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-   -   Anyone ever had a fatal electric shock? (https://www.radiobanter.com/homebrew/20942-anyone-ever-had-fatal-electric-shock.html)

john graesser August 9th 03 12:25 AM


"Chris1" wrote in message
...
In article ,

wrote:

The question seems daft, but bear with me, gentlemen. Has anyone ever
had an electric shock that they feel lucky to have survived?


I got 6000V from a Neon transformer once. Ouch! Only rated at 7ma, though.
The new one I got does 12000V at 15ma. I'm alot more careful now.


During my junior lab while working for a physics degree, we had to build a
gas flow geiger counter to count cosmic rays (the cosmic ray group ran the
class). The 5000 volt supply we built for the tubes had no current limiting,
so the current limits of the components was all the protection we had. I got
5000 volts to the tip of one of my fingers while working on it, it left a
nice brown spot that lasted for several weeks. That wasn't the scariest
shock event in my life, I was driving down the highway, and felt the hair
raise up on my arms. Then there was a boom and my car radio stopped working.
That was the one time that I was in a lightning event. Fortunately that was
years before I was a ham or I would have lost several more radios at the
same time.
thanks, John.
KC5DWD



Lee Leduc August 9th 03 12:47 AM

Sorry for the slow response but the Internet connection to the "other
side" is soooooooo slow!

Yes, I have had a a fatal electric shock in the past.

Yours truly,

William Kemmler

Lee Leduc August 9th 03 12:47 AM

Sorry for the slow response but the Internet connection to the "other
side" is soooooooo slow!

Yes, I have had a a fatal electric shock in the past.

Yours truly,

William Kemmler

Watson A.Name - 'Watt Sun' August 9th 03 12:56 AM

In article ,
mentioned...
On Sat, 9 Aug 2003 01:18:38 +1000, "Alex Gibson"
wrote:

From my own experiance, rf burns hurt more than
standard 50Hz ac or dc shocks even though I would have to
rate car iginition systems a close second.


I think I may have experienced rf burns some years ago. Is this when
you touch a metal object close to an rf field; it feels thermally
*hot* enough to burn you, but when the field is killed, said object
*instantly* feels normal room temperature again?


No, RF burns is when the skin is actually burnt.

--


--
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###Got a Question about ELECTRONICS? Check HERE First:###
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Don't be ripped off by the big book dealers. Go to the URL
that will give you a choice and save you money(up to half).
http://www.everybookstore.com You'll be glad you did!
Just when you thought you had all this figured out, the gov't
changed it: http://physics.nist.gov/cuu/Units/binary.html
@@t@h@e@@a@f@f@l@u@e@n@t@@m@e@e@t@@t@h@e@@E@f@f@l@ u@e@n@t@@

Watson A.Name - 'Watt Sun' August 9th 03 12:56 AM

In article ,
mentioned...
On Sat, 9 Aug 2003 01:18:38 +1000, "Alex Gibson"
wrote:

From my own experiance, rf burns hurt more than
standard 50Hz ac or dc shocks even though I would have to
rate car iginition systems a close second.


I think I may have experienced rf burns some years ago. Is this when
you touch a metal object close to an rf field; it feels thermally
*hot* enough to burn you, but when the field is killed, said object
*instantly* feels normal room temperature again?


No, RF burns is when the skin is actually burnt.

--


--
@@F@r@o@m@@O@r@a@n@g@e@@C@o@u@n@t@y@,@@C@a@l@,@@w@ h@e@r@e@@
###Got a Question about ELECTRONICS? Check HERE First:###
http://users.pandora.be/educypedia/e...s/databank.htm
My email address is whitelisted. *All* email sent to it
goes directly to the trash unless you add NOSPAM in the
Subject: line with other stuff. alondra101 at hotmail.com
Don't be ripped off by the big book dealers. Go to the URL
that will give you a choice and save you money(up to half).
http://www.everybookstore.com You'll be glad you did!
Just when you thought you had all this figured out, the gov't
changed it: http://physics.nist.gov/cuu/Units/binary.html
@@t@h@e@@a@f@f@l@u@e@n@t@@m@e@e@t@@t@h@e@@E@f@f@l@ u@e@n@t@@

Dave Holford August 9th 03 12:59 AM



"Watson A.Name - 'Watt Sun'" wrote:

In article ,
mentioned...
A former member of the Air Force told me about a safety training video
narrated by a transmitter tech who did not observe *all* the procedures. He
survived to make the video, but as a double amputee.

I was told that this training video was part of the curriculum for so many
years that the principal character became somewhat of a celebrity. Perhaps
someone with more direct knowledge can add or correct the details.

Tom, N3IJ


Well, that's a helluva way to become a celebrity! But on
observation, the amputee must've been a DOD civilian, because he
couldn't have remained in the AF without his legs. Or whatever was
amputated. Or maybe he did the narration after he had recovered and
was discharged.



I wouldn't count on it.

My Brother-in-Law lost a leg while in the airforce and served more than
20 years after that before he retired, picked up quite a few promotions
along the way.

