Common Methods for Identifying Counterfeit and Substandard Wires
1. Check the Label.
A cable certificate issued by a legitimate manufacturer should include: the 3C certification mark, certification number, model number
specifications, implementation standard, rated voltage, cable length, production date, manufacturer, inspector, factory name, address, landline number, and anti-counterfeiting label. Counterfeit labels are often unclear or incomplete.
2. Check the Surface.
The plastic sheath of legitimate cables is soft, smooth, and uniform in color. Several items from the product certificate should also be printed on the surface, such as the 3C certification mark, certification number, model number, rated voltage, implementation standard, and manufacturer name.
The markings must be clear and indelible.
3. Test Bend.
Take a piece of cable and repeatedly bend it by hand. Cables that feel soft, have good fatigue resistance, and are made of plastic or rubber
with a high degree of elasticity, and have no cracks in the insulation, are considered high-quality. The insulation of counterfeit wires may appear thick, but it's actually mostly made of recycled plastic. If you squeeze it even slightly, the squeezed area will turn white. Bend it 4-6 times and the wire will break.
4. Remove the insulation.
High-quality insulation has a certain mechanical strength and flexibility, making it difficult to tear. However, low-quality wire can be torn or pinched off by hand.
5. Observe the burning properties.
According to regulations, the insulation of wires is flame-retardant. Peel off a section of insulation and ignite it with a lighter. If it continues to spontaneously combust after being removed from the flame, it's a low-quality wire.
6. Check the thickness.
Cut a section of insulation and inspect the cross-section for visible pores and ensure the core is centered. If it's not centered, it indicates eccentricity due to poor workmanship. Porosity indicates that the insulation material used is substandard. Severe eccentricity is most likely to cause leakage on the thinner side, and pores also affect the withstand voltage.
7. Inspect the copper wire. High-quality copper wire is bright and reddish, while inferior copper core wire is purplish-black, yellowish, or whitish.
It also has a higher hardness. For multi-strand flexible wire, gently touch the top of the wire with the palm of your hand. It should feel smooth, non-tingling, and soft. Otherwise, it is inferior wire.
8. Weighing.
High-quality wire generally falls within the specified weight range. For example, a commonly used single-strand copper core wire with plastic insulation and a cross-sectional area of 2.5 mm² weighs 3.0 to 3.2 kg per 100 meters.
Poor-quality wire may be underweight because of either insufficient length or insufficient cross-section.
The eight simple verification methods above can generally identify quality wire. If you need data, use appropriate instruments to test the wire's length, diameter, thickness, resistance, withstand voltage, and strength.
