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leaving conductors exposed

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s

unread,
Dec 11, 2010, 9:12:01 AM12/11/10
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i got a desk lamp from ebay like the one in the image link below. the
bulb is held up by two adjustable telescopic rods, exactly the same
type as you would find on the aerial of a FM radio. they are metal.

i saw the double insulated symbol on the bottom, which go me thinking.
how did they get the wiring through these rods double insulated, they
are pretty thin. then i examined the rods. they had joints in them.
they werent even hollow! there was no wiring. they were the
conductors.

a quick check with the meter gave 20V AC. thats how it was designed
to light the bulb .

my question is can you have the double insulated symbol on a product
with exposed 20V AC conductors?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31506127@N03/3033028166


if interested this is a description of a similar product , which shows
the conductors are exposed by design:
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/5265000.html

Dave Plowman (News)

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Dec 11, 2010, 9:25:31 AM12/11/10
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In article
<2a2eb7c7-a29d-4939...@g26g2000vbi.googlegroups.com>,

s <yma...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> i got a desk lamp from ebay like the one in the image link below. the
> bulb is held up by two adjustable telescopic rods, exactly the same
> type as you would find on the aerial of a FM radio. they are metal.

> i saw the double insulated symbol on the bottom, which go me thinking.
> how did they get the wiring through these rods double insulated, they
> are pretty thin. then i examined the rods. they had joints in them.
> they werent even hollow! there was no wiring. they were the
> conductors.

> a quick check with the meter gave 20V AC. thats how it was designed
> to light the bulb .

> my question is can you have the double insulated symbol on a product
> with exposed 20V AC conductors?

I'd guess because 20 volt AC is considered safe. A 20 volt AC power supply
could also have output terminals etc which wouldn't conform to mains etc
voltages. The 'double insulation' is to help prevent mains appearing on
parts you can touch easily.

BTW, it's more likely to be approx 12v under load.

--
*I believe five out of four people have trouble with fractions. *

Dave Plowman da...@davenoise.co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

William Sommerwerck

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Dec 11, 2010, 9:42:13 AM12/11/10
to
> Can you have the double-insulated symbol on

> a product with exposed 20V AC conductors?

Because humans aren't likely to be electrocuted by 20V, AC or DC.

But this does raise a question... What about insulation between the primary
and secondary windings? Its failure could put line voltage on the secondary.


Dave Plowman (News)

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Dec 11, 2010, 9:56:00 AM12/11/10
to
In article <ie02jm$8h2$1...@news.eternal-september.org>,

Depends on transformer design - assuming it does use one.

--
*For every action, there is an equal and opposite criticism *

mike

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Dec 11, 2010, 3:01:28 PM12/11/10
to
Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
> In article
> <2a2eb7c7-a29d-4939...@g26g2000vbi.googlegroups.com>,
> s <yma...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>> i got a desk lamp from ebay like the one in the image link below. the
>> bulb is held up by two adjustable telescopic rods, exactly the same
>> type as you would find on the aerial of a FM radio. they are metal.
>
>> i saw the double insulated symbol on the bottom, which go me thinking.
>> how did they get the wiring through these rods double insulated, they
>> are pretty thin. then i examined the rods. they had joints in them.
>> they werent even hollow! there was no wiring. they were the
>> conductors.
>
>> a quick check with the meter gave 20V AC. thats how it was designed
>> to light the bulb .
>
>> my question is can you have the double insulated symbol on a product
>> with exposed 20V AC conductors?
>
> I'd guess because 20 volt AC is considered safe. A 20 volt AC power supply
> could also have output terminals etc which wouldn't conform to mains etc
> voltages. The 'double insulation' is to help prevent mains appearing on
> parts you can touch easily.
>
> BTW, it's more likely to be approx 12v under load.
>

Ok, but how did it make it past the "fire hazard" category.
It's surely a source of ignition when you knock it over onto
a pair of scissors on the desk.

Methinks the inspector was either asleep or out cruising in the Beemer
he bought with the payoffs.

Dave Plowman (News)

unread,
Dec 11, 2010, 7:08:08 PM12/11/10
to
In article <ie0lc2$qml$1...@news.eternal-september.org>,

mike <spa...@go.com> wrote:
> > I'd guess because 20 volt AC is considered safe. A 20 volt AC power
> > supply could also have output terminals etc which wouldn't conform to
> > mains etc voltages. The 'double insulation' is to help prevent mains
> > appearing on parts you can touch easily.
> >
> > BTW, it's more likely to be approx 12v under load.
> >

> Ok, but how did it make it past the "fire hazard" category.
> It's surely a source of ignition when you knock it over onto
> a pair of scissors on the desk.