I think you will find that amputees have served in the USAF, RAF, RCAF,
RCN and probably several other military services over the years.
Admittedly they lost their limbs after they joined the service.

From what I can recall one USAF aircrew member lost a limb in a (B-47)?
crash, the RCN guy lost one after his aircraft went off a carrier and he
passed under the carrier and lost, I think a leg. The most famous is
probably Douglas Bader who lost both legs and went on to serve as a
fighter pilot in WWII. One thing they all have in common is that they
fought like hell to stay in.

Dave

Dave Holford August 9th 03 12:59 AM



"Watson A.Name - 'Watt Sun'" wrote:

In article ,
mentioned...
A former member of the Air Force told me about a safety training video
narrated by a transmitter tech who did not observe *all* the procedures. He
survived to make the video, but as a double amputee.

I was told that this training video was part of the curriculum for so many
years that the principal character became somewhat of a celebrity. Perhaps
someone with more direct knowledge can add or correct the details.

Tom, N3IJ


Well, that's a helluva way to become a celebrity! But on
observation, the amputee must've been a DOD civilian, because he
couldn't have remained in the AF without his legs. Or whatever was
amputated. Or maybe he did the narration after he had recovered and
was discharged.



I wouldn't count on it.

My Brother-in-Law lost a leg while in the airforce and served more than
20 years after that before he retired, picked up quite a few promotions
along the way.

I think you will find that amputees have served in the USAF, RAF, RCAF,
RCN and probably several other military services over the years.
Admittedly they lost their limbs after they joined the service.

From what I can recall one USAF aircrew member lost a limb in a (B-47)?
crash, the RCN guy lost one after his aircraft went off a carrier and he
passed under the carrier and lost, I think a leg. The most famous is
probably Douglas Bader who lost both legs and went on to serve as a
fighter pilot in WWII. One thing they all have in common is that they
fought like hell to stay in.

Dave

Jeff August 9th 03 02:54 AM


"Watson A.Name - 'Watt Sun'" wrote in message
.. .
In article ,
mentioned...
Paul Burridge wrote:

On Thu, 07 Aug 2003 12:33:24 GMT, "Harris"
wrote:

Several people have and of course they are all dead.

Well I don't believe the answer's that simple. I'll explain in due


Yes it is. 'Fatal' doesn't have any slack in its definition. You could

modify it
by adding 'near' as a prefix.


I agree. He said one thing, but meant another. Snot what you think!

Answer this question:

Q: Twenty years ago, a plane is flying at 20,000 feet over Germany. If
you will recall, Germany at the time was politically divided into West
Germany and East Germany. Anyway, during the flight, TWO of the
engines fail. The pilot, realizing that the last remaining engine is
also failing, decides on a crash landing. Unfortunately, the engine
fails before he has time and the plane crashes smack in the middle of
"no-man's-land" between East Germany and West Germany. Where would you
bury the survivors - East Germany or West Germany or in "no-man's-
land?"


Land in no-man's-land and they might be, burying
the SURVIVORS.... at that time.
Jeff


DOH!

For the answer, and other similar Qs, see
http://dailyfunnies.org/archives/000637.html


--
@@F@r@o@m@@O@r@a@n@g@e@@C@o@u@n@t@y@,@@C@a@l@,@@w@ h@e@r@e@@
###Got a Question about ELECTRONICS? Check HERE First:###
http://users.pandora.be/educypedia/e...s/databank.htm
My email address is whitelisted. *All* email sent to it
goes directly to the trash unless you add NOSPAM in the
Subject: line with other stuff. alondra101 at hotmail.com
Don't be ripped off by the big book dealers. Go to the URL
that will give you a choice and save you money(up to half).
http://www.everybookstore.com You'll be glad you did!
Just when you thought you had all this figured out, the gov't
changed it: http://physics.nist.gov/cuu/Units/binary.html
@@t@h@e@@a@f@f@l@u@e@n@t@@m@e@e@t@@t@h@e@@E@f@f@l@ u@e@n@t@@




Jeff August 9th 03 02:54 AM


"Watson A.Name - 'Watt Sun'" wrote in message
.. .
In article ,
mentioned...
Paul Burridge wrote:

On Thu, 07 Aug 2003 12:33:24 GMT, "Harris"
wrote:

Several people have and of course they are all dead.

Well I don't believe the answer's that simple. I'll explain in due


Yes it is. 'Fatal' doesn't have any slack in its definition. You could

modify it
by adding 'near' as a prefix.


I agree. He said one thing, but meant another. Snot what you think!

Answer this question:

Q: Twenty years ago, a plane is flying at 20,000 feet over Germany. If
you will recall, Germany at the time was politically divided into West
Germany and East Germany. Anyway, during the flight, TWO of the
engines fail. The pilot, realizing that the last remaining engine is
also failing, decides on a crash landing. Unfortunately, the engine
fails before he has time and the plane crashes smack in the middle of
"no-man's-land" between East Germany and West Germany. Where would you
bury the survivors - East Germany or West Germany or in "no-man's-
land?"


