Orion Touch Really Poor Quality Wire.

[The Chef]

I bough an Orion Touch Charger when they first cam out, since then the Flex has deteriorated very quickly. It is always kept in its own box and the cable it put away very carefully. The outer Black flex has split in several places, as you can see from the photos.

I though no big its only a wire and I could shorten it anyhow, so I cut it to length and prepared to put a new plug on it, and much to my disgust the wire in the flex is thinner than servo wire(see Picture of normal lamp lead and orion wire on the right.)

Don't get me wrong I love the charge but for £120 wouldn't you have thought they could have used a good quality flex?

Im suprised that the charger could draw enough amps to charge the lipos.

Has anyone else had issues with this or similar?

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a362/swampdub/EDAE25F7-5A01-4782-89B3-6C593706F521-1116-0000014EC3AF4BA5.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a362/swampdub/215EBAE0-7A12-4A06-B2AD-B3067F0F5C25-1116-0000014EBB18FCBD.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a362/swampdub/8F7D8CF9-DCCF-4C31-B514-AEFCC53CF82D-1116-0000014EB2A085B7.jpg
ORION LEAD ON RIGHT
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a362/swampdub/EE499058-84DD-47E0-95C2-774614371E26-1116-0000013EDF55D19E.jpg

[Rich D]

Remember that cable is on the 240V side. The current draw on the 240V side will be minimal so the cable diameter is suitable.

Its PVC insulation. It has been bent back and forth when packed away and setting up until it has broken. Most all cable will do the same in fairness.

You can buy rubber insulated cable but i dont recall seeing any other manufacturers using it as OEM kit.

Can see its a bit annoying though !

[The Chef]

Where as the cable may be sufficient for the draw there isn't enough copper for a standard plug to pinch it in one of the screw fixings.

And sure the cable get coiled away after every race but my orion advantage never did this and i used that for much longer.

I just think it is really cheap cable and not what you would expect.

[Rich D]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-UK-C5-Cloverleaf-Clover-Leaf-Mains-Power-Cable-Lead-for-Laptops-adapters-5A-/330729758890?pt=UK_Computing_LaptopAccessories_Pow erSupplies&hash=item4d0107a0aa

this might be of use to you :)

[bigred5765]

different charger but mine did the same, just bought a new one £1.50 from local pc shop

[neiloliver]

Did the moulded 13A plug have all of the correct regulatory approval markings? usually BS1363A...

Orion probably specify the lead to to their box builder but leave it to them to source it which means they will go for the lowest cost product they can find. It is pretty poor for this to happen - I would send it to Orion directly.

N

[raymondkerr]

my cable failed after a couple of months of use, (once a week) just buy a better quality clover leaf cable from somewhere like Maplin.

:)

[The Chef]

It's not so much the replacement cost of the cable as it appears they are very cheap but if the cable is that poor what's the build like in the charger? Or do you think it is just a poor out source decision?