A fuse somewhere?

> Methinks the inspector was either asleep or out cruising in the Beemer
> he bought with the payoffs.

Think you're worrying too much.

--
*Constipated People Don't Give A Crap*

Michael A. Terrell

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Dec 11, 2010, 10:31:45 PM12/11/10
to


There are high isolation transformers with the windings on separate
bobbins. The efficiency is lower than traditional overlaid winding, but
the two windings aren't close enough for anything less than a lightning
strike from reaching the secondary and there isn't any design that is
safe from a direct strike.


--
For the last time: I am not a mad scientist, I'm just a very ticked off
scientist!!!

Cydrome Leader

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Dec 11, 2010, 11:56:07 PM12/11/10
to
s <yma...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> i got a desk lamp from ebay like the one in the image link below. the
> bulb is held up by two adjustable telescopic rods, exactly the same
> type as you would find on the aerial of a FM radio. they are metal.
>
> i saw the double insulated symbol on the bottom, which go me thinking.
> how did they get the wiring through these rods double insulated, they
> are pretty thin. then i examined the rods. they had joints in them.
> they werent even hollow! there was no wiring. they were the
> conductors.
>
> a quick check with the meter gave 20V AC. thats how it was designed
> to light the bulb .
>
> my question is can you have the double insulated symbol on a product
> with exposed 20V AC conductors?

that's if you believe the markings on the product in the first place.

Can you measure the leakage from either of the antennae to ground?

Dave Plowman (News)

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Dec 12, 2010, 4:34:29 AM12/12/10
to
In article <lsudnfyFHa-p35nQ...@earthlink.com>,

Michael A. Terrell <mike.t...@earthlink.net> wrote:

> There are high isolation transformers with the windings on separate
> bobbins. The efficiency is lower than traditional overlaid winding, but
> the two windings aren't close enough for anything less than a lightning
> strike from reaching the secondary and there isn't any design that is
> safe from a direct strike.

Indeed. Often called 'medical quality'.

--
*I don't work here. I'm a consultant

Phil Allison

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Dec 12, 2010, 7:56:46 PM12/12/10
to

"mike"

>
> Ok, but how did it make it past the "fire hazard" category.

** The design of the transformer prevents any fire or electrocution hazard.


> It's surely a source of ignition when you knock it over onto
> a pair of scissors on the desk.

** Shorting the secondary winding is one of the tests carried out when
certifying a transformer as "class 2" or double insulated. The unit must not
overheat or burn to the extent that primary and secondary circuits can
become fused.

Most often this is achieved by adding a thermal fuse to the primary circuit
that will open if the winding temp reaches a point that could damage the
insulation used to make the tranny - about 120C in most examples.

Some older designs used fireproof insulation between the primary and
secondary and the winding were contained on separate halves of a plastic
bobbin. Such a tranny could smoke and burn but still not present an
electrocution hazard.


.... Phil


Phil Allison

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Dec 12, 2010, 8:07:25 PM12/12/10
to

"Cydrome Leader"

>>
>> my question is can you have the double insulated symbol on a product
>> with exposed 20V AC conductors?
>
> that's if you believe the markings on the product in the first place.


** The double square symbol is one that any maker can simply apply
themselves - in most places no lab testing would be involved. It is on the
maker's head if the product does not comply with all class 2 safety rules
and is unsafe.

In this case however, the presence of a "one shot " thermal fuse in the
primary winding of the AC tranny will do the job ALONG with split bobbin
construction.


.... Phil


mike

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Dec 12, 2010, 10:51:09 PM12/12/10
to
Ok, but what about the spark that happens when you knock it over
while refilling your butane torch? Or when you just cleaned a part
with alcohol. Dumb design!!!
Safety design is a LOT more than just the obvious.
There'd be a lot fewer houses burned to the ground if only engineers
thought more about how their products are used and the hazards
caused by confluence of circumstance.
Did I mention...DUMB DESIGN!!

Michael A. Terrell

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Dec 12, 2010, 11:02:11 PM12/12/10
to


I nominate you for a Darwin Award. The timing is up to you.