Land in no-man's-land and they might be, burying
the SURVIVORS.... at that time.
Jeff


DOH!

For the answer, and other similar Qs, see
http://dailyfunnies.org/archives/000637.html


--
@@F@r@o@m@@O@r@a@n@g@e@@C@o@u@n@t@y@,@@C@a@l@,@@w@ h@e@r@e@@
###Got a Question about ELECTRONICS? Check HERE First:###
http://users.pandora.be/educypedia/e...s/databank.htm
My email address is whitelisted. *All* email sent to it
goes directly to the trash unless you add NOSPAM in the
Subject: line with other stuff. alondra101 at hotmail.com
Don't be ripped off by the big book dealers. Go to the URL
that will give you a choice and save you money(up to half).
http://www.everybookstore.com You'll be glad you did!
Just when you thought you had all this figured out, the gov't
changed it: http://physics.nist.gov/cuu/Units/binary.html
@@t@h@e@@a@f@f@l@u@e@n@t@@m@e@e@t@@t@h@e@@E@f@f@l@ u@e@n@t@@




Bob Yates August 9th 03 03:49 AM

Paul Burridge wrote:

The question seems daft, but bear with me, gentlemen. Has anyone ever
had an electric shock that they feel lucky to have survived?

p.
--

"I believe history will be kind to me, since I intend
to write it." - Winston Churchill


Nothing like that, yet.

Rewired some factory emergency lights and replaced several more, one leg
of a 480V circuit, live. Work careful and no problems.

Removing a high-pressure bulb from a high-voltage circuit, glass
envelope broke in my hand while trying to unscrew it, didn't know I
could move that fast.

Rewiring a conveyor, co-worker said the power was off, sparks flew when
I cut the cable. I just stared at the remains of my pliers and then at
him. ONE HAND in contact with the work, nothing else, work on insulated
surface, heavy rubber sole boots, and anything else I can think of.

Worked at one plant that had had a color blind electrician, that really
taught me caution, never knew what color wired carried what voltage.

Bob Yates August 9th 03 03:49 AM

Paul Burridge wrote:

The question seems daft, but bear with me, gentlemen. Has anyone ever
had an electric shock that they feel lucky to have survived?

p.
--

"I believe history will be kind to me, since I intend
to write it." - Winston Churchill


Nothing like that, yet.

Rewired some factory emergency lights and replaced several more, one leg
of a 480V circuit, live. Work careful and no problems.

Removing a high-pressure bulb from a high-voltage circuit, glass
envelope broke in my hand while trying to unscrew it, didn't know I
could move that fast.

Rewiring a conveyor, co-worker said the power was off, sparks flew when
I cut the cable. I just stared at the remains of my pliers and then at
him. ONE HAND in contact with the work, nothing else, work on insulated
surface, heavy rubber sole boots, and anything else I can think of.

Worked at one plant that had had a color blind electrician, that really
taught me caution, never knew what color wired carried what voltage.

Richard Henry August 9th 03 06:09 AM


"Bob Yates" wrote in message
...


Rewiring a conveyor, co-worker said the power was off, sparks flew when
I cut the cable. I just stared at the remains of my pliers and then at
him. ONE HAND in contact with the work, nothing else, work on insulated
surface, heavy rubber sole boots, and anything else I can think of.


I worked college summers as an electrician. Cut a live lamp circuit with my
brand new pliers, leaving a 14-ga notch.

Years later, I saw "my" pliers in the lab tech's toolbox. He said he had
done the same thing a few years back. I didn't really believe they were his
until I found my old pliers in the bottom of my garage toolkit.




Richard Henry August 9th 03 06:09 AM


"Bob Yates" wrote in message
...


Rewiring a conveyor, co-worker said the power was off, sparks flew when
I cut the cable. I just stared at the remains of my pliers and then at
him. ONE HAND in contact with the work, nothing else, work on insulated
surface, heavy rubber sole boots, and anything else I can think of.


I worked college summers as an electrician. Cut a live lamp circuit with my
brand new pliers, leaving a 14-ga notch.

Years later, I saw "my" pliers in the lab tech's toolbox. He said he had
done the same thing a few years back. I didn't really believe they were his
until I found my old pliers in the bottom of my garage toolkit.




Michael A. Terrell August 9th 03 06:19 AM

Chris1 wrote:

In article , "Michael A. Terrell" wrote:

I find that very interesting, since every chocolate bar I have ever
had was wrapped in aluminum foil.


I always thought it was just shiny paper. There's not much Aluminum there,
if any.

Chris


A very thin aluminum foil, with a paper backing. Use an Ohm meter on
a piece to see that it is conductive.
--


Its August 5, 2003, so I'm 51 today!
Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida

Michael A. Terrell August 9th 03 06:19 AM

Chris1 wrote:

In article , "Michael A. Terrell" wrote:

I find that very interesting, since every chocolate bar I have ever
had was wrapped in aluminum foil.


