Home Electrical Safety

[scorp1035]

I have already answered that one as someone else has pointed that out, yes it does stand for current , and I knew that before I made the video, a typing error, but as it is also a circuit device, I continued with it, rather than deleting it ! It would take a lot of work changing it, if it was that important I would have changed it , or deleted it, but I think it still shows the usefulness of an RCD, and at lest it gets people talking about safety! but I'm glad you think it's informative, thanks

[scorp1035]

The most important point is that non technical people, know what this device does, the name RCD a silly name because a lot of people don't know the difference between a RCD or a MCB apart from electrician/engineers. there are other names you could use, Earth leakage Trip, (comes from the old voltage trip device) Ground fault circuit interrupter, from USA and so on, but it really doesn't matter as long as one knows what it does!

[alangbrooke]

Having just watched the video clip I must say that as an electrical contractor with over 45 years experience I find it highly informative and commendable. However, towards the end you describe an RCD as a Residual Circuit Device, whereas the correct namr for it is a Residual CURRENT Device. I don't mean to be picky, but there is a big difference between the two. Perhaps you could make an amendment at some time soon? I see similar comments have already been posted, so it's not just me.

[HappyDiscoDeath]

240 volts AC is serious stuff

[scorp1035]

@HappyDiscoDeath

All voltages should be taken seriously even as low as 50 volts and under. a 12 volt car battery can kill or burn!

[sulemark]

may i embed this video on my electrical contracting site?

[scorp1035]

Yes I would be delighted if you did, thanks for your interest in the video

[scorp1035]

Thanks Jim, yes you are right it doesn't stop getting a shock but should stop it being a fatal one if its direct contact, but it does stop a shock if its indirect contact as the circuit would have tripped!

[jimstestandtagnz]

Hey nice work Only thing that people somethings forget thou is that RCDs do not stop you from receiving an electric shock, it only limits the time you are exposed to the current.

[sadoldgeorge]

Surely RCD second word CURRENT !!

[RFLighting]

RCD stands for Residual CURRENT Device.

[scorp1035]

Yes I must have been asleep due to my age, there are 3 things that go first at my age, one is the memory and the other two I cannot remember! Thanks to you all for taking an interest.

[SuperKhan06]

Before you throw the breaker and send power to the circuit, just make sure you have a grounded conductor ("neutral") hooked to every switch good and tight.......

[scorp1035]

Do you mean an earth wire (CPC)connected to metal boxes, and facia plates on switches, we do not generally have neutrals at light switches in the UK. It sounds like you're from the US.

Circuit protective conductor (CPC) - A name used for the protective earth wiring of all metal parts of a building, in the UK

[SuperKhan06]

You don't EVER wire a grounded conductor ("neutral") to a light switch, no matter where you're at, mate (UK or US or elsewhere). Electricity works the same no matter where you are. If you wire a "neutral" to a light switch, you'll ground the switch, thereby destroying the switch and throwing the GFCI (RCD in UK) breaker. I was only being facitious! I apologize.

[cpsuperbrain]

It's illegal not to have a RCD now

[wildwestige]

You have pig tails on your meter tails... tut tut tut!

[quanzi1]

The most shocking thing about this video is how much weight Bugs Bunny has put on.

[pauloz386]

RCD can save your life, but merely touching a live wire or appliance won't kill you unless both hands are touching a "live" thing. Another example of a possible fatal shock would be if you had one hand on a "live" thing whilst the other hand is earthed.

RCD will only trip if there is "unbalanced" wires, so if you were to grip both active and neutral wires you would possibly die even when "protected by a RCD. This isn't recommended unless your already suffering from cardiac arrest!

[scorp1035]

Only a Dummy would deliberately touch or make contact with, a live wire, with bare hands! Most Electric Shocks are received by contact between the live and with the earth, metal pipes or ground as it's all around, and usually not insulated, it is quite rare to get a shock between live and neutral, as neutrals are insulated, but this is a good point! However this should not dilute the usefulness and excellent protection, obtained by using an RCD.

[scorp1035]

"Nothing in life is fool proof, and its impossible to make anything fool proof, because fools can be so ingenious!"

[pauloz386]

Electrical safety is important, but here in Australia, we can't even fix our own wiring unless you go to college for 5 years! (no joke)

Electrical work is so tied up here with red tape it's not funny. They even have TV advertisements showing what happens if an "unqualified" person fixes or installs a electrical fitting, they always show the DIY person dieing! They use safety as a means to operate a closed shop trade.

[scorp1035]

It's getting like that here with all the red tape,in the UK with part P of the building regs etc.Thanks Pauloz386, Etrician55, Electsafeman, and ROm3g4m, for all your comments and interest with this video,

[scorp1035]

@pauloz386 We now are tied up in Brown,blue, grey, and black tape, since they changed our colour system,

silly having black for a phase conductor when it was a neutral colour, it would have been better to have numbers 1,2,3,and N so that colur blind people could read the coding.and identify with ease what cores were which!

[Etrician55]

water is not conductive.... it is all the minerals and metals that are in it in which make it conductive.... distilled water is not at all conductive

[scorp1035]

Yes, pure water is not conductive, however tap water is and the video demo shows this when a kettle lead end is put into a glass of tap water, the leakage current makes the RCD trip! Also sweat and water makes the contact resistance of the body much lower.

Anywhere where there's water it it advisable to have added RCD protection.

And in my view RCD protection, should be mandatory on all circuits in the home! (its nearly there with the 17th addition of the wiring regs)

[electsafeman]

Date of Birth: September 14, 1942 Age: 65 Location: Indianapolis Occupation: Retired How are you related to the electrical industry?: On CMP 10 for the NEC Consultant to IPL

[scorp1035]

Like you I am retired, I have worked in the Electrical Supply Industry since I was a boy, and have had much experience with Electrical Fires, Electric Shock, Supply and Distribution. LV and HV and I wanted to get this message broadcast about RCD protection. I am completely independent from any association, or commerce, giving this message without any gain or profit.

your comments are welcome, and any debate about Electrical Safety must be good!

[R0m3g4n]

in my coutry we find it as a residual current device

[mutleymusic]

You can never be overly safe with electricity.

No animals were hurt during the making of this video but he did burn down his ex-wife's house:)