"Urman" wrote in message
...
I am in the UK and have an old portable electric heater.

The mains flex to the heater is like that to a domestic iron: woven
fabric outer overlaying a rubber (?) outer sheath. With each of the
three leads covered in rubber insulation and three cords running
alongside the three leads.

(1) Is the fabric outer to make the flex resistent to KINKING? Or
is
it there for HEAT PROTECTION?

(2) Is the RUBBER used in this sort of flex especially resistent to
TEMPERATURE?

(3) Are the alternative materials (such as silicone rubber) used in
modern equivalents to this type of lead SUPERIOR IN ALL RESPECTS to
the
sort of flex I have described?

I have found that the silicone rubber modern ones tend to split rather
easily if frequently flexed. Examples : a/ Weller bench mounted
soldering iron - lasts about a year before cable needing replacing. b/
My dentists magic camera that he pokes in my mouth - silicone rubber
sheath cable split within 6 months

AWEM