I always thought it was just shiny paper. There's not much Aluminum there,
if any.

Chris


A very thin aluminum foil, with a paper backing. Use an Ohm meter on
a piece to see that it is conductive.
--


Its August 5, 2003, so I'm 51 today!
Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida

Bill Higdon August 9th 03 08:22 AM

Eric in the Evening wrote:
Hey Charles,

When I was a "frameman" (oops, make that "frame attendant") in the Alameda
Central Office, had exactly the same type of "shock". Air conditioning had
broken, we were in t-shirts, about 90+ degrees in the CO on a summers day
and sweating. Reaching through the frame from the equipment side hit someone
who was ringing and became a human bell clapper for about 20-30 seconds. All
this at the top of a rolling ladder. My fellow employees and myself got a
laugh out of it (me later). Actually happened a few times over my 27 year
career. At least I'm not unique in that sense. Thanks for sharing......
Eric KA6USJ



Eric,
In my days as a Frame Ape, I got across one of the Darned Gov't special
circuits that had a lot more than ring voltage on it. Only once though,
I can still remember the special warning tags they hadon the lines at
all the blocks, and like you Iwas at the top of the ladder when it
happened. And oh yes I also got bit by ring more than once. Remember the
way we found shorts?
Bill Higdon


Bill Higdon August 9th 03 08:22 AM

Eric in the Evening wrote:
Hey Charles,

When I was a "frameman" (oops, make that "frame attendant") in the Alameda
Central Office, had exactly the same type of "shock". Air conditioning had
broken, we were in t-shirts, about 90+ degrees in the CO on a summers day
and sweating. Reaching through the frame from the equipment side hit someone
who was ringing and became a human bell clapper for about 20-30 seconds. All
this at the top of a rolling ladder. My fellow employees and myself got a
laugh out of it (me later). Actually happened a few times over my 27 year
career. At least I'm not unique in that sense. Thanks for sharing......
Eric KA6USJ



Eric,
In my days as a Frame Ape, I got across one of the Darned Gov't special
circuits that had a lot more than ring voltage on it. Only once though,
I can still remember the special warning tags they hadon the lines at
all the blocks, and like you Iwas at the top of the ladder when it
happened. And oh yes I also got bit by ring more than once. Remember the
way we found shorts?
Bill Higdon


Ian White, G3SEK August 9th 03 09:01 AM

Paul Burridge wrote:
Ground Fault Circuit Interruptor.


How splendid! We call them Residual Current Circuit Breakers in
England.


That may not be an accurate translation. As I understand it, the GFCI
requires a ground connection in order to operate, while the RCB does
not.

The RCB functions on the difference between the outgoing 'live' current
and the return current in the neutral. In the British house wiring
system, those two currents should be *exactly* equal, and the difference
(the 'residual current') should be zero. Any difference at all means
something's wrong - ping - you're disconnected.

A typical household RCB will trip on a 60 or 100mA difference in supply
current surges up to 60A. That's pretty good common-mode rejection!

RCDs can also be cascaded, so an even more sensitive RCD can be used to
protect an outdoor mains socket or a workbench.

We used to have something like GFCIs over here, but changed to RCDs
because RCDs still work if the entire house ground connection has
failed.


--
73 from Ian G3SEK 'In Practice' columnist for RadCom (RSGB)
Editor, 'The VHF/UHF DX Book'
http://www.ifwtech.co.uk/g3sek

Ian White, G3SEK August 9th 03 09:01 AM

Paul Burridge wrote:
Ground Fault Circuit Interruptor.


How splendid! We call them Residual Current Circuit Breakers in
England.


That may not be an accurate translation. As I understand it, the GFCI
requires a ground connection in order to operate, while the RCB does
not.

The RCB functions on the difference between the outgoing 'live' current
and the return current in the neutral. In the British house wiring
system, those two currents should be *exactly* equal, and the difference
(the 'residual current') should be zero. Any difference at all means
something's wrong - ping - you're disconnected.

A typical household RCB will trip on a 60 or 100mA difference in supply
current surges up to 60A. That's pretty good common-mode rejection!

RCDs can also be cascaded, so an even more sensitive RCD can be used to
protect an outdoor mains socket or a workbench.

We used to have something like GFCIs over here, but changed to RCDs
because RCDs still work if the entire house ground connection has
failed.


--
73 from Ian G3SEK 'In Practice' columnist for RadCom (RSGB)
Editor, 'The VHF/UHF DX Book'
http://www.ifwtech.co.uk/g3sek

Boris Mohar August 9th 03 11:31 AM

On Thu, 07 Aug 2003 11:29:46 +0100, Paul Burridge
wrote:


The question seems daft, but bear with me, gentlemen. Has anyone ever
had an electric shock that they feel lucky to have survived?

p.


