BFL ASIC seized by EU , european & german Customs

[Bicknellski]

Looking at the BFL supplied cable, its rated at either 3A or 8A. Not huge wattage, but more than enough for a Jalapeno.

Is rated 6 A.

So it is... So theoretical maximum of 1500w. For sure I would not be comfortable running that much power through it (it would get warm) but still, more than enough to manage.

13v x 6A = 78watts max.

Cable != power supply. The supply is rated at what, 78 watts, but the actual cable from mains to the power supply is rated to a maximum of 1500w. As said though, I would not want to try putting that much through it as it would certainly get warm.

Would it get warmer at US voltage (110) or UK voltage (220) if you put the maximum 6A through it?

It would get just as warm if it was 6A on either voltage. The resistance would be the same, so the energy lost in the form of heat would be the same. Proportionally you would be losing more at 110v though. Where it gets fun is when you're considering watts (I*V=W). If you're using 220v you only need half as much current as if you're using 110v to get the same number of watts, and because resistance in wire results in a voltage drop you'll find greater heat resulting from the lower voltage at higher current than you will find at a high voltage, low current system.

I haven't really explained it that well, but a quick peek on wikipedia should fill you in on the details

I was actually just making sure that you were at least remotely qualified to be giving people advise on things electrical.  I'm an EE.  Heat in a cable is I^2*R - voltage has nothing to do with it.. (well, alright, not NOTHING, but very very very little)

Good answer.

Enigma.

Been a long time since I've had to use that set of equations seriously... Last time was building heater cores out of nichrome wire and furnace cement. You're right when it comes to heat being directly connected to current and resistance, the voltage only becomes really important when showing the difference in current between a ~220v and 110v system.
I'll admit I did deliberately simplify and use DC characteristics rather than getting into the fun of AC and varying currents over small time periods, not to mention the wonders of inductive loss (or melted PSU cables from idiots who like coiling them into tight bundles!). Few would recognise the difference and would just go "Oh, MATHS!" and switch their brains off

Obviously you are not a teacher by trade by assuming people "switch" off? Tsk tsk.

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[Red_Wolf_2]

Obviously you are not a teacher by trade by assuming people "switch" off? Tsk tsk.

Good heavens no! I'd be prone to throwing students out windows from frustration... I have all the patience in the world for those who want to learn, but anyone who wastes my time... Well...

[Cluster2k]

My Jalapenos made it through Australia Customs without hassles.  I've had other gear delivered from the USA, Europe and China with their plugs and no one cared.

When I first heard of the 'CE' China Export tag a few days ago I thought it was a silly online joke.  It staggers me that someone in China thought this was a great idea.  Total coincidence that the two logos look virtually identical 

I have purchased a Dell laptop PSU online that turned out to be fake.  It had a couple of spelling errors on the label and got quite hot in use.  I'm not surprised Customs may be picky about laptop PSUs as it's a real safety issue.

No 'UL' mark on my Jalapeno PSUs, and of course no markings apart from a serial number on the actual Jalapenos.

[erk]

My Jalapenos made it through Australia Customs without hassles.  I've had other gear delivered from the USA, Europe and China with their plugs and no one cared.

When I first heard of the 'CE' China Export tag a few days ago I thought it was a silly online joke.  It staggers me that someone in China thought this was a great idea.  Total coincidence that the two logos look virtually identical  

I have purchased a Dell laptop PSU online that turned out to be fake.  It had a couple of spelling errors on the label and got quite hot in use.  I'm not surprised Customs may be picky about laptop PSUs as it's a real safety issue.

No 'UL' mark on my Jalapeno PSUs, and of course no markings apart from a serial number on the actual Jalapenos.

The crazy thing is, if they ship the Jalapeno separate from a power supply, they don't need certification, as they are not a mains powered device, if they bundle them together then they do as it's considered part of a system.

I guess if BLF were smart they could put them as separate items on the paperwork so they are not a system.

[Gordon Bleu]

as far as i know, they don't need to send Plug's with it, because someone on BFL s Forum used a self built
6 PCI-E Power Cable
it's just a stupid Joke or the Customs Officer has gone full Retard.

