Upon the date 01:33 AM 2/25/99 +0100, RICCARDO said something like:
>I'm following the discussion around the danger of household circuits:
>
>>> I have worked on various appliances ,electrical devices and/or wiring
>>> most of my life, close to 50 years, and I have been "bitten" on occasion.
>>> Of course, except for stoves and dryers, the voltage here is 110 v. I
>>can
>>> understand the respect given to 220v.(3wire) and have never worked on
>>> anything at that voltage without shutting down the circuit. I have also
>>been
>>> very cautious about working on anything in damp conditions like in a
>>> washroom or wet basement.
>
>Travelling in some other EU countryes, I've noticed that
>few household installations have "SAFETY DIFFERENTIAL-CURRENT BREAKERS"
>(here in Italy are called "Salva-vita=Life-saver), and also from these
Sounds like what we (in North America) refer to GFCI or Ground Fault
Circuit Interrupter.
>messages I learn that 220v are used also in the US (surprise) for heavy
>applications, but again nobody from both side of the ocean refers to the
>presence, safetiness, of these devices that here are used and mandatory from
>15-20 years.
>
>I would like to hear from you all what's the situation there, if they are
>diffused, you use them, are considered (toghether with earthing) enough to
>avoid danger situations.
Diffused? Don't quite know what you mean by that word here.
Anyway, in new construction or in remodeling/repairs to bathrooms,
kitchens, laundry rooms, outdoor receptacles, wet areas, garages, etc. the
National Electrical Code requires GFCI devices be used to protect users of
those circuits. I can't recall exactly but it has been at least 20 years, I
believe, since this rule went into effect.
If there is more than a few milliamperes of current flow between either hot
or neutral and earth, then the GFCI device breaks the circuit. This is
likely what you refer to as Salva-vita.
GFCI's are a most excellent idea for us to use if we have our workshop for
working on our computers in a basement or garage (concrete floors). For
that matter, it would be a good idea to have GFCI outlets for any
electrical equipment we work on anywhere. I have them in my attic where I
have a small area to work on my small machines. And I most certainly have
them installed in my main lab in the basement.
Regards, Chris
-- --
Christian Fandt, Electronic/Electrical Historian
Jamestown, NY USA cfandt_at_netsync.net
Member of Antique Wireless Association
URL:
http://www.ggw.org/awa
Received on Wed Feb 24 1999 - 19:26:37 GMT