This guy did believe it or not.

http://www.electrical-contractor.net/electrocution.htm

--

Regards,

Boris Mohar

Got Knock? - see:
Viatrack Printed Circuit Designs http://www3.sympatico.ca/borism/
Aurora, Ontario



Boris Mohar August 9th 03 11:31 AM

On Thu, 07 Aug 2003 11:29:46 +0100, Paul Burridge
wrote:


The question seems daft, but bear with me, gentlemen. Has anyone ever
had an electric shock that they feel lucky to have survived?

p.


This guy did believe it or not.

http://www.electrical-contractor.net/electrocution.htm

--

Regards,

Boris Mohar

Got Knock? - see:
Viatrack Printed Circuit Designs http://www3.sympatico.ca/borism/
Aurora, Ontario



Paul Burridge August 9th 03 11:35 AM

On Sat, 9 Aug 2003 09:01:05 +0100, "Ian White, G3SEK"
wrote:


A typical household RCB will trip on a 60 or 100mA difference in supply
current surges up to 60A. That's pretty good common-mode rejection!


It's better than that. 30mA is the standard currently.
--

"I believe history will be kind to me, since I intend
to write it." - Winston Churchill

Paul Burridge August 9th 03 11:35 AM

On Sat, 9 Aug 2003 09:01:05 +0100, "Ian White, G3SEK"
wrote:


A typical household RCB will trip on a 60 or 100mA difference in supply
current surges up to 60A. That's pretty good common-mode rejection!


It's better than that. 30mA is the standard currently.
--

"I believe history will be kind to me, since I intend
to write it." - Winston Churchill

Paul Burridge August 9th 03 11:35 AM

On Sat, 09 Aug 2003 00:15:15 GMT, Gary S. Idontwantspam@net wrote:

The example above sounds more like inductive heating.

If an ungrounded piece of metal is near an RF energized coil, a
current is induced in it which heats it up. Somewhat similar to a
microwave oven.


I don't see how it can be. The metal in this case was only hot whilst
the RF was flying about. It was cold to the touch the second the power
was cut. If it takes no time to cool down I infer there's something
more to it.
--

"I believe history will be kind to me, since I intend
to write it." - Winston Churchill

Paul Burridge August 9th 03 11:35 AM

On Sat, 09 Aug 2003 00:15:15 GMT, Gary S. Idontwantspam@net wrote:

The example above sounds more like inductive heating.

If an ungrounded piece of metal is near an RF energized coil, a
current is induced in it which heats it up. Somewhat similar to a
microwave oven.


I don't see how it can be. The metal in this case was only hot whilst
the RF was flying about. It was cold to the touch the second the power
was cut. If it takes no time to cool down I infer there's something
more to it.
--

"I believe history will be kind to me, since I intend
to write it." - Winston Churchill

Paul Burridge August 9th 03 11:35 AM

On Fri, 8 Aug 2003 18:25:06 -0500, "john graesser"
wrote:

That wasn't the scariest
shock event in my life, I was driving down the highway, and felt the hair
raise up on my arms. Then there was a boom and my car radio stopped working.
That was the one time that I was in a lightning event.


For a moment there I thought you were about to tell us you were
abducted by aliens. :-)
--

"I believe history will be kind to me, since I intend
to write it." - Winston Churchill

Paul Burridge August 9th 03 11:35 AM

On Fri, 8 Aug 2003 18:25:06 -0500, "john graesser"
wrote:

That wasn't the scariest
shock event in my life, I was driving down the highway, and felt the hair
raise up on my arms. Then there was a boom and my car radio stopped working.
That was the one time that I was in a lightning event.


For a moment there I thought you were about to tell us you were
abducted by aliens. :-)
--

"I believe history will be kind to me, since I intend
to write it." - Winston Churchill

Roy Lewallen August 9th 03 12:21 PM

No, the GFCI doesn't need the safety ground. Like the device you're
describing, it measures the difference between the "hot" and "neutral"
wires, by running the pair together through a transformer. A GFCI is
supposed to trip in 1/40 of a second at 5 mA.

In our system, like yours, the "hot" and "neutral" wires should always
carry equal currents, and the safety ground shouldn't carry any.
However, the safety ground is sized the same as the current-carrying
conductors so it'll handle a fault current large enough to kick the
circuit breaker. Its primary function is to protect against something
like the "hot" wire making contact with a metal appliance frame, which
should be connected to the safety ground. When it comes to a GFCI, no
assumption is made about how much of the imbalance current is returned
via the safety ground and how much via the Earth or some other path.

Roy Lewallen, W7EL

Ian White, G3SEK wrote:
Paul Burridge wrote:

Ground Fault Circuit Interruptor.



How splendid! We call them Residual Current Circuit Breakers in England.



That may not be an accurate translation. As I understand it, the GFCI
requires a ground connection in order to operate, while the RCB does not.

The RCB functions on the difference between the outgoing 'live' current
and the return current in the neutral. In the British house wiring
system, those two currents should be *exactly* equal, and the difference
(the 'residual current') should be zero. Any difference at all means
something's wrong - ping - you're disconnected.

A typical household RCB will trip on a 60 or 100mA difference in supply
current surges up to 60A. That's pretty good common-mode rejection!

