Replies

1. Expert Member
   BILL WICHERS | Feb 17, 2023 03:25pm | #1

   I'm not surprised. There are a lot of questionable products sold through places like Amazon and Ebay that aren't what they claim. Even very cheap electronic components like resistors, parts that are very cheap even from reputable sources, are available as non-spec and counterfeits.

   I caution anyone from buying any import products of questionable origins for anything safety related here. I know you can find solenoid valves for fuel gas (as one example) on Amazon for cheap. I would never trust those for a critical application like a shutoff on a natural gas line. There are transfer switches for generators that are also an issue. If all the "real" stuff is in the $1,000 range and you find something that claims to be comparable for $120, then you should immediately question that legitimacy of the "too good to be true" cheaply priced product.

   One other thing I see is "CCA" (Copper Clad Aluminum) wire being sold for data networks. It will say something like "category 6 cable meets all specifications, high quality, CCA conductors". The IEEE writes those "category" specs though, and the specs say the cable must use solid copper conductors, only, no CCA permitted. That means ANY cable using CCA conductors does not meet ANY category 3, 5, 6, etc spec, at all. I also question the insulation ratings (CL2, CL3, CMR, etc.) on those cables, which are in part fire safety classifications for the jacket material. If they cheat on the wire, why not cheat on the jacket too?

   Try to avoid unbelievably cheap products as they probably aren't what they claim to be.

   Bill