Phil Allison

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Dec 12, 2010, 11:16:32 PM12/12/10
to

"mike"

> Safety design is a LOT more than just the obvious.
> There'd be a lot fewer houses burned to the ground if only engineers
> thought more about how their products are used and the hazards
> caused by confluence of circumstance.
> Did I mention...DUMB DESIGN!!


** Never put a 9 volt alkaline battery in the same pocket as your keys.....

.... Phil


mike

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Dec 13, 2010, 1:59:13 AM12/13/10
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At least don't fart if you do.

mm

unread,
Dec 15, 2010, 3:59:55 AM12/15/10
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On Sun, 12 Dec 2010 09:34:29 +0000 (GMT), "Dave Plowman (News)"
<da...@davenoise.co.uk> wrote:

>In article <lsudnfyFHa-p35nQ...@earthlink.com>,
> Michael A. Terrell <mike.t...@earthlink.net> wrote:
>
>> There are high isolation transformers with the windings on separate
>> bobbins. The efficiency is lower than traditional overlaid winding, but
>> the two windings aren't close enough for anything less than a lightning
>> strike from reaching the secondary and there isn't any design that is
>> safe from a direct strike.
>
>Indeed. Often called 'medical quality'.

There was a guy in the steel mill I worked at (in the office) who was
killed by his table radio, iirc, It's a little rough in the mills,
the computer monitors and keyboards got very dirty, but I'm still
surprised the radio killed him.. After that, they wouldn't let us use
any radio or fan unless it had a 3-prong plug (and presumably 3 wires,
one of them grounding the chassis. I was a contractor and wan't going
to play games by pretending to have a grounded appliance when I
didn't, so I gave up on the fan and brought in a transistor radio.)

As to the risk here, I routinely touch both clips of the 1-amp 12 votl
battery charger I have. I havent' done that with the 8 amp charger,
probably because the phrase "8 amp" scares me, but it shoudln't and
tomorrow I will, I'll even find some alcohol to spark in. If I don't
post back, it means my house burned down and took my computer and me
with it.

Dave Plowman (News)

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Dec 15, 2010, 4:21:30 AM12/15/10
to
In article <aj0hg65q8716asl7t...@4ax.com>,

mm <NOPSAM...@bigfoot.com> wrote:
> As to the risk here, I routinely touch both clips of the 1-amp 12 votl
> battery charger I have. I havent' done that with the 8 amp charger,
> probably because the phrase "8 amp" scares me, but it shoudln't and
> tomorrow I will, I'll even find some alcohol to spark in. If I don't
> post back, it means my house burned down and took my computer and me
> with it.

It only takes a few milliamps to kill you. Assuming the current has a path
to a vital organ, like the heart.

Of course many modern car battery chargers have a relay on their output
with the coil operated by the battery - via a diode - to prevent damage to
the charger if it's connected with the wrong polarity. Which also means
it's less likely you'll touch the connectors when they're live.

A powered up but disconnected battery charger of a basic design might well
present a greater 'hazard' than when connected to the battery as the open
circuit voltage could be much higher than the nominal 12 volts.

--
*Marathon runners with bad footwear suffer the agony of defeat*

lsmartino

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Dec 15, 2010, 4:46:41 AM12/15/10
to

But you bought a chinese no name "design" lamp, with chinese
construction "quality" and chinese design "aspect" and you pretend
that this lamp should be properly designed??? I bet you that the
creator of that "jewel" isn´t even an engineer.

If you don´t fell comfortable with the lamp, and I wouldn´t BTW, just
trash it.

lsmartino

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Dec 15, 2010, 4:48:55 AM12/15/10
to
On 15 dic, 05:21, "Dave Plowman (News)" <d...@davenoise.co.uk> wrote:
> In article <aj0hg65q8716asl7teltu2vlg1jrahf...@4ax.com>,
>     Dave Plowman        d...@davenoise.co.uk           London SW

>                   To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Certainly you can be killed with a few milliamps, but only if the
voltage is 60V or higher.

Dave Plowman (News)

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Dec 15, 2010, 5:13:21 AM12/15/10
to
In article
<c0aabc33-2c52-4ca9...@k22g2000yqh.googlegroups.com>,

lsmartino <luisma...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > It only takes a few milliamps to kill you. Assuming the current has a
> > path to a vital organ, like the heart.

> Certainly you can be killed with a few milliamps, but only if the


> voltage is 60V or higher.

