LEI

Safety Tip

Misconceptions about Electricity

MisconceptionsNeutral is energized. The neutral is the return path for the electrical circuit.

Just because the NEC defines it as the grounded conductor does not mean its not energized.

Misconceptions

Overhead service drop conductors are insulated. Conductors entering the building have a black covering to protect against weathering and external damage, not insulate the voltage. High voltage conductors have a region of ionized gas around them where the electrons from the air molecules have been knocked out of their orbit and are spinning around inside the gas. Breaking the plane of the gas is equivalent to direct contact with the conductor. Recommended to stay minimum of 10 feet from overhead service drops depending on the size.

Misconceptions

Untested, unproven circuit breakers will trip every time. If circuit breakers are left in service and not operated, their chances of operating correctly decrease every year. 3-5 years: 30% chance of malfunction7-10 years: 50% chance of malfunction17-20 years: 90% chance of malfunctionDont assume a piece of equipment is going to operate properly unless its been regularly inspected, maintained and tested.

Misconceptions

Low voltage will only give you a tingle, nothing more. Typically when you are shocked, electrical current passes from our hands to our feet. The current passes through socks, shoes, flooring covering and finally reaches the ground. These layers reduce current flow through a persons body. The average man has about 1000 ohms of resistance. For 120v contact, ohms law shows 120mA of current flow. It only takes 75mA of current for a duration of 5 seconds to cause a persons heart to fibrillate.

Stay tuned for more safety tips and always remember,Think Safety!www.powersafeautomation.com psa365@powersafeautomation.com