ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area flat wire

Has anyone seen or used this stuff? http://www.decorp.com/deProducts.shtml
Please note that the page is very slow to load...took about 20 seconds on a DSL line.
I sent them an e-mail about 6 weeks ago asking about listings and NEC complaince. Never got an answer.
Don(resqcapt19)

Don,
Considering the driven watts of some of the new systems.....it looks a bit worrisome to me. Bendable ? Flexible ? and paper thin ? doesn't sound like a good combination. I did not read every word of the site, but.... a company that does not want to discuss its approvals? Yeah, I'd say you got your answer.

Don,

It doesn't sound like it could be approved for 120v wiring without additional protection. Did you see that it was in the running for the Popular Science 'Best of What's New' for 2001 award?
http://www.popsci.com/bown/home_46_flatwire.html

It doesn't look like a very safe product. It sure doesn't have the protection that is required for flat conductor cable (Article 328).

Well, the LV stuff looks kinda OK, except the phone wire is rated only Cat 3. I might install someone I knew's speaker wires like that, but electrical wiring mounted on the wall and painted over? That smells like it has lawsuit written all over it. Where did you come across this, Don? Did you see it in use, or what?

Dallas

[This message has been edited by Dallas (edited 01-03-2002).]

I haven't seen the product, just an article or add. It might have been in the Popular Science article that bill mentioned.
Has anyone seen it in a store?
Don(resqcapt19)

We will probably see a Proposal for the 2005 NEC requesting a new article. I also would have some problems with the product, especially after the wallpaper and paint covered the product.

" FlatWire
mounts right onto a wall and can be covered
with paint or wallpaper, just like drywall tape."


[This message has been edited by Joe Tedesco (edited 01-07-2002).]

All it needs is adequate thermal and physical protection and it will be fine. Otherwise you have to worry about someone driving a nail through it when trying to hang a picturen or all the fires that will be started when someone foolishly uses wall paper not rated to 90C.

Hi, Don.
In the article, it asks the question, "Are you tired of hundred-year-old wiring technology?" My answer to this is a firm NO! I would much rather put trust in a time-tested, PROVEN method of wiring, executed by a professional electric contractor. In the hands of a DIY'er, I think this could have disastrous consequences.

I believe this trades safety for convenience and speed of installation. I think that's a bad trade.

Would somebody gently help me down from my soapbox now...

Mike (mamills)

Mike,
don't get down yet, say a few words about all the manufacturer's that try and zoom the NEC for thier own $$$$ please....