GA V.I. Abraham

I would like to add one additional item. All workers around electricity should have footwear with the "EH" rating (electrical hazard). The soles on these shoes can help prevent you from being part of a circuit. Shoes with a "SD" rating (static dissipating) have conductive soles and should NEVER be worn around live circuits. Ed

When doing any electrical repairs at home such as replacing an outlet. TURN OFF THE BREAKER FIRST !!!!!

It is a good Idea to label all the breakers in you electrical box. If there is ever a problem you can turn off the power to that area and then call for help.

G'day Mate!

Get electrocuted a few times and you will wish you had the advantage of an apprenticeship. I didn't have one and learned the hard way. Take a course! At least! It's a mirical that I am writing this to you in the first place, so take a good tip when it is one. Good luck, Ky.

ky said

"Get electrocuted a few times" Electrocution is FATAL a SHOCK is not.

Check out wiki

Electrocution

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search

The term electrocution can mean any of the following:

• murder, accidental death, or suicide by electric shock
• deliberate execution by electric shock, usually involving an electric chair; the word "electrocution" is a portmanteau for "electrical execution"
• Fatal injury from an electric shock, usually causing electrical burns, arc burns, and thermal contact burns.

Electrocution is also frequently used incorrectly to refer to any electric shock received. However, non-fatal exposure to electricity is refered to as electric shock.

I stand corrected. Try the shock first!

Make sure everything is properly bonded to the main power ground and always stand on a dry board and keep one hand in your pocket.

"keep one hand in your pocket'

Since this is a trusted forum, and this subject of safety is extremely important, I feel compelled to address this short sighted but often quoted advise.

This is advise only for someone who has not taken the proper required safety steps before working with electricity.

Trying to do things with one hand only adds danger to the already difficult tasks.

I worked with live electrical circuits in very large capacity panels for over 20 years with no problems, and part of the reason is due to some sage advice from an old timer. You see, several of the 'journeymen' I encountered while learning my profession would do a 'flash' test. They would tap the connection quickly just prior to firmly making the connection. They also advised 'keep one hand in your pocket' by the way. I asked the old timer about this, as I noticed that he did not ever do this, and I will share with you his perfect advice.

He said "you should always know exactly what will be the result before making the connection." If you feel the need to 'tap', that reveals that you have not performed the proper preliminary test procedures, or do not properly understand the meaning of the results of the pre checks.

Don't 'tap' test; KNOW instead. (and use both hands with confidence.)

During my training and all of my hands on work, I fully practiced this advice. I learned how to check, and exactly what the check results meant. Every connection made was with full absolute knowledge of the result. I was never surprised that voltage existed, I had already verified and validated the result. No surprises are good surprises in the electrical field.

I would estimate that fully 50% of the long time journeyman level workers I called peers did not fully understand the reason for, or logic of the results, from a simple wiggy check procedure. The habit of 'tapping' saved them from several disasters, but did not save some very expensive equipment. Five of the 120 (approx) had permanent life-changing flash burns, and will never be quite the same, none died but some could have.

Regards, CJM

CJMcGill said:

"keep one hand in your pocket"

I agree 100% and add: Unless you have a recognized training; "keep both hands in your pockets"

N.B. This doesn't mean that you should use your tongue to check for voltage...

Go back and read the post.

I said "'keep one hand in your pocket . . . .' is bad advise.

Better to be absolutely certain of what you are doing, then you can work with BOTH hands."

He did read it and is agreeing with you. What he's doing is adding to your post and making the statement that if you haven't had training with working with electricity then don't mess with electricity at all.

Which I agree with and it is very apparent with the opening poster just because he's here asking this question in the first place.

HERE IS THE FIRST AND MAYBE THE LAST RULE OF ELECTRICAL SAFETY.

UNLESS YOUR ARE ABSOLUTELY SURE THERE IS NO POWER CONNECTED TO THE EQUIPMENT. ALWAYS CONSIDER IT TO BE "HOT" AND TREAT IT AS SUCH.

I don't believe there is a way to know for 100% certainty that an electrical wire or device is not "hot" even if you lock it out yourself. Some idiot will invariably come along and say, "I wonder who did this? I'll just jump around it!" Then "Blam," you are fried.

This forum is not the place to learn about electrical safety, although, learn you must if you are going to do any wiring. It would be best to check with your local fire department, your local government, your local licensed electrician and then when you are satisfied you know the answer, hire an expert to do the work. You definitely should spend time working for an expert if you intend to do the work yourself and that should be after much training. These do it yourself tactics can get you killed.

Hkchand,

1. Read the instructions that come with the equipment. Most people, including many electricians, don't. This is particularly true, when it is something that you just "plug in".

2. Give a lot of respect to the power that can be liberated in a short circuit. The arc flash may be very small, but in larger industrial settings it can destroy a room.

3. Heat is the most insidious danger. It degrades insulation; it can start a smoldering fire; it can do all its damage before you are ever aware of its existence. Does a cord or cover plate get unreasonably hot or look darkened? Does something blink or does something feel loose when it should not be? Is the light bulb too big for the fixture?

--JMM

The question you asked is scary because it says that you are not at all versed in the field of electricity.

