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Mark kindly uploaded a topper of a pic earlier and it struck me that we have one article that is missing on UKW and it never even struck me to look at it! The subject line and it’s so damned obvious as well!
I have done an article on the hoods and a few others of late and they do get read a bit, I also tarted up one or two that are there with pictures but if anyone does have any good cutaway drawings on their PC’s can you send me them please?
Anyway, I was looking for a volunteer to do a basic electrical safety feature that we can point people too, like how to wire a plug top and the likes. So, any takers?
K.
Re: Basic Electrical Safety
I’ll have a go at that one, anyone any suggestions of what other subjects should be added ? Other than the plug wiring as already mentioned, I am thinking extension leads, fuses… anything else?
Re: Basic Electrical Safety
What about appliances in bathrooms and the famous one of hubby buying his electric oven and electric hob from Focus and then wiring the hob through the ovens 13a terminal block before it goes to the spur.
John
Re: Basic Electrical Safety
LOL 😆
John beat me to it just as I hit the reply button.
Built in ovens and hobs do need a special mention I think Mark, I found a gas hob this week with an insulation taped (wires wound together)connection to the single built in oven it was above. Not high amperage admittedly (from the hob), but even so, no isolation switch and the heat generated behind the oven and/or below the hob could easily melt the DIY store “special offer electrical insulation tape” and certainly not in line with current legislation 😯
I would maybe suggest moving this thread to the public forums as well ?
Dave.
Re: Basic Electrical Safety
Thanks guys.
If I get it into an article form it’s easy enough to put a “Read This First” post in all the public forums similar to that which Martin did for the instruction manual ones. In fact, Martin is duly elected for the task. 😉
After that it’s then easy to refer anyone to the URL of the article for reference in the future.
I think it’s desperately important that this is done as even just the other day we had a De Deitrich oven giving off shocks to the punter, turned out they’d wired the spur it was connected to incorrectly on a new build. So much for quality electricians on site. It is also important that we share these little gems I think, you never know we may even save someone’s life one day and that can’t really be a bad thing.
I still don’t know how the hell I was remiss enough to have missed this as pretty damned obvious really. 😕
K.
Re: Basic Electrical Safety
Something like this eh guys 8)
http://www.angliacampus.com/education/fire/secondar/plug.htm
Martin
Re: Basic Electrical Safety
And Mark pullls off a blinder with….
http://www.ukwhitegoods.com/modules.php … age&pid=76
Superb stuff, I’m well impressed!
K.
Re: Basic Electrical Safety
Can someone tell me what the difference is between the subjects and intentions of this topic, and telling someone how to wire a heater or a thermostat (which is easier) etc?
My intention is not to be facitious, but to clarify the accepted wisdom on UKW that we can’t give technical info to the public. We can’t advise how to fit a motor, or which wires go where on a 3 wire thermostat, but we can advise how to wire a plug etc.
My understanding is that we can’t advise people because we cannot assess their competance to carry out the work and if they cock it up and fry – it’s our fault. This, as many will know I feel is stupid, and I actually doubt that if you give proper, clear and accurate information you can really be liable, but nether-the-less, that’s supposed to be the situation.
Re: Basic Electrical Safety
Ahh. An important distinction. If wired wrongly though, or the earth isn’t connected properly and comes out after a few months) it is still potentially dangerous.
Oh yeah and we see so many done incorrectly, Mark posted a topper of a picture the week in the gallery of one. But the thinking is that if there is a failure there the fuse will blow, the mains fuse will blow, MCB/RCD trip out before causing a life-threatening situation whereas with a repair internally it may not. The other thing you have to remember is that even disconnected from the mains, an appliance’s capacitor can still hold quite a charge and, as was pointed out to me, it’s enough to cause a pacemaker to fail. Obvioulsy you can’t go about asking for the customer’s medical history etc. before offering advice and, even if you did, you’re not qualified to make a judgement call on whether they are safe and competent to carry out a repair.
Bummer I know, but that’s the reasons.
K.
Re: Basic Electrical Safety
Hence the reason all new appliances must have a moulded plug fitted is it not ?
The trouble is the information on how to rewire and/or fit new plugs has always been in the public domain, even from Government with their safety at home campaigns and the like, so there is no point even the EU attempting to stop anyone publishing such information.
As long as it is accurately done, as in this case, there isn’t an issue and it also doesn’t invlove removing any of the appliance’s covers.
Dave.
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