Monoprice cable recall

[vandyman]

Yes I received the email as well.
So the cable is toxic when it is on fire, well I am sure the are a million of other things in the house that are even more toxic than the cable. (TV, any appliances, carpet, etc..) So who is going to stand there in the middle of the fire in the first place..

 

[Arjun]

Yep, lets not forget how there was a massive recall over Made in China Laminate Flooring. It contains Formaldehyde (a lethal carcinogen, especially when exposed for prolonged period of time)

Yes I received the email as well.
So the cable is toxic when it is on fire, well I am sure the are a million of other things in the house that are even more toxic than the cable. (TV, any appliances, carpet, etc..) So who is going to stand there in the middle of the fire in the first place..

 

[Armed&Overclocked]

This is really suspicious, makes sense now why these cables were selling for cheap in recent months. Was able to score 1000ft from monoprice via amazon for 60 bucks. I haven’t opened the box yet but is eligible for replacement

the blame really goes on cheap manufacturing especially as China continues to surface in the news; when will thecompanies learn to stop being cheap?!


How about we all buy American made cables?

How about we all stop buying foreign made goods for the time being?

I like this sentiment, but that isn't very doable. There are a lot of segments of consumer, and professional, goods where the U.S barely has a presence from a manufacturing standpoint. i dont mind paying a little extra if it means putting food on american tables, but the options to do so are limited. Right now the only course we have is to try and purchase products that aren't made in china, and find ones that are made in places like taiwan, SK, Japan etc.. while also supporting american jobs where we can find them.

 

[c hris527]

Yes I received the email as well.
So the cable is toxic when it is on fire, well I am sure the are a million of other things in the house that are even more toxic than the cable. (TV, any appliances, carpet, etc..) So who is going to stand there in the middle of the fire in the first place..

Everything on earth has some toxicity when burned, I believe the recall is more about fire rating, than toxicity. If I had tons of that already installed, and it was in a older building, I would not touch any of it unless the owners are worried about insurance issues if they had a fire, but chances are the cable is NOT going to start the fire.

 

[vandyman]

I like this sentiment, but that isn't very doable. There are a lot of segments of consumer, and professional, goods where the U.S barely has a presence from a manufacturing standpoint. i dont mind paying a little extra if it means putting food on american tables, but the options to do so are limited. Right now the only course we have is to try and purchase products that aren't made in china, and find ones that are made in places like taiwan, SK, Japan etc.. while also supporting american jobs where we can find them.

Stopping people from getting a bargain will never happen. Snap on vs Harbor Freight is a good example. The are a lot of yard sales now days because people love bargains.

Taiwan was the the China of the seventies. Japan and India in the eighties.

 

[sdkid]

Is that also made in the People's Republic of China?

...

Well-- it was priced identically, though I bought Cat5e instead of Cat6. I wouldn't be surprised if it was from the same Chinese supplier...

 

[Armed&Overclocked]

Stopping people from getting a bargain will never happen. Snap on vs Harbor Freight is a good example. The are a lot of yard sales now days because people love bargains.

Taiwan was the the China of the seventies. Japan and India in the eighties.

oh of course. Americans are have historically been price adverse and if something costs 10 cents less then that is the option they will go to even if the quality of said product isnt up to snuff.

 

[TonyR]

IMO, the bigger issue is not so much the jacket's smoke toxicity (it's not Plenum-rated anyway), it's the ability to allow a fire to spread to other floors and areas via the jacket (hence the Riser rating).

I installed 2 each 250 foot spools of Monoprice's gray CAT-6 CMR in the walls and ceiling of a commercial contractor's office during the time frame of the recall. Guess I'll get over there VERY soon to have a look-see.

What annoys me is, if you read the recall notice, is that all this "testing" seems to take place AFTER the cable was bought, stocked and re-sold....anybody ever hear of testing and approving BEFORE sales and/or installation? They may have tested a submitted sample from the China company that passed tests, then the old bait-and-switch came along.

I trust China LESS than my ability to speak their language....which is nil.

 

[Arjun]

Again, what I find really suspicious is that Monoprice discounted these bulk cables drastically for a couple of years and those sales all seem to coincide with this recall notice. Ironic Ironic Ironic


Why should we buy Keurig Made in China Plastic / Pot Metal Coffee Makers? Ingesting material that shouldn't belong in the body to begin with, especially in excess amounts.

IMO, the bigger issue is not so much the jacket's smoke toxicity (it's not Plenum-rated anyway), it's the ability to allow a fire to spread to other floors and areas via the jacket (hence the Riser rating).

