Safety questions

[BillP]

hi. i have a es 500. i took the battery out and noticed the red thread was cut, exposing the wire underneath. is this safe to use? also on the safety guide paper, it says:

caution: to reduce the risk of fire, connect only to a circuit provided with a 20 amp maximum branch circuit overcurrent protection in accordance with the national electrical code ansi/nfpa.

how do i make sure my circuit has 20 amp overcurrent protection? i live in an apartment at least 30 years old and my receptacle is 15 amp.

[BillP]

yes, it's brand new. picture is attached (the white dot to the right is a little dent).

[BillP]

ah ok i see what you mean now.

depending on usage and the environment, i cant assume what would happen. i'd recommend getting a replacement from APC support via email or phone. you can show them the picture or refer to this thread if you need to.

[BillP · Accepted solution]

if its in an apartment building, you will most likely need to check with them to check the circuit breaker protection. a 15 amp circuit will have a 15 amp breaker but per electrical code, would only be rated for 80% of that, so 12 amps. i am sure your outlet is fine. a 20 amp outlet should have a 20 amp breaker.

the red lead should be exposed a tiny bit under the connector for it but it shouldnt be "cut."

is this brand new? can you show us any pictures? if you feel that it is unsafe to use and there is something wrong with it, you can contact support and we can gladly replace it for you if you feel it is a hazard. i'd have to see a picture to be sure.