mains safety stuff? If no background, I'd just buy a new one and fix the setup where it keeps falling...

I don't think it is a cheap one, but not a decent one though. It fell off from the desk by accident when it was connected to anything. I think this kind of things are not too fragile, but wish to know if it would cause problems to the appliance if used to power them. This is a trade-off between cost and risk so I am asking this question to help making estimate

 

[anorlunda]

How bad was it? Overheated?

I cut open the lamp cord wire. I found an inner "tube" in the insulation. The tube was filled with loose strands of wire, each about 1 cm long, not braided or twisted or systematically placed --- just random. It looked to me like copper sweepings from a factory floor.

I could not begin to think how to calculate the standard deviation of the ampacity of that cord.