Current flow depends on resistance as well as voltage. And when talking
about the human body that resistance will vary by a huge amount depending
on many factors.

60 volts isn't considered 'safe' anywhere I know of. About half that is
the accepted norm.

--
*Give me ambiguity or give me something else.

Dave Plowman da...@davenoise.co.uk London SW

William Sommerwerck

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Dec 15, 2010, 8:52:33 AM12/15/10
to
>> As to the risk here, I routinely touch both clips of the 1-amp 12 volt

>> battery charger I have. I havent' done that with the 8 amp charger,
>> probably because the phrase "8 amp" scares me, but it shoudln't
>> and tomorrow I will, I'll even find some alcohol to spark in. If I
don't
>> post back, it means my house burned down and took my computer
>> and me with it.

> It only takes a few milliamps to kill you. Assuming the current
> has a path to a vital organ, like the heart.

It takes about 100mA through the heart to kill you.

Guys, a battery charger is not a constant-current device! It provides only
the current determined by its charging voltage (which I assume starts at
around 14V) and your skin resistance, which even when your hands are wet, is
no lower than a few thousand ohms.

YOU CANNOT BE ELCTROCUTED BY THE OUTPUT OF A CAR-BATTERY CHARGER.


William Sommerwerck

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Dec 15, 2010, 8:55:52 AM12/15/10
to
> Certainly you can be killed with a few milliamps,
> but only if the voltage is 60V or higher.

Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong. The voltage has nothing whatever to do
with electrocution (other than affecting how much current flows). ONLY THE
CURRENT MATTERS.

You cannot be killed "with a few milliamps". The thresholds are known, and
the lethal level is at about 100mA through the heart.

I can't believe the participants in /this/ group aren't more familiar with
electrical safety.


William Sommerwerck

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Dec 15, 2010, 8:57:37 AM12/15/10
to
> 60 volts isn't considered 'safe' anywhere I know of.
> About half that is the accepted norm.

60V is not lethal (unless, perhaps, the electrodes were under the skin). It
can, however, deliver a nasty shock, which can provoke a fall, or bumping
into something that really is dangerous.


Dave Plowman (News)

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Dec 15, 2010, 9:50:38 AM12/15/10
to
In article <ieahch$hc0$1...@news.eternal-september.org>,

William Sommerwerck <grizzle...@comcast.net> wrote:
> > Certainly you can be killed with a few milliamps,
> > but only if the voltage is 60V or higher.

> Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong. The voltage has nothing whatever to
> do with electrocution (other than affecting how much current flows).
> ONLY THE CURRENT MATTERS.

That bit is correct.

> You cannot be killed "with a few milliamps". The thresholds are known,
> and the lethal level is at about 100mA through the heart.

The actual amount will vary from person to person. That may well be an
average. How many 'milliamps' on average does 'your' electric chair seek
to achieve to be fairly certain of killing someone without blowing them
apart?

> I can't believe the participants in /this/ group aren't more familiar
> with electrical safety.

Electrical safety standards vary between countries. And over the years.
The only truly safe advice is not to touch anything live.

--
*Why is it considered necessary to screw down the lid of a coffin?

Dave Plowman da...@davenoise.co.uk London SW

William Sommerwerck

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Dec 15, 2010, 10:26:33 AM12/15/10
to
> How many 'milliamps' on average does 'your' electric chair
> seek to achieve to be fairly certain of killing someone
> without blowing them apart?

That's one of the problems with electric chairs -- they don't work the way
they're supposed to. They do a better job of slowly frying the criminal,
rather than quickly stopping his heart.

I'll have to write a new version of Gilbert... "The criminal fried..."


>> I can't believe the participants in /this/ group aren't
>> more familiar with electrical safety.

> Electrical safety standards vary between countries.

I was talking about safety, not safety standards or regulations.


lsmartino

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Dec 15, 2010, 10:38:19 AM12/15/10
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On 15 dic, 09:55, "William Sommerwerck" <grizzledgee...@comcast.net>
wrote:

Human skin has a resistance between 1K and 6K, and that resistante
varies with the voltage aplied to skin. This table supplied by the IEC
indicates that human skin electrical resistance varies as follows:


Voltage 5% 50% 95%
25 V 1,750 Ω 3,250 Ω 6,100 Ω
100 V 1,200 Ω 1,875 Ω 3,200 Ω
220 V 1,000 Ω 1,350 Ω 2,125 Ω
1000 V 700 Ω 1,050 Ω 1,500 Ω

The 5%, 50%, and 95% columns represents the distribution of the
population percentile per measurement.

