Extension cord?

[westom]

The wiring just got fried. Literally. When you think of it, however, we don't unplug our TVs, microwaves, clocks, modems/routers, washers and dryers when we leave the house. They all have electronics in them, too.

Electronics and age do not cause fires. Defective designs cause fires. Protective standards (ie UL) exist for this reason. Unfortunately, power strips with protector parts have a higher rate of fires. Yes, these occur rarely. That means fire happens too frequently for operation on a ship.

How dangerous? Learn from a nationwide 'remove them all immediately' warning from the CPSC.
http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2014/Schneider-Electric-Recalls-APC-Surge-Protectors/

 

[lanejudy]

Oh no! My flat iron?!

A flat iron, as in one used for ironing clothes, is not allowed onboard. Irons and ironing boards are available for guest use in the laundry rooms.

A flat iron, as in a hair straightener, is fine.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[westom]

A flat iron, as in a hair straightener, is fine.

They are called perms. You mean they are not permanent?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

They are called perms. You mean they are not permanent?

A "perm" is a chemical treatment that can either add curls or remove them. For as long as the treated hair is on your head. It will "grow out".

A "flat iron" for hair is an appliance, much like a hot curler:


It straightens out curls, but only lasts until the next time the hair get wet.

 

[westom]

It straightens out curls, but only lasts until the next time the hair get wet.

So better is to consult a chemical engineer for advise; not an electrical one.

 

[Starwind]

I assume the deposit is because they don't want the cord to disappear. They should tell us what brand and model is pre-approved, so people could provide their own, if they want. In fact, I don't know why some travel company hasn't gone through the trouble of designing and getting approval for a device that would be acceptable.

As for the fire in the laptop - my husband had a similar situation, but it was an old desktop that was finally giving up the ghost. The wiring just got fried. Literally. When you think of it, however, we don't unplug our TVs, microwaves, clocks, modems/routers, washers and dryers when we leave the house. They all have electronics in them, too.

I also assume the deposit is so that the limited number of approved cords they do have don't find new homes. It is refundable if you return the cord.

I wonder if pre-approval would be possible ? I assume that even if a specific model is normally acceptable, it would still have to be inspected nu the ship's electrician to make sure it was safe (e.g. still in good condition, proper model, etc).

Re: appliances: very true. OTOH, in our house we don't leave the dryer running when nobody is home and we try to only use the washer when someone is home. For those though I am concerned about a dryer fire or a flood.

SW

 

[insureman]

Electronics and age do not cause fires. Defective designs cause fires. Protective standards (ie UL) exist for this reason. Unfortunately, power strips with protector parts have a higher rate of fires. Yes, these occur rarely. That means fire happens too frequently for operation on a ship.

How dangerous? Learn from a nationwide 'remove them all immediately' warning from the CPSC.
http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2014/Schneider-Electric-Recalls-APC-Surge-Protectors/

Aged wiring will degrade and cause the insulation to become brittle. See the excerpt from the NFPA below. My final word on the extension cord saga.

"Residential wiring can be classified into two groups, behind the wall (fixed)
wiring and portable wiring (appliance cords, extension cords, etc.). Each class can
have its own set of circumstances that can lead to potentially hazardous conditions,
including damage, misapplication, loose connections, harsh conditions, and wire
aging. Some examples for fixed wiring arcing failures include loose connections at
an outlet, a staple or drywall screw bridging conductors, and excessive self-heating
by current flow leading to wire insulation degradation and failure. Examples of
portable wiring faults include cut wires, broken strands, abraded wire insulation,
loose connections, and self-heating. All these conditions can occur for old as well as
new wiring. Aged wiring and in particular fixed wiring, since it is much more costly
to replace than portable wiring, may fail due to insulation degradation, especially if
rework or retrofitting has disturbed the wiring. Moving and bending old wiring
that has become embrittled from age, can crack the insulation and expose
conductors possibly leading to arcing."

 

[Starwind]

I saw that on their page also when I looked. Kinda surprised that for a medical need they use a deposit. From the wording on their page it seemed more like a loan of the cord the a deposit request.

They do loan you the cord, but they want you to make a deposit of $50 in case you decide to keep it.

IIRC, the $50 is a charge to your stateroom account that is refunded when you return the cord.

SW

 

[CM Dad]

I saw that on their page also when I looked. Kinda surprised that for a medical need they use a deposit. From the wording on their page it seemed more like a loan of the cord the a deposit request.