RCDs can also be cascaded, so an even more sensitive RCD can be used to
protect an outdoor mains socket or a workbench.

We used to have something like GFCIs over here, but changed to RCDs
because RCDs still work if the entire house ground connection has failed.




Roy Lewallen August 9th 03 12:21 PM

No, the GFCI doesn't need the safety ground. Like the device you're
describing, it measures the difference between the "hot" and "neutral"
wires, by running the pair together through a transformer. A GFCI is
supposed to trip in 1/40 of a second at 5 mA.

In our system, like yours, the "hot" and "neutral" wires should always
carry equal currents, and the safety ground shouldn't carry any.
However, the safety ground is sized the same as the current-carrying
conductors so it'll handle a fault current large enough to kick the
circuit breaker. Its primary function is to protect against something
like the "hot" wire making contact with a metal appliance frame, which
should be connected to the safety ground. When it comes to a GFCI, no
assumption is made about how much of the imbalance current is returned
via the safety ground and how much via the Earth or some other path.

Roy Lewallen, W7EL

Ian White, G3SEK wrote:
Paul Burridge wrote:

Ground Fault Circuit Interruptor.



How splendid! We call them Residual Current Circuit Breakers in England.



That may not be an accurate translation. As I understand it, the GFCI
requires a ground connection in order to operate, while the RCB does not.

The RCB functions on the difference between the outgoing 'live' current
and the return current in the neutral. In the British house wiring
system, those two currents should be *exactly* equal, and the difference
(the 'residual current') should be zero. Any difference at all means
something's wrong - ping - you're disconnected.

A typical household RCB will trip on a 60 or 100mA difference in supply
current surges up to 60A. That's pretty good common-mode rejection!

RCDs can also be cascaded, so an even more sensitive RCD can be used to
protect an outdoor mains socket or a workbench.

We used to have something like GFCIs over here, but changed to RCDs
because RCDs still work if the entire house ground connection has failed.




Frank Dinger August 9th 03 01:13 PM

A typical household RCB will trip on a 60 or 100mA difference in supply
current surges up to 60A. That's pretty good common-mode rejection!

==========
Don't want to be pedantic but the RCDs in domestic switchboards in the UK
(at least here in Scotland ) trip at 30 mA .
I just had a look at my house's switch board made by SQUARE -D (England)
to British Standard BS5486 pt 13

In UK industry I have come across RCDs which trip at 100 mA

Frank GM0CSZ / KN6WH







Frank Dinger August 9th 03 01:13 PM

A typical household RCB will trip on a 60 or 100mA difference in supply
current surges up to 60A. That's pretty good common-mode rejection!

==========
Don't want to be pedantic but the RCDs in domestic switchboards in the UK
(at least here in Scotland ) trip at 30 mA .
I just had a look at my house's switch board made by SQUARE -D (England)
to British Standard BS5486 pt 13

In UK industry I have come across RCDs which trip at 100 mA

Frank GM0CSZ / KN6WH







Ian White, G3SEK August 9th 03 01:22 PM

Paul Burridge wrote:
On Sat, 9 Aug 2003 09:01:05 +0100, "Ian White, G3SEK"
wrote:


A typical household RCB will trip on a 60 or 100mA difference in supply
current surges up to 60A. That's pretty good common-mode rejection!


It's better than that. 30mA is the standard currently.


Sorry, I got mixed-up about that. Our house was wired under the older
regulations which allowed the lights to be protected by a separate 100mA
RCD, while the power outlets are protected at 30mA. The idea was that
tripping a power circuit is less likely to plunge the whole house into
darkness.

The standard for new household installations is now 30mA all around,
although 100mA units are still available for industrial uses.


--
73 from Ian G3SEK 'In Practice' columnist for RadCom (RSGB)
Editor, 'The VHF/UHF DX Book'
http://www.ifwtech.co.uk/g3sek

Ian White, G3SEK August 9th 03 01:22 PM

Paul Burridge wrote:
On Sat, 9 Aug 2003 09:01:05 +0100, "Ian White, G3SEK"
wrote:


A typical household RCB will trip on a 60 or 100mA difference in supply
current surges up to 60A. That's pretty good common-mode rejection!


It's better than that. 30mA is the standard currently.


Sorry, I got mixed-up about that. Our house was wired under the older
regulations which allowed the lights to be protected by a separate 100mA
RCD, while the power outlets are protected at 30mA. The idea was that
tripping a power circuit is less likely to plunge the whole house into
darkness.

The standard for new household installations is now 30mA all around,
although 100mA units are still available for industrial uses.


--
73 from Ian G3SEK 'In Practice' columnist for RadCom (RSGB)
Editor, 'The VHF/UHF DX Book'
http://www.ifwtech.co.uk/g3sek

Ian White, G3SEK August 9th 03 01:40 PM

Roy Lewallen wrote:
No, the GFCI doesn't need the safety ground. Like the device you're
describing, it measures the difference between the "hot" and "neutral"
wires, by running the pair together through a transformer. A GFCI is
supposed to trip in 1/40 of a second at 5 mA.