Now lets assume that you have a voltage source of 24V. According to
the above table your body impedance can be anywhere between 1,750 and
6,100 ohms at that voltage level. Using omhs law, and aplying the
lowest impedance, your body will draw only 13 mA. That´s why a 24V
battery WILL NOT kill anyone, no matter what is the aH capacity of the
battery, nor the maximum current available from the battery at a given
time. You body will only draw 0,013 mA from it. And also that´s the
reason no one gets killed when the touch the posts of a 12V car
battery.

Now lets repeat the calculations supossing that we have a voltage
source of 60V. Using again the table, and taking the lowest impedance
possible (1200 ohms), the amount of current that will be drawn by the
human skin would be 50 mA. OK, for sure that will be a painful
experience but no one will get killed from a 60V source... except if
the person is wet. In that case, the impedance will be lower.

The point I am trying to make here is that while is true that a 100 mA
current is lethal, you have to provide a voltage level high enough to
your body in order to make draw 100 mA. Voltage levels under 60V will
not kill anybody unless the person decides to put electrodes under the
skin, or the skin is wet.

William Sommerwerck

unread,
Dec 15, 2010, 11:07:25 AM12/15/10
to
> Human skin has a resistance between 1K and 6K, and
> that resistance varies with the voltage aplied to skin.

That's a way-low value. Try grabbing the probes of a DVM.

The actual resistance varies with the skin's wetness, the area covered, and
whether the skin has been penetrated.


lsmartino

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Dec 15, 2010, 11:44:12 AM12/15/10
to
On 15 dic, 12:07, "William Sommerwerck" <grizzledgee...@comcast.net>
wrote:

Certainly a DVM will show a body impedance of 20K or more, but please
take into account that a DVM will, at most cases, apply 1.5V or 3V to
the test probes, and skin impedance is inversely proportional to the
voltage applied to it.

See this article:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_shock

"The voltage necessary for electrocution depends on the current
through the body and the duration of the current. Ohm's law states
that the current drawn depends on the resistance of the body. The
resistance of human skin varies from person to person and fluctuates
between different times of day. The NIOSH states "Under dry
conditions, the resistance offered by the human body may be as high as
100,000 Ohms. Wet or broken skin may drop the body's resistance to
1,000 Ohms," adding that "high-voltage electrical energy quickly
breaks down human skin, reducing the human body's resistance to 500
Ohms."[9]

The International Electrotechnical Commission gives the following
values for the total body impedance of a hand to hand circuit for dry
skin, large contact areas, 50 Hz AC currents (the columns contain the
distribution of the impedance in the population percentile; for
example at 100 V 50% of the population had an impedance of 1875Ω or
less):[10]

Voltage 5% 50% 95%
25 V 1,750 Ω 3,250 Ω 6,100 Ω
100 V 1,200 Ω 1,875 Ω 3,200 Ω
220 V 1,000 Ω 1,350 Ω 2,125 Ω
1000 V 700 Ω 1,050 Ω 1,500 Ω "

Notice that depending on the amount of voltage applied to the skin, it
resistance decreases. That´s why a DVM will show a higher impedance
than the one that is published in the table.

Summarizing: we agree that current is what kills, but in order to make
your body draw that amount of current, you need a high enough voltage.
Voltages under 60V are unlikely to kill anyone, unless the person is
applying electricity directly through an open wound. Just do the math.

Michael A. Terrell

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Dec 15, 2010, 12:18:41 PM12/15/10
to

lsmartino wrote:
>
> Summarizing: we agree that current is what kills, but in order to make
> your body draw that amount of current, you need a high enough voltage.
> Voltages under 60V are unlikely to kill anyone, unless the person is
> applying electricity directly through an open wound. Just do the math.


A humman body doesn't 'draw current'. It 'passes current' if you are
in a circuit.

Dave Plowman (News)

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Dec 15, 2010, 1:12:47 PM12/15/10
to
In article <ieammh$5im$1...@news.eternal-september.org>,

William Sommerwerck <grizzle...@comcast.net> wrote:
> > How many 'milliamps' on average does 'your' electric chair
> > seek to achieve to be fairly certain of killing someone
> > without blowing them apart?

