Winter Safety & Power Outside

DeanoNZL (Adrian) · #1 27-05-2007, 07:45 PM

Hi All,
Just a quick reminder that using mains power outside without protection can be an electrifying experience!
PROTECT YOURSELF & get a "Residual Current Device"
These are available from most hardware & electrical stores and come in a variety of types from in-line adapters to power points etc.
Mine has tripped 3 times in the last month with dew on the ground & surroundings.
Take a moment, save yourself from shock

iceman (Mike) · #2 27-05-2007, 08:27 PM

Probably a good idea.. I've been thinking about whether having the powerboards outside with dew etc is a potential problem waiting to happen.

Tamtarn · #3 27-05-2007, 08:41 PM

Thanks for the advise Adrian re Residual Current Device.

Dew and powerboards are not a good combination.

RB (Andrew) · #4 27-05-2007, 09:20 PM

If you haven't done so already, please get an electrician to wire in a RCD into your main switchboard to protect your whole house !
It was the first thing I did when we moved into our property.

Cheapest life insurance you can get for your whole family's protection.
There's no excuse these days to be without one.

Great timely advice Adrian

leon · #5 27-05-2007, 09:27 PM

Totally agree, our house is fully protected as well, the slightest electrical problems and everything shuts down, could be a life saver.

Leon

rogerg (Roger) · #6 27-05-2007, 09:59 PM

I wouldn't live in a house without one of those RCD's I don't think. I've tripped ours off a couple of times, pond pump and forgotten what else now.

But I'm not the best when it comes to power safety. Ran my observatory off a 80m extention cord for several years. That tripped the fuse a few times (not RCD) due to over-draw. I now have the 21 power points in the observatory split in to 2 seperate RCD devices, it's just what the electrician did, not something I thought of.

I've never had a problem with power boards exposed to dew, and haven't ever tripped off the RCD's in the observatory.

Ric · #7 27-05-2007, 10:27 PM

A timely reminder with the Winter months coming up and definitely can be overlooked at times.

Cheers

Dujon · #8 28-05-2007, 09:30 AM

You betcha, lads and lassies. I haven't heard of an astronomical type being injured by such an event but I sure have heard of people being killed by outside Christmas lights.

240 volts is dangerous.

Please keep in mind that, for practical purposes, some power points might not be protected by a balanced current device. Typically these will be found where refrigerators (or even washing machines and other wet atmosphere equipment is involved). This is because, typically, there will be found small leakage current due to moisture (usually condensation).

If you do have a detection device installed please keep in mind that it will not cover such circuits. Should your electrician have installed things correctly then it should be clearly marked. Alas, this is not always the case. It's easy to check though (it might mean resetting a few clocks) by manually tripping the device(s) whilst leaving the main isolating switch on and ensuring that the outlet you will be using is 'dead'.

If you must use an unprotected outlet then, as already mentioned, use a protected power board or dedicated sensor between you and the outlet to give you some protection.

Adrian, a timely reminder indeed.

astro_nutt · #9 28-05-2007, 11:05 AM

Good point Adrian!..
Even though my place is fully fitted with RCD's..I'm now considering using low-voltage supplied by a lab grade transformer (1.5 to 12 volts 1 amp) kept indoors then via an underground conduit supply cable to a pier-mounted outdoor powerpoint...which is fine for me as I have 1.5 to 3 volt requirements..but when in doubt for mains power..call an expert about your power needs!
Cheers!