V.I.Abraham gave some good ground floor information you should take as gospel as have others.

I don't know what country you are in but here is some basic safety information you can read:

https://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3075.pdf (the 1st 24 pages are good)

And for the love of _______(insert deity here), take a course or courses at a local college or technical school! You will learn what is safe and what is not along with proper tool usage/care and why codes are in place for your safety and the safety of others.

However much money and time this may cost you to learn correctly will be rewarded back to you a thousand-fold through the protection of yourself, your family, your co-workers and property.

Please learn the right way now so hopefully you won't be the victim (or cause) of a major fire, disabling injury or death!

I would add "READ THE DOCUMENTATION " on any electrical product your going to use before you plug it in.

A neighbor bought one of the Walkin Bath Tubs with the water massage and the air bubble pumps on it.

He installed it but ran both pumps off the same breaker.

His wife was using the tub when she turned on both the water massage and the air at the same time there was a huge POP and then a FIRE in the breaker box.

Unless you like to have to wife running thru the house naked beating you about the head read before you install.

I hope he used a GFI

COMMON SOURCES OF HAZARDS

1 Wet conditions increase risk of electric shock by lowering skin resistance

2) Immediately replace worn or damaged extension cords and power tools. You can prevent innocent use of a bad cord or tool by cutting the male plug off the cord (while its unplugged from the receptacle, of course).

3) Power lines are very dangerous and should be avoided at all costs. If you see a line about to hit the ground, stand on one foot or run (only one foot contacting the ground) to prevent shock from voltage dropped across the ground between the line and the system ground point.

Effects of electricity

1) Electric current is capable of producing deep and severe burns in the body due to power dissipation across the body's electrical resistance

2) Tetanus is the condition where muscles involuntarily contract due to the passage of external electric current through the body. When involuntary contraction of muscles controlling the fingers causes a victim to be unable to let go of an energized conductor, the victim is said to be "froze on the circuit."

3) Diaphragm (lung) and heart muscles are similarly affected by electric current. Even currents too small to induce tetanus can be strong enough to interfere with the heart's pacemaker neurons, causing the heart to flutter instead of strongly beat.

4) Direct current (DC) is more likely to cause muscle tetanus than alternating current (AC),making DC more likely to "freeze" a victim in a shock scenario. However, AC is more likely to cause a victim's heart to fibrillate, which is a more dangerous condition for the victim after the shocking current has been halted.

PROTECTION

1) Special, insulated shoes and mats are made to protect persons from shock via ground conduction, but even these pieces of gear must be in clean, dry condition to be effective.
Normal footwear is not good enough to provide protection from shock by insulating its wearer from the earth.

2) Metal jewelry is definitely bad to wear when working around electric circuits. Rings,watchbands, necklaces, bracelets, and other such adornments provide excellent electrical contact with your body, and can conduct current themselves enough to produce skin burns, even with low voltages.

3) When necessary to work on a "live" circuit, it is best to perform the work with one hand so as to prevent a deadly hand-to-hand (through the chest) shock current path.

WHAT IS TO BE DONE IN CASE IF ONE GETS SHOCK

1) A person being shocked needs to be disconnected from the source of electrical power.
Locate the disconnecting switch/breaker and turn it off. Alternatively, if the disconnecting device cannot be located, the victim can be pried or pulled from the circuit by an insulated object such as a dry wood board, piece of nonmetallic conduit, or rubber electrical cord.

2) Victims need immediate medical response: check for breathing and pulse, then apply CPR as necessary to maintain oxygenation.

3) If a victim is still conscious after having been shocked, they need to be closely monitored and cared for until trained emergency response personnel arrive. There is danger of physiological shock, so keep the victim warm and comfortable.

4) Shock victims may suffer heart trouble up to several hours after being shocked. The danger of electric shock does not end after the immediate medical attention.

We just had to go through arc flash training (OSHA required), and now have company provided special arc flash resistant clothing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aCbyx0A_ws

http://www.magnaelectric.com/content/view/39/56/

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1555440/arc_flash_while_racking_a_breaker/

http://cotradeco.com/pages/98-arc-flash-video-demonstrations-and-testing

Google arc flash, there are many video's.

Not something to play with. Actually, the training course scared the shit out of me, (and that was what it was intended to do).

Knowledge and following proper safety procedures will keep you alive. Anything else is simply a crap shoot.

erm..... http://cr4.globalspec.com/thread/30820/motor-winding-status

Looking at the dates, aren't you asking this one a bit late ? You may be playing with a multimeter on an unconnected motor, but it's a bit puzzling. Can you give some indication of your level of understanding of electrical stuff ?

So far, I'm inclined to think that if you have to ask the question (and haven't been able to find some answers via a book or google), you shouldn't be anywhere near electricity. Sorry if that sounds unkind, but electricity isn't always very forgiving of mistakes. Read some stuff, then ask for clarification on the parts you don't understand.

Rule #1 Do get proper training before beginning any electrical work

Rule #2 Do not do any electrical work unless you have first complied with rule #1

Rule #1 Since you are asking such a question, you are obviously not qualified so Rule #1 is Dont.