From China’s World Consumer Right Day Gala to see the hidden dangers of low-cost cables

Introduction: 

On the International Consumer Rights Day in 2025, China’s 3.15 Gala exposed the sales of non-standard cables, Guizhou Jinmingyang Cable Co.

I, What is a Non-Standard Cable?

Non-standard cables refers to cables that do not meet national or international standards. This type of cable is usually low quality, rough workmanship, the use of which is likely to cause safety hazards, common problems with this type of cable include:

• The cross-sectional area of the conductor is small or NOT pure copper — it is easy to cause overheating of the cable.
• Insulation layer is too thin — easy to rupture leakage
• False marking — even if the cable has CE CCC marking, it is still a fake product.

The market price of this product will be 10%-40% lower than the standard cable, through the low price to lure customers to buy, in the project pressure or some foreign markets in wide circulation.

II, “315” exposure: the true face of non-standard cables

In 2025, “3-15 Gala” in China, the reporter secretly visited a large electric market in southern China. He found that a unified specification of wire and cable will actually have two prices. After some understanding, the price of these cables is mainly divided into the standard cable and non-standard cable.

The non-standard cable quality is lower than the national or international standards of wire and cable.

The market price is cheaper than the standard 10% to 40% or so. In this electric market at least 30% of the merchants in the sale of such non-standard cables.

Although these cables are missing pounds, but if necessary, manufacturers can still provide a series of certificates of conformity affixed to the packaging or even printed on the cable.

Most of these problem cables flow to small projects, and even exported to foreign countries, posing a threat to the safety of terminal equipment and personal safety.

III, why are non-standard cables so dangerous?

These savvy manufacturers in addition to cutting copper of the cable, the same in the jacket of the cable.

For example, the outer skin of the wire and cable is divided into 70 degrees PVC, 90 degrees PVC (V90-PVC). In accordance with official standard, the cable shall withstand a maximum of 70 degrees to 90 degrees of high temperature. But these dangerous cables often use poor quality insulation materials. These cables’ jacket will rupture damage, leakage and other safety hazards at low temperatures.  

If these non-standard cables will be sent to the inspection, we will find the following problems.

Voltage resistance test: Sparks will be generated after a few seconds of breakdown

Vertical combustion test: carbonization after 20 minutes.   

If this type of cable flows to the end market, it is likely to cause fires, equipment burns, casualties and other dangerous situations. In major fire cases in China, the fire caused by cables accounted for more than 50%.  

IV, how do international buyers recognize poor quality cables?

Many international buyers do not know much about China’s cable standards,

Here are some suggestions from me:

 a, Check whether there is CCC Rohs CE certificate and can be found on the official website. (Some manufacturer will make fake certificates)

 b, Ask the factory to provide the third party test report of the cable. Can be checked on the third party website.
 c, Let the third party inspect the quality of the cable when production finish.
 d, Inquire three manufacturer before purchasing and be wary of very low prices.
 e, Try to choose a manufacturer with more than 10 years of experience and avoid trade company.

V. Why choose KMCABLE: We only make quality cables with real parameters

As a professional cable manufacturer, KMCABLE always puts Honesty in the first place.
We promise:
*all copper materials, are oxygen-free copper
*All plastic materials are high quality plastics, which can provide Reach certificate.
*support custom, all the cables will be strictly in accordance with the parameter table production.
We hope to grow with our customers and establish a long-lasting relationship.

Conclusion: Don’t let the “low price” buried hidden trouble

“3-15” exposure is just the tip of the iceberg. For cable products, safety is always the first place. We call on global buyers, engineers to raise vigilance, reject non-standard, poor quality products, from the source to control safety.

If you have any questions about the quality of cables, please feel free to contact us for samples and test reports. We are willing to provide every customer with real and transparent, standardized and compliant cable solutions.