In our system, like yours, the "hot" and "neutral" wires should always
carry equal currents, and the safety ground shouldn't carry any.
However, the safety ground is sized the same as the current-carrying
conductors so it'll handle a fault current large enough to kick the
circuit breaker.


That is pretty much the same as our RCDs, right down to the large-sized
'protective earth' wire.

Its primary function is to protect against something like the "hot"
wire making contact with a metal appliance frame, which should be
connected to the safety ground.


An interesting thing happens when you switch off to isolate part of the
house wiring, and then cut the "dead" three-wire cable. (We call it
"flat twin and earth". It has PVC-insulated hot and neutral wires with a
bare ground wire in between, all in a flattish grey or white PVC sheath.
Is this what you call "Romex"?) If you cut the hot and ground wires
together, nothing happens; but if you cut the neutral and ground wires
together, the RCD trips. That's a puzzle the first time it happens, but
it's because that cable isn't quite as "dead" as you think. the
isolating switches interrupt only the hot wire, so the neutral and earth
are still being shared with everything else that's switched on in the
house.

Does that happen in the USA, or do you have two-pole isolating switches
for individual sub-circuits?

This isn't totally idle curiosity. If there's an electrical problem
while we're staying with the in-laws in Atlanta, I'm the one who's
supposed to know about these things...

When it comes to a GFCI, no assumption is made about how much of the
imbalance current is returned via the safety ground and how much via
the Earth or some other path.

Exactly the same as our RCD, then... just a slightly ambiguous name.


--
73 from Ian G3SEK 'In Practice' columnist for RadCom (RSGB)
Editor, 'The VHF/UHF DX Book'
http://www.ifwtech.co.uk/g3sek

Ian White, G3SEK August 9th 03 01:40 PM

Roy Lewallen wrote:
No, the GFCI doesn't need the safety ground. Like the device you're
describing, it measures the difference between the "hot" and "neutral"
wires, by running the pair together through a transformer. A GFCI is
supposed to trip in 1/40 of a second at 5 mA.

In our system, like yours, the "hot" and "neutral" wires should always
carry equal currents, and the safety ground shouldn't carry any.
However, the safety ground is sized the same as the current-carrying
conductors so it'll handle a fault current large enough to kick the
circuit breaker.


That is pretty much the same as our RCDs, right down to the large-sized
'protective earth' wire.

Its primary function is to protect against something like the "hot"
wire making contact with a metal appliance frame, which should be
connected to the safety ground.


An interesting thing happens when you switch off to isolate part of the
house wiring, and then cut the "dead" three-wire cable. (We call it
"flat twin and earth". It has PVC-insulated hot and neutral wires with a
bare ground wire in between, all in a flattish grey or white PVC sheath.
Is this what you call "Romex"?) If you cut the hot and ground wires
together, nothing happens; but if you cut the neutral and ground wires
together, the RCD trips. That's a puzzle the first time it happens, but
it's because that cable isn't quite as "dead" as you think. the
isolating switches interrupt only the hot wire, so the neutral and earth
are still being shared with everything else that's switched on in the
house.

Does that happen in the USA, or do you have two-pole isolating switches
for individual sub-circuits?

This isn't totally idle curiosity. If there's an electrical problem
while we're staying with the in-laws in Atlanta, I'm the one who's
supposed to know about these things...

When it comes to a GFCI, no assumption is made about how much of the
imbalance current is returned via the safety ground and how much via
the Earth or some other path.

Exactly the same as our RCD, then... just a slightly ambiguous name.


--
73 from Ian G3SEK 'In Practice' columnist for RadCom (RSGB)
Editor, 'The VHF/UHF DX Book'
http://www.ifwtech.co.uk/g3sek

Watson A.Name - 'Watt Sun' August 9th 03 03:57 PM

In article ,
mentioned...
Chris1 wrote:

In article , "Michael A. Terrell" wrote:

I find that very interesting, since every chocolate bar I have ever
had was wrapped in aluminum foil.


I always thought it was just shiny paper. There's not much Aluminum there,
if any.

Chris


A very thin aluminum foil, with a paper backing. Use an Ohm meter on
a piece to see that it is conductive.


I used to be able to do that with the nickle plated antistatic bags
that parts came in back in 1980. The ohmmeter would measure several
hundred ohms. But nowadays all I can measure is an open. I just
tried it again, measured open even on the 200M range.


--
@@F@r@o@m@@O@r@a@n@g@e@@C@o@u@n@t@y@,@@C@a@l@,@@w@ h@e@r@e@@
###Got a Question about ELECTRONICS? Check HERE First:###
http://users.pandora.be/educypedia/e...s/databank.htm
My email address is whitelisted. *All* email sent to it
goes directly to the trash unless you add NOSPAM in the
Subject: line with other stuff. alondra101 at hotmail.com
Don't be ripped off by the big book dealers. Go to the URL
that will give you a choice and save you money(up to half).
http://www.everybookstore.com You'll be glad you did!
Just when you thought you had all this figured out, the gov't
changed it: http://physics.nist.gov/cuu/Units/binary.html
@@t@h@e@@a@f@f@l@u@e@n@t@@m@e@e@t@@t@h@e@@E@f@f@l@ u@e@n@t@@

Watson A.Name - 'Watt Sun' August 9th 03 03:57 PM

In article ,
mentioned...
Chris1 wrote:

In article , "Michael A. Terrell" wrote:

I find that very interesting, since every chocolate bar I have ever
had was wrapped in aluminum foil.