> That's one of the problems with electric chairs -- they don't work the
> way they're supposed to. They do a better job of slowly frying the
> criminal, rather than quickly stopping his heart.

> I'll have to write a new version of Gilbert... "The criminal fried..."

;-)


> >> I can't believe the participants in /this/ group aren't
> >> more familiar with electrical safety.

> > Electrical safety standards vary between countries.

> I was talking about safety, not safety standards or regulations.

Indeed. To you or me it seems so simple.

--
*Lottery: A tax on people who are bad at math.

Dave Plowman (News)

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Dec 15, 2010, 1:16:34 PM12/15/10
to
In article <ieap35$t40$1...@news.eternal-september.org>,

Then there's me. Thick skinned. As you have to be to post to a US group
from the UK.

I'd guess they are measuring through the skin - from front to back as it
were. But of course it varies in thickness according to where it is in on
the body.

--
*Confession is good for the soul, but bad for your career.

Dave Plowman da...@davenoise.co.uk London SW

lsmartino

unread,
Dec 15, 2010, 2:04:18 PM12/15/10
to
On 15 dic, 13:18, "Michael A. Terrell" <mike.terr...@earthlink.net>
wrote:

Certainly. My mistake.

Ian Jackson

unread,
Dec 15, 2010, 3:11:00 PM12/15/10
to
In message
<eb8374f6-3754-471d...@z17g2000prz.googlegroups.com>,
lsmartino <luisma...@gmail.com> writes

It's not a mistake at all. To 'draw current' is a common figure of
speech. A resistor, connected across a battery, by passing current, will
'draw current' from the battery.
--
Ian

mm

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Dec 15, 2010, 4:43:52 PM12/15/10
to
On Wed, 15 Dec 2010 09:21:30 +0000 (GMT), "Dave Plowman (News)"
<da...@davenoise.co.uk> wrote:

>In article <aj0hg65q8716asl7t...@4ax.com>,
> mm <NOPSAM...@bigfoot.com> wrote:
>> As to the risk here, I routinely touch both clips of the 1-amp 12 votl
>> battery charger I have. I havent' done that with the 8 amp charger,
>> probably because the phrase "8 amp" scares me, but it shoudln't and

BTW, I know that an 8 amp charger won't put any more current through
me than a one amp charger. Maybe I don't hold both claimps at once
because they are big and ugly and and "zinc"-coated and seem dirty
even when they're not, and much harrder to hold in one hand than the
other little ones, and they are on separate wires instead of
two-conductor wire that splits only a few inches from the clamps, like
he little charger.

>> tomorrow I will, I'll even find some alcohol to spark in. If I don't
>> post back, it means my house burned down and took my computer and me
>> with it.
>
>It only takes a few milliamps to kill you. Assuming the current has a path
>to a vital organ, like the heart.

The body gives thousands of ohms resistance, even when one's fingers
are wet.

Has anyone every been killed by 12-volts, DC or AC? I doubt it.


>
>Of course many modern car battery chargers have a relay on their output
>with the coil operated by the battery - via a diode - to prevent damage to
>the charger if it's connected with the wrong polarity. Which also means
>it's less likely you'll touch the connectors when they're live.
>
>A powered up but disconnected battery charger of a basic design might well
>present a greater 'hazard' than when connected to the battery as the open
>circuit voltage could be much higher than the nominal 12 volts.

20 volts.

mm

unread,
Dec 15, 2010, 4:51:33 PM12/15/10
to

Thanks for recommending the Powermid pyramid remote extender. I got
one and it works great. I'm going to get more for other rooms.

I knew about it, but hadn't had a personal recommendation before.

Sort of ironic, since my Leapfrog IR-45 was finally working pretty
well on all 3 floors, but the Powermid is even quite a bit better.

On Wed, 15 Dec 2010 05:55:52 -0800, "William Sommerwerck"
<grizzle...@comcast.net> wrote:

>> Certainly you can be killed with a few milliamps,
>> but only if the voltage is 60V or higher.
>
>Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong. The voltage has nothing whatever to do
>with electrocution (other than affecting how much current flows). ONLY THE
>CURRENT MATTERS.

Except that the current is directly proportional to the voltage, so I
don't think it's fair to say the votage ahs nothing whatever to do it
with it.

And you can only apply voltage. You don't know how much current will
go through most things until there is a voltage across it either from
an ohmmeter or some power supply.

