ECN Electrical Forum - Discussion Forums for Electricians, Inspectors and Related Professionals
ECN Shout Chat
ShoutChat
Recent Posts
Increasing demand factors in residential
by gfretwell - 03/28/24 12:43 AM
Portable generator question
by Steve Miller - 03/19/24 08:50 PM
Do we need grounding?
by NORCAL - 03/19/24 05:11 PM
240V only in a home and NEC?
by dsk - 03/19/24 06:33 AM
Cordless Tools: The Obvious Question
by renosteinke - 03/14/24 08:05 PM
New in the Gallery:
This is a new one
This is a new one
by timmp, September 24
Few pics I found
Few pics I found
by timmp, August 15
Who's Online Now
1 members (Scott35), 263 guests, and 18 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2
#3741 08/28/01 01:59 AM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,116
Likes: 4
Member
Joe T sent me a link to a UK Electrical Safety Page. I thought it would be interesting to discuss things found there.
http://www.angliacampus.com/education/fire/secondar/electric.htm

[Linked Image from angliacampus.com]

[Linked Image from angliacampus.com]

[Linked Image]
Bill


Bill
#3742 08/28/01 06:24 AM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,392
S
Member
a pix is worth a 1000 codes [Linked Image]

#3743 08/28/01 03:21 PM
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 43
M
Member
Quote
Originally posted by sparky:
a pix is worth a 1000 codes [Linked Image]

The ground pin opening the other two is a neat idea for childproofing outlets.

#3744 08/28/01 03:45 PM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 2,749
Member
Some good ideas here, except that in the US someone would probably defeat the overcurrent protection by inserting a solid piece of wire or other metal in place of the fuse.

The color coding is very interesting too!

QUESTION:

Where in the NEC can a light blue grounded conductor be used??


Joe Tedesco, NEC Consultant
#3745 08/28/01 04:55 PM
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 62
M
Member
If my memory serves me right, Leviton makes a receptacle that works the same way.

#3746 08/28/01 05:06 PM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,148
R
Member
Joe,
You can use light blue anywhere you want to as long as its not for grounding or grounded conductors. I think that you are looking for an answer that states 504-80(c). This section is permissive and does not require the use of light blue. It is also a very poorly written section. Does, "and where no other conductors colored light blue", mean that if I choose to use light blue for intrinsically safe circuits, I can't use light blue anywhere else in the structure?
Don(resqcapt19)


Don(resqcapt19)
#3747 08/28/01 05:53 PM
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 7,520
P
Member
Well, well, well.... The trusty British 13-amp plug!

I was going to mention the shuttered sockets at some point, but it looks like you've beaten me to it! The shutters have been a feature of the outlets since they first appeared some 50 years ago. Shutters were also adopted on the older round-pin outlets as well.

Some of the latest sockets have adopted a different shutter mechanism which isn't operated from the earth pin. Instead, they rely on equal pressure at the live & neutral to open; pressure on just one leaves it firmly closed. Definitely trickier for inserting test probes!

The cord colors are those I mentiond some time ago. We adopted them for flex in 1970 as part of a European standard, but retained the old colors (red, black, green) for fixed cables. The green has since be changed to green/yellow for earth though.

The fuses at each plug provide good protection for individual appliances, but I'm afraid that many people don't understand their significance. A lot of folk always put in a 13A fuse "because it's a 13A plug." I don't see many with the fuse clips bridged with wire though.

#3748 08/28/01 08:28 PM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,392
S
Member
All told, it looks like a safer arrangement to me, for say...daycare receptacles.

#3749 08/28/01 08:43 PM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 38
T
Member
Joe article 400-22(c).Where does a 120v 15 or 20 amp recepticle have an orange wire hooked to the white screw?

#3750 08/29/01 06:33 PM
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 7,520
P
Member
Quote
Originally posted by sparky:
All told, it looks like a safer arrangement to me, for say...daycare receptacles.

The fact that kids might poke things in outlets is the main point put forward in favor of the shutters. If you consider that our pins are much thicker than those on U.S. plugs, then the range of metal objects which could otherwise be inserted is much greater. The hot side is a full 240V to ground of course, so it would pack quite a jolt.

For several years now it's been possible to buy molded plastic blanks with plastic pins which fit into an outlet. I guess the theory is that kids would be slowed down even more by having to remove that first.

I understand that these blanks are now required to be fitted in unused outlets in certain places, including daycare. IEE Regs. are mandatory in many public buildings, but this rule isn't from the IEE.

Apparently it's from a new amendment to the Healh & Safety at Work Act or one of the other similar gestapo-like depts.

Page 1 of 2 1 2

Link Copied to Clipboard
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5