3 replies to this topic

[simple simon]

On Tuesday our neighbour's son came round and used his electric hedge trimmer to trim the hedge which we share between our gardens.

Alas whilst up the ladder happily trimming away he cut the cable - both live and return were cut.

This is a well known hazard which often results in people being electrocuted, however thankfully not this time.

I was in the garden when this happened and immediately before he told me that he'd cut the cable I recall hearing what sounded like a strange 'popping' noise coming from the garden shed, and upon further investigation I discovered that the earth leakage circuit breaker (also known as a residual current breaker) which when the power supply to the shed was installed I made sure was protecting the circuit for the wall sockets had tripped.

So, whilst he was of course very displeased with what he'd done, he was otherwise OK.

These electronic devices measure the current passing through both the live and return cables, and if for some reason power is going 'out' but not coming back then it assumes that there is a fault and the return current is leaking to earth via another route - such as through a human body. They are well known safety devices which everybody should use whenever using mains electric devices in the garden. Mine is wired in at the fuse box, but it is possible to buy plug-in versions which go between the plug for the appliance and the wall socket.

This was the first time since I moved here 10 years ago this device has tripped 'in anger'. It may never happen again. But once is enough to justify the minimal outlay of getting one.

Simon

Edited by simple simon, 27 June 2010 - 08:49 PM.

[skylark]

simple simon, on Jun 27 2010, 09:48 PM, said:

On Tuesday our neighbour's son came round and used his electric hedge trimmer to trim the hedge which we share between our gardens.

Alas whilst up the ladder happily trimming away he cut the cable - both live and return were cut.

This is a well known hazard which often results in people being electrocuted, however thankfully not this time.

I was in the garden when this happened and immediately before he told me that he'd cut the cable I recall hearing what sounded like a strange 'popping' noise coming from the garden shed, and upon further investigation I discovered that the earth leakage circuit breaker (also known as a residual current breaker) which when the power supply to the shed was installed I made sure was protecting the circuit for the wall sockets had tripped.

So, whilst he was of course very displeased with what he'd done, he was otherwise OK.

These electronic devices measure the current passing through both the live and return cables, and if for some reason power is going 'out' but not coming back then it assumes that there is a fault and the return current is leaking to earth via another route - such as through a human body. They are well known safety devices which everybody should use whenever using mains electric devices in the garden. Mine is wired in at the fuse box, but it is possible to buy plug-in versions which go between the plug for the appliance and the wall socket.

This was the first time since I moved here 10 years ago this device has tripped 'in anger'. It may never happen again. But once is enough to justify the minimal outlay of getting one.

Simon

*Great personal story Simon,
...Like that...good mental pictures, step by step, and cautions. What...no photos? Joking/Thanks/'S'

[hyundisonata]

Yip not something to be taken lightly. Simple cheap gizmos that save lives and prevent fires. although saying that lol , I am still trying to find out why my motherboard exploded sending bits every where but my power supply and surge protector where still working. Totally destroyed it so had to be a surge or dirty power of some kind.

[Yaeger]

This happened to me a couple of times as well. But nothing serious happened, because I have a circuit breaker in the fusebox. I got my place re-wired exactly 21 years ago and the circuit breaker was put in then, meaning, that they are available for a very long time.