No offense meant, but I'm reminded of a JHS science teacher who said
that water had nothing to do with rust, because the formula for rust
production is Fe + 02 = Fe02 (or something like that) and water isn't
in it. Even though everyone can tell that wet things rust much more
than dry things.

Other than this, I agree with your posts.

mike

unread,
Dec 15, 2010, 5:37:27 PM12/15/10
to

Well...
I didn't buy it.
The issue is not about the buyer's ability to determine the safety
of a Chinese lamp.
The issue is about the certification agencies who have the device in their
lab for qualification.
Their JOB is to protect me from harm.
They should not have qualified such a device.
You may feel otherwise, that's your right.

mike

unread,
Dec 15, 2010, 5:47:52 PM12/15/10
to
Michael A. Terrell wrote:
> lsmartino wrote:
>> Summarizing: we agree that current is what kills, but in order to make
>> your body draw that amount of current, you need a high enough voltage.
>> Voltages under 60V are unlikely to kill anyone, unless the person is
>> applying electricity directly through an open wound. Just do the math.
>
>
> A humman body doesn't 'draw current'. It 'passes current' if you are
> in a circuit.
>
>

That's a "creative" interpretation.

To get current, you must have volts.
Power = volts x amps.
So, where does that power end up?
And how do you rationalize a useful distinction between
"drawing" and "passing"?

mike

unread,
Dec 15, 2010, 5:52:37 PM12/15/10
to
That statement suggests a misguided interpretation of "certainty".
I doubt you've considered ALL possibilities.
"unlikely" might be a better word than "cannot" for use in that
sentence.

Dave Plowman (News)

unread,
Dec 15, 2010, 6:26:41 PM12/15/10
to
In article <iebg0j$50d$1...@news.eternal-september.org>,

mike <spa...@go.com> wrote:
> > But you bought a chinese no name "design" lamp, with chinese
> > construction "quality" and chinese design "aspect" and you pretend
> > that this lamp should be properly designed??? I bet you that the
> > creator of that "jewel" isn´t even an engineer.
> >
> > If you don´t fell comfortable with the lamp, and I wouldn´t BTW, just
> > trash it.

> Well... I didn't buy it. The issue is not about the buyer's ability to
> determine the safety of a Chinese lamp. The issue is about the
> certification agencies who have the device in their lab for
> qualification. Their JOB is to protect me from harm. They should not
> have qualified such a device. You may feel otherwise, that's your right.

I've got three of those design lamps here. Bought many years ago. Didn't
know they'd come back into fashion. I'm no more worried about using them
than I worry about having a PP3 battery with the terminals exposed...

--
*Is it true that cannibals don't eat clowns because they taste funny?

William Sommerwerck

unread,
Dec 15, 2010, 6:32:13 PM12/15/10
to
>> YOU CANNOT BE ELCTROCUTED BY THE
>> OUTPUT OF A CAR-BATTERY CHARGER.

> That statement suggests a misguided interpretation of
> "certainty". I doubt you've considered ALL possibilities.
> "unlikely" might be a better word than "cannot" for use
> in that sentence.

You're right in principle, but it's difficult to think of /any/ situation in
which 14 volts could pump enough current through a human body to kill its
owner. You'd need a net resistance (across the heart) of 140 ohms. Not
likely.


Brenda Ann

unread,
Dec 15, 2010, 6:55:22 PM12/15/10
to

"William Sommerwerck" wrote in message
news:iebj55$819$1...@news.eternal-september.org...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A direct current path through the heart (e.g. attached electrodes) will
cause fibrillation at as little as 10uA. A somewhat less detailed
description is found in Wikipedia:

Ventricular fibrillation
A domestic power supply voltage (110 or 230 V), 50 or 60 Hz AC current
through the chest for a fraction of a second may induce ventricular
fibrillation at currents as low as 60 mA. With DC, 300 to 500 mA is
required. If the current has a direct pathway to the heart (e.g., via a
cardiac catheter or other kind of electrode), a much lower current of less
than 1 mA (AC or DC) can cause fibrillation. If not immediately treated by
defibrillation, fibrillations are usually lethal because all the heart
muscle cells move independently instead of in the coordinated pulses needed
to pump blood to maintain circulation. Above 200 mA, muscle contractions are
so strong that the heart muscles cannot move at all.