[klondike_bar]

The main reason why it got a suspect by the customs: they included a american power cord in the package! Holy moly what would've happend if the user used that cable? USA(120volt)(germany 230volt)

That guy would be burned by now.

last i checked, the North American 115V plug is a lot different then a EU 230V plug, so I don't think there will be any issues with it setting the place on fire.



however, the power adapter might not handle 230V, even with the right cord type. A new one may be needed (not expensive, but still a PITA

[Bitcoinorama]

The main reason why it got a suspect by the customs: they included a american power cord in the package! Holy moly what would've happend if the user used that cable? USA(120volt)(germany 230volt)

That guy would be burned by now.

last i checked, the North American 115V plug is a lot different then a EU 230V plug, so I don't think there will be any issues with it setting the place on fire.



however, the power adapter might not handle 230V, even with the right cord type. A new one may be needed (not expensive, but still a PITA

FWIW Euro plugs do fit straight into UK sockets without an adapter...

[escrow.ms]

Sorry for offtopic post but some socket looks like emoticons lol
Look at north america (angry), great Britain (bebe pleure) and denmark one (happy).

[philips]

however, the power adapter might not handle 230V, even with the right cord type. A new one may be needed (not expensive, but still a PITA

The power adapter is rated 100 - 240V, worldwide use.

[peonminer]

Some customs agents just got into the Bitcoin game

[Flashman]

When I first heard of the 'CE' China Export tag a few days ago I thought it was a silly online joke.  It staggers me that someone in China thought this was a great idea.  Total coincidence that the two logos look virtually identical 

It more or less is, it was propagated among the redneck types in a wave of post 9/11 xenophobia.

There are fake CE marks and badly proportioned CE marks even on compliant products, but no "China Export" mark per se

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CE_mark#Misuse


But since this thread is likely to devolve into wild conspiracy theories hugely divorced from fact, carry on....

[Loredo]

When I first heard of the 'CE' China Export tag a few days ago I thought it was a silly online joke.  It staggers me that someone in China thought this was a great idea.  Total coincidence that the two logos look virtually identical  

It more or less is, it was propagated among the redneck types in a wave of post 9/11 xenophobia.

There are fake CE marks and badly proportioned CE marks even on compliant products, but no "China Export" mark per se

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CE_mark#Misuse


But since this thread is likely to devolve into wild conspiracy theories hugely divorced from fact, carry on....

Why, yes, you are right.  That is an urban myth.  The European parliament has disavowed the counterfeit CE marks coming from China as standing for China Export.  http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getAllAnswers.do?reference=P-2007-5938&language=EN

Personally, I'll refrain from indirectly or directly attributing those marks to systemic shenanigans perpetrated by the PRC authorities.  Instead, I'll refer to it as a China Excrement mark.  That will very likely better describe a product foisted out with so little regard to the standards of that nation's largest trading partner.

[k9quaint]

At least they didn't put melamine in the power cords. Or milk. 

[Unacceptable]

At least they didn't put melamine in the power cords. Or milk.  

Don't forget about that "Great Drywall of China" too  

http://chinesedrywallflorida.org/

[polarhei]

Very well then.

[Turbor]

Some asshole at the German Zoll had his big day.

[Lohoris]

It more or less is, it was propagated among the redneck types in a wave of post 9/11 xenophobia.

There are fake CE marks and badly proportioned CE marks even on compliant products, but no "China Export" mark per se

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CE_mark#Misuse


But since this thread is likely to devolve into wild conspiracy theories hugely divorced from fact, carry on....

+1

Problem is, this urban legend is so much widespread, that the cited article itself, right next where it explains taht "China Export" doesn't exist, have an image depicting a "China Export" logo...

[Fiyasko]

Makes me wonder about how they did thier conduct with the FCC

[Viceroy]

They did nothing with the FCC.  If they had they would have a sticker on the device.   The device has no FCC sticker.

[Phinnaeus Gage]

They did nothing with the FCC.  If they had they would have a sticker on the device.   The device has no FCC sticker.

And the documentation would be on the official FCC site, of which it is not as of yesterday. I just checked. I believe somebody has a $1,000 USD bounty awarded to anybody who can prove via said site that BFL has submitted a single device. Amazingly, that's one bet that Josh won't be able to profit from.

Then again, don't put it pass BFL to create some document and state that due to the uniqueness of their devices, only a certificate is awarded without having it show up on the FCC site. The certificate is good as long as it's framed and displayed above the Luke Unit in the BFL Museum of BS.