Borrowed an extension cord for my wife's CPAP machine on a B2B. I didn't return the cord on the last night of the first leg (since she still needed to use the CPAP that last night). When I return the extension cord on disembarkation morning, they had already charged my account the $50. No problem getting the money credited back. Had to borrow again when we reboarded. Had the same issue with being charged then credited back on the second disembarkation day.

 

[westom]

Aged wiring will degrade and cause the insulation to become brittle. See the excerpt from the NFPA below.

Even 1930 wire in walls can still safely power today's appliances. Wire must be installed to be protected and to not move.

Every appliance typically has a 6 foot power cord. Because moving wires can be dangerous. Therefore a home must have receptacles no more than 12 feet apart so that appliances (ie lamp) with a six foot cord can connect without an extension cord.

Extension cords are considered temporary connecting devices; not to be used more than 30 days. However many have violated that rule in bedrooms. So an AFCI was required in all (new) bedrooms to detect arcing created by a defective extension cord that may end up under a bed's leg; then arc and cause a fire.

If an appliance cannot be connected without an extension cord, a solution is to install a new wall receptacle - to minimize / eliminate any need for extension cords that can create fires.

Anything that is dangerous but safe enough for a home may be insufficient for a ship. Surge protectors are an example. Lamp with a brittle AC cord is an example of something too dangerous even in a home.

 

[truck1]

Borrowed an extension cord for my wife's CPAP machine on a B2B. I didn't return the cord on the last night of the first leg (since she still needed to use the CPAP that last night). When I return the extension cord on disembarkation morning, they had already charged my account the $50. No problem getting the money credited back. Had to borrow again when we reboarded. Had the same issue with being charged then credited back on the second disembarkation day.

I understand. The way that it reads on DCL'S website is that if you borrow one it's a 50 deposit. Then it says medical one can be made available to you. I have no problem either way other then the way it was worded.

 

[lanejudy]

I understand. The way that it reads on DCL'S website is that if you borrow one it's a 50 deposit. Then it says medical one can be made available to you. I have no problem either way other then the way it was worded.

I believe if you contact them in advance to inform of the medical need, a loaner is set-aside for you. Otherwise, they are available first-come first-served so you might not get one. But yes, the deposit applies regardless of reason for needing it.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[scgustafson]

I believe if you contact them in advance to inform of the medical need, a loaner is set-aside for you. Otherwise, they are available first-come first-served so you might not get one. But yes, the deposit applies regardless of reason for needing it.

Enjoy your cruise!

I require a CPAP, so I have requested an extension cord for it along with the distilled water in my reservation. Each time, an extension cord and the gallon of distilled water is waiting in my stateroom upon boarding. At the end of the cruise, I leave the extension cord visibly in the stateroom on the desk and the stateroom host(ess) returns it. I have also never been charged the $50 deposit doing it this way since it is for a medical device.

 

[lanejudy]

Hmm... I wonder if different stateroom hosts set things up for guests differently? I'm familiar with getting the extension cord at Guest Services even when requested in advance.

 

[C6PT7]

True, wdwinfo is the Dis. But when I googled power strip and DCL there's a bunch of references specifically saying no to power strips. Touring plans was one, that other board with all of the other lines as another off the top of my head. There's was a few links that specifically say DCL bans power strips. That was as of 14. Why they specifically don't say no power strips on their page is any ones guess. Prob the same people that designed the page to begin with. On the flip side and I'm not pointing fingers at any one here, if they put every single item that they banned onboard, on a page, it would prob look like the affordable care act paperwork. (Look like a large book). Problem is, that what I consider like items, and what DCL considers like are prob 2 different things. So there in the proverbial catch 22.

I think you are right, and they should just say no power strips with surge protectors.
I think the corded tap I linked to above would be fine, and presumably that could not be called a power strip?

 

[Pooh2]

For those with cpap machines that have sailed before, are there not any outlets close enough to the bed? Do you absolutely need an extension cord?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

For those with cpap machines that have sailed before, are there not any outlets close enough to the bed? Do you absolutely need an extension cord?

There are now outlets on either side of the bed. Time was the only outlet in the room proper was across the room from the head of the bed, on the desk.

 

[scgustafson]

There are now outlets on either side of the bed. Time was the only outlet in the room proper was across the room from the head of the bed, on the desk.

I still ask for it anyway and they still give it to me. And on Disney Wonder, there are still not any outlets next to the bed.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I still ask for it anyway and they still give it to me. And on Disney Wonder, there are still not any outlets next to the bed.

We had them on our last Wonder cruise. I believe they were part of the room upgrades that they did before her lat Alaska season:

 

[Pooh2]

Thanks Shmoo. Going on the Wonder soon.
Looks like those outlets are plenty close enough for my machine.