lsmartino

unread,
Dec 15, 2010, 7:17:49 PM12/15/10
to
> You may feel otherwise, that's your right.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Take into account the fact that fake electrical chinese products
almost always have fake certification labels. I have seen countless of
useless power strip with fake UL labels, or badly constructed computer
cases with a fake CE seal stamped over the chassis. I have seen even
fake circuit breakers made in China with UL marks, so don´t assume
that a poor quality electrical chinese product has been properly
inspected just because it bears a UL or CE label.

lsmartino

unread,
Dec 15, 2010, 7:20:59 PM12/15/10
to
> sentence.- Hide quoted text -

>
> - Show quoted text -

Can you illustrate a real life situation where a 12V battery
electrocutes a human being? I posted a skin resistance table that
makes that possibility higly unlikely.

Spehro Pefhany

unread,
Dec 15, 2010, 10:02:03 PM12/15/10
to

Unless it is defective.


Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany
--
"it's the network..." "The Journey is the reward"
sp...@interlog.com Info for manufacturers: http://www.trexon.com
Embedded software/hardware/analog Info for designers: http://www.speff.com

Wild_Bill

unread,
Dec 16, 2010, 1:07:40 AM12/16/10
to
Maybe you're not familiar with the expression.. Never Say Never.

Being a repair newsgroup, many folks have likely encountered damaged battery
chargers, and not knowing every possible fault, including improper previous
repairs, one never knows if an electrical device has a fatal fault or not
until it's been examined and tested.

Nearly every electronic equipment service manual printed in the last 40
years (at least), includes a method to test line operated equipment for
hazardous leakage levels that can be fatal.
Safe levels of leakage for line operated equipment fall within the uA
microamp range.. that's Less than a mA milliamp.

I believe that actual current threshold determined to be hazardous is about
35mA, across the heart, which can interrupt normal heart rythyms.

So, with a small voltage applied to fingers of one hand with the other hand
grounded, the additional skin resistance of the arms will decrease the
possibility of a fatal shock.
That same voltage, applied to points near the heart will increase the
possibility of a fatal shock.

By following standard safe practices, one can be confident that they are
working safely.. one hand in pocket, standing on dry, insulated material,
good lighting, concentrating on what you're doing with no distractions or
practical jokers around.. and one of my own personal habits which is to not
have anyone standing behind you. You can't see or predict that person's
movements, so tell 'em to move where you can see them.

FWIW, a number of years ago there was a safety recall of some Dewalt
cordless power tool battery chargers (not a car battery charger), because
one of the battery terminals was not isolated from the AC line (by poor
design).
That model definitely presented a deadly fault, so don't always expect that
new items are perfectly safe, either.

--
Cheers,
WB
.............


"William Sommerwerck" <grizzle...@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:ieah69$f67$1...@news.eternal-september.org...

William Sommerwerck

unread,
Dec 16, 2010, 7:39:28 AM12/16/10
to
> Maybe you're not familiar with the expression.. Never Say Never.

We were not talking about defective equipment. Yes, OBVIOUSLY, defective
products can electrocute you. And it's good sense not to do things that
might expose you to equipment faults.

Many years back I had a GE toast-r-oven repaired, and the tech didn't check
the leakage. When I accidentally touched the toaster and the faucet, I got a
shock. Removing the metal side panel showed that a bare wire was touching
the metal.


Dave Plowman (News)

unread,
Dec 16, 2010, 11:11:40 AM12/16/10
to
In article <ied197$tpi$1...@news.eternal-september.org>,

William Sommerwerck <grizzle...@comcast.net> wrote:
> Many years back I had a GE toast-r-oven repaired, and the tech didn't
> check the leakage. When I accidentally touched the toaster and the
> faucet, I got a shock. Removing the metal side panel showed that a bare
> wire was touching the metal.

I've never quite understood why such things aren't grounded in the US? Or
perhaps they are now?

--
*A bartender is just a pharmacist with a limited inventory.

William Sommerwerck

unread,
Dec 16, 2010, 12:09:49 PM12/16/10
to
>> Many years back I had a GE toast-r-oven repaired, and
>> the tech didn't check the leakage. When I accidentally
>> touched the toaster and the faucet, I got a shock.
>> Removing the metal side panel showed that a bare wire
>> was touching the metal.

> I've never quite understood why such things aren't grounded
> in the US? Or perhaps they are now?

The product was purchased 35 years ago. Household appliances generally did
not have chassis grounds.


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