I always thought it was just shiny paper. There's not much Aluminum there,
if any.

Chris


A very thin aluminum foil, with a paper backing. Use an Ohm meter on
a piece to see that it is conductive.


I used to be able to do that with the nickle plated antistatic bags
that parts came in back in 1980. The ohmmeter would measure several
hundred ohms. But nowadays all I can measure is an open. I just
tried it again, measured open even on the 200M range.


--
@@F@r@o@m@@O@r@a@n@g@e@@C@o@u@n@t@y@,@@C@a@l@,@@w@ h@e@r@e@@
###Got a Question about ELECTRONICS? Check HERE First:###
http://users.pandora.be/educypedia/e...s/databank.htm
My email address is whitelisted. *All* email sent to it
goes directly to the trash unless you add NOSPAM in the
Subject: line with other stuff. alondra101 at hotmail.com
Don't be ripped off by the big book dealers. Go to the URL
that will give you a choice and save you money(up to half).
http://www.everybookstore.com You'll be glad you did!
Just when you thought you had all this figured out, the gov't
changed it: http://physics.nist.gov/cuu/Units/binary.html
@@t@h@e@@a@f@f@l@u@e@n@t@@m@e@e@t@@t@h@e@@E@f@f@l@ u@e@n@t@@

Mark Fergerson August 9th 03 08:11 PM

Paul Burridge wrote:
On Fri, 08 Aug 2003 03:29:47 GMT, Eric Immel
wrote:


Paul, are you asking if anyone has been killed, then revived?



That's pretty close to what I'm getting at. What I *am* actually get
at is that theoretical physicists are coming around to the rather
extraordinary view that one cannot from one's own perspective be
killed by any sudden and dramatic life event. No matter how bad the
shock, you will always 'come around' to find that you've survived. The
tricky bit is that you'll probably have found yourself in a different
reality to the one you left. In the one you've left, observers will
see your cold, dead, smoking body lying sparko on the ground. Your
relatives will grieve, your obituary will be written. But *you* won't
know anything of that. You'll just believe you've had a lucky escape;
you'll go home and tell your friends and family all about it and years
later maybe you'll tell others via the Internet.


Now that you've explained what you meant, I'll mention
that I must be on at least my fifth parallel Universe.

I told a few tales about my "teleportation experiments"
here some time back, all involving from 220VAC @ 60 Hz to a
few kV @ 400 Hz. I tend to jump rather than tear muscles
because I'm skinny, you see.

Mark L. Fergerson


Mark Fergerson August 9th 03 08:11 PM

Paul Burridge wrote:
On Fri, 08 Aug 2003 03:29:47 GMT, Eric Immel
wrote:


Paul, are you asking if anyone has been killed, then revived?



That's pretty close to what I'm getting at. What I *am* actually get
at is that theoretical physicists are coming around to the rather
extraordinary view that one cannot from one's own perspective be
killed by any sudden and dramatic life event. No matter how bad the
shock, you will always 'come around' to find that you've survived. The
tricky bit is that you'll probably have found yourself in a different
reality to the one you left. In the one you've left, observers will
see your cold, dead, smoking body lying sparko on the ground. Your
relatives will grieve, your obituary will be written. But *you* won't
know anything of that. You'll just believe you've had a lucky escape;
you'll go home and tell your friends and family all about it and years
later maybe you'll tell others via the Internet.


Now that you've explained what you meant, I'll mention
that I must be on at least my fifth parallel Universe.

I told a few tales about my "teleportation experiments"
here some time back, all involving from 220VAC @ 60 Hz to a
few kV @ 400 Hz. I tend to jump rather than tear muscles
because I'm skinny, you see.

Mark L. Fergerson


Avery Fineman August 9th 03 08:46 PM

In article , "K Wind"
writes:

"Paul Burridge" wrote in message
.. .

The question seems daft, but bear with me, gentlemen. Has anyone ever
had an electric shock that they feel lucky to have survived?


Would 1,500VDC with 6mA capability flowing through one arm and out the other
be considered lethal? At one time, I knew how much current was considered
lethal, but have forgotten.


Think of "30-30" as a mnemonic.

If the source has over 30 Volts and can supply over 30 milliamperes
through the cardiac region, you will go into cardiac fibrilation.

High voltage with little supply current will affect the nerves and the
resulting muscle spasms can cause other kinds of injuries, some
that may be fatal.

DON'T DO IT. PAY ATTENTION!

Len Anderson
still living in the same reality I was born into...


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