I installed 2 each 250 foot spools of Monoprice's gray CAT-6 CMR in the walls and ceiling of a commercial contractor's office during the time frame of the recall. Guess I'll get over there VERY soon to have a look-see.

What annoys me is, if you read the recall notice, is that all this "testing" seems to take place AFTER the cable was bought, stocked and re-sold....anybody ever hear of testing and approving BEFORE sales and/or installation? They may have tested a submitted sample from the China company that passed tests, then the old bait-and-switch came along.

I trust China LESS than my ability to speak their language....which is nil.

 

[Parley]

I do not remember buying any plenum rated Cat6 cable so I am probably safe.

 

[Arjun]

What cables do you use? @Parley

I do not remember buying any plenum rated Cat6 cable so I am probably safe.

 

[Parley]

What cables do you use? @Parley

Here is the label from my last purchase. Monoprice 250 ft. Cat6 Bulk Bare Copper Ethernet Cable, UTP, Solid, Riser Rated (CMR) 500MHz, 23AWG - White

 

[Arjun]

Isn't that plenum rated though?

Here is the label from my last purchase. Monoprice 250 ft. Cat6 Bulk Bare Copper Ethernet Cable, UTP, Solid, Riser Rated (CMR) 500MHz, 23AWG - White

 

[Parley]

Isn't that plenum rated though?

The post above had CMP. This is CMR.

 

[sdkid]

The post above had CMP. This is CMR.

I thought the recalled stuff WAS the riser-rated???

Can someone take a legible picture of the cable markings?? I want to compare it to the stuff I bought of another brand....

 

[Parley]

I thought the recalled stuff WAS the riser-rated???

Can someone take a legible picture of the cable markings?? I want to compare it to the stuff I bought of another brand....

You are right. I read CMP along the line. Anyways I have not received a notice form Monoprice.

 

[samplenhold]

So the cable is toxic when it is on fire

Based on the document at the link provided in the email, the cable is NOT toxic when on fire. The only hazard is "...an increased risk of fire spread when used in applications which require CMR rated cables."

If you installed this in your personal home, as opposed to if you installed this elsewhere as being a paid installer, there really is nothing to worry about. If you were paid to install this, then you really should take advantage of the recall. If you have this cable lying around, get it swapped out as part of the recall. It is not a big issue.

Also, "...if the cables, as installed, are less than 50 ft. in length, enter the building from the outside and terminate in an enclosure or listed primary protector, and are not installed inside risers, ducts, plenums and other space used for environmental air, removal is not required." The standard is specific: "Standard for Test for Flame Propagation Length of Electrical and Optical-Fiber Cables Installed Vertically in Shafts".

Cat5 cables are not part of the recall. Most probably since the jackets are not the same as the Cat6 cables.

When a vendor contracts out the manufacturing of their product, they give requirements to the supplier. That supplier makes a prototype. That prototype is inspected/tested for compliance with the requirements. Once passed, the manufacturing begins. The vendor will typically spot check the first few batches to make sure the scale up of manufacturing has not changed the properties as required. Then typically a spot check is done every so many batches or periodically over time. If something does not pass, they generally retest. If it still does not pass, then the vendor decides what to do, in this case a recall. I would imagine that the engineers make Management aware of the issue. Management did a study to decide the 'best way forward' and gets Law involved. Then the recommendation is made and Management makes the decision. They also need to advise the US Consumer Product Safety Commission and get approval of their plan. That takes time.

 

[TonyR]

Why should we buy Keurig Made in China Plastic / Pot Metal Coffee Makers?

To help them get their lead out of their country / environment ?

 

[tigerwillow1]

 

[tigerwillow1]

"...if the cables, as installed, are less than 50 ft. in length, enter the building from the outside and terminate in an enclosure or listed primary protector, and are not installed inside risers, ducts, plenums and other space used for environmental air, removal is not required." The standard is specific: "Standard for Test for Flame Propagation Length of Electrical and Optical-Fiber Cables Installed Vertically in Shafts".

I'm conflicted over how to parse this statement. It lists 3 conditions:
1. the cables, as installed, are less than 50 ft. in length
2. enter the building from the outside and terminate in an enclosure or listed primary protector
3. not installed inside risers, ducts, plenums and other space used for environmental air

The 3 conditions are connected by "AND", which tells me that all 3 conditions must be met for removal not required. Or do they mean that only one of the conditions needs to be met for removal not required?

Added on edit: There's a statement in the FAQ that answers the question. It's all 3 conditions PLUS in a residence:
If the cable jacket has the UL marking but is installed in a residence in less than 50 foot runs which enter the building from the outside and terminate in an enclosure or listed primary protector, and are not installed inside risers, ducts, plenums and other space used for environmental air the cable is not part of the recall.