Power Strips/Lead question

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I was in the hardware store today and I noticed that all of the Power Strips had LEAD warnings on them. "Wash hands after handling". What the hell? When did it start being a problem with a freaking electrical power strip?

 

[Tim]

Where were these power strips made (e.g. bargain-basement Chinese-made products)? I would be surprised if the amount of lead exposure from these is above trace amounts (just as the amount of mercury in fluorescent lamps is at trace levels), but if worried, seek ones that are specifically marked "lead free."

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

They didn't look like cheap Chinese crap to me. It was a major hardware store chain that I was in. I don't think China makes this kind of stuff anyway.

And besides, wasn't the big lead scare from China concerning *toys*?

In any case, I admit I'm confused as to exactly what the hell the problem is. Toys are handled every day for hours on end; most people will probably touch a power strip a few times in their entire physical lifespan.

And FWIW, no, I wasn't scared off by this (I was there to buy telephone cord. ), I'm just curious as to exactly why a power strip would have to have a lead warning on it.

 

[Tim]

Babaganoosh said:
They didn't look like cheap Chinese crap to me. It was a major hardware store chain that I was in.

That doesn't prevent said chain from carrying Chinese-made product...I'd be shocked if they didn't, actually.

I don't think China makes this kind of stuff anyway.

Sure they do. Check the label.

And besides, wasn't the big lead scare from China concerning *toys*?

The ones we've heard about, yes. I put little faith in the safety and quality control standards at the majority of Chinese manufacturing plants--and I'm half Chinese. My mother, who's fully Chinese, agrees.

I'm just curious as to exactly why a power strip would have to have a lead warning on it.

Lawyers.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

^ What the hell are the lawyers worried about? Some stupid asshole is going to stuff a power strip in his MOUTH? That'd be about the only way that "lead" (if these things even have any) would be a problem.

 

[TerriO]

Corporate lawyers are worried about lawsuits, it's that simple.

I mean, why do McDonald's coffee cups say that the contents are hot on them? We are, after all, a very litigious nation.

Still, we're digressing. Let's get back to the subject of lead in power strips. My guess is it might be there for a conductivity issue, but that's only a guess.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Some of the power strips I saw were made out of plastic, which only confused me more. Plastic...lead...sorry, not seeing the connection there.

 

[M'Sharak]

TerriO said:

Still, we're digressing. Let's get back to the subject of lead in power strips. My guess is it might be there for a conductivity issue, but that's only a guess.

Lead is a often a component of solder used in making electrical connections, for one. There are several connections in the average power strip in which solder might be used, even if only "tinned" wire ends with a mechanical connection.

 

[Tim]

M´Sharak said:

TerriO said:

Still, we're digressing. Let's get back to the subject of lead in power strips. My guess is it might be there for a conductivity issue, but that's only a guess.

Lead is a often a component of solder used in making electrical connections, for one. There are several connections in the average power strip in which solder might be used, even if only "tinned" wire ends with a mechanical connection.

Sure, but all those solder joints are internal to the power strip and don't really pose much of a danger to the average person.

I do a lot of soldering myself, so the amount of lead oxide I've inhaled from the fumes probably far outweighs any trace amount I'd get from a poorly made power strip.

 

[JustAFriend]

Did the power strips have surge suppressors in them???

Metal Oxide Varistors (MOVs) probably have lead in them. Plus the solder used to connect the components.

Here's more than you want to know about strips:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_strip

 

[M'Sharak]

Tim M said:

M´Sharak said:

TerriO said:

Still, we're digressing. Let's get back to the subject of lead in power strips. My guess is it might be there for a conductivity issue, but that's only a guess.

Lead is a often a component of solder used in making electrical connections, for one. There are several connections in the average power strip in which solder might be used, even if only "tinned" wire ends with a mechanical connection.

Sure, but all those solder joints are internal to the power strip and don't really pose much of a danger to the average person.

I do a lot of soldering myself, so the amount of lead oxide I've inhaled from the fumes probably far outweighs any trace amount I'd get from a poorly made power strip.

Quite right.

I was merely suggesting places where lead would have a legitimate reason to be found in such a device. As to why you'd have labels warning that lead would be found on the exterior casing in such a way that it might require users to wash their hands after touching it, I can only suppose one of two things were to blame:

1) Sloppy manufacturing process using cheap labor and no safety-oriented oversight
or
2) Some zealous but less-than-well-informed citizen with a direct pipeline to a member of Congress found out that "OMG, these things have a toxic metal in them!" and the resulting overreaction led to the invocation of the prevailing local regulations regarding precautionary labeling of items containing hazardous materials, and so forth...