ELECTRICAL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

There  are  certain  safety  precautions  you should  observe  when  working  with  or  around electrical  appliances  and  equipment.  The following are some of the most common electrical safety precautions:

Personnel Safety

• Observe and follow all pertinent instructions and electric warning signs.
• Observe all safety precautions regarding portable electric lights and tools.  (Use rubber gloves and goggles.)
• Do not touch or operate any device that has a danger or caution tag attached without first contacting an authorized person.
• Do not go behind electrical switchboards.
• Do  not  touch  bare  electric  wires  or connections;  assume  all  circuits  to  be ALIVE.
• Do not remove steam tight globes from lighting fixtures.
• Don’t remove a plug from a power point by pulling on the cord; pull the plug instead.
• Switch off electrical items that are not in regular use at the plug and ensure that when we are away from the house for any length of time that you unplug and switch off electrical items as items left plugged in can be a fire risk and waste energy if left on standby.

• Do not use any electrical items in the bathroom unless specifically designed for use there, eg. Shavers and electric toothbrushes. Even with these items however, take care not to get wet and avoid plugging and unplugging with wet hands.

• Do not use items with damaged cords so that the wires are exposed. Either repair or replace. Check items regularly. 

• Do not use damaged sockets, replace with care when necessary. 

• Ensure any electrical items are approved standard when purchasing and keep them correctly maintained where necessary. Look for the BEAB seal of approval.

• Use the correct wattage light bulb for all light fittings.

• Circuit breakers and fuses should be the correct size current rating for their circuit

Top 10 Rules for Home Electric Safety

1. DON'T plug a bunch of stuff into one outlet or extension cord. It could damage the 

    electrical system in your house or even cause a fire.

2. DO ask grown-ups to put safety caps on all unused electrical outlets.

Covering outlets will also help save energy by stopping cold drafts.

3. DON'T yank an electrical cord from the wall.

Pulling on a cord can damage the appliance, the plug or the outlet.

4. DO make sure all electric cords are tucked away, neat and tidy.

Pets might chew on electrical cords, and people might trip and fall.

5. DO ask a grown-up for help when you need to use something that uses electricity.

6. DO look up and look out for power lines before you climb a tree.

   The electricity can go right through the tree branch - and right through you!

7. DON'T ever climb the fence around an electrical substation.

If a ball or pet gets inside the fence, ask a grown-up to call the electric company - they'll come and get it out for you.

8. DO remind your mom or dad to watch out for power lines when they're using a ladder, chainsaw or other outdoor equipment.

9. DO keep electrical stuff far away from water.

Most electrical accidents around the house happen when people use electricity near water.

10. DON'T fly a kite near power lines.

The kite and the string may conduct electricity - sending it right through you to the ground.

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COMMON ELECTRICAL TROUBLES IN THE CIRCUIT

GROUNDED – when a shock hazard is present causes by a leakage or excessive currents.

Ground Fault Interrupter

Ground fault interrupters are designed to protect from electrical shock by interrupting a household circuit when there is a difference in the currents in the "hot" and neutral wires. Such a difference indicates that an abnormal diversion of current from the "hot" wire is occurring. Such a current might be flowing in the ground wire, such as a leakage current from a motor or from capacitors. More importantly, that current diversion may be occurring because a person has come into contact with the "hot" wire and is being shocked. When a circuit is functioning normally, all the return current from an appliance flows through the neutral wire, so the presence of a difference between "hot" and neutral currents represents a malfunction which in some circumstances could produce a dangerous or even lethal shock hazard.

A Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) is an automatic electrical circuit breaking safety device for protection against line-to ground faults. A GFCI offers protection to users of electrical equipment against possible fatal electrical shock from faulty equipment or accidental grounding.

A GFCI constantly monitors current flowing in a circuit to sense any loss of current. If the current flowing through two circuit conductors differs by a very small amount, the GFCI instantly interrupts the current flow to prevent a lethal amount of electricity from reaching the consumer. The consumer may feet a painful shock but will not be electrocuted. Grounding may provide some protection for power equipment and double insulation of newer power tools presents lower risks of electrocution. However, GFCls are the most effective means for protecting consumers against electrical shock hazards.

SHORT CIRCUIT

A short circuit is a type of failure in an electrical circuit caused when the hot wire (black) touches another hot wire or touches a neutral wire (white). It can also be caused if there is a break in a wire or connection.

OPEN CIRCUIT

An open circuit is a broken path for an electrical current due to an open switch or frayed wire. Hence, no complete path for current flow. 

OVERLOAD 

An electrical load that exceeds the available electrical power and will cause heat.

LOOSE CONNECTIONS

When making a connection in a junction box, the length of wire in a box is important. The general rule of thumb is to install six inches of wire in a box in order to have enough to make proper connections.

Loose Wire Connections

Connections of wires should be made with wire nuts and twisted together. Loose connections on switches and outlets pose another problem. When tightening a wire around a terminal screw on a device, bend the stripped wire in a half-moon shape and put the open end towards the right. Tighten the screw in a clockwise motion until tight. This will draw the copper around the screw, thus closing the loop tighter. If you have the open end the other way, the half moon will actually open up a bit, causing the connection to not be as secure.

Loose Connections in Panels

Check the neutral and breaker connections in your panel to be sure they are tight. In this case, be sure to turn off the breakers before you begin. Safety first! A loose neutral will cause flickering lights and has been know to cause dim lighting in homes. Loose connections under breakers will cause the circuit to heat up and sometimes trip the breaker. This too can cause flickering of lights.

Proper Wires Connected to Terminals

Please take time and examine any connections that you make. Connecting a wire to the wrong terminal can cause electrical problems.

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ELECTRICAL TROUBLESHOOTING AND REPAIR

The 5 Steps of Troubleshooting Approach consists of the following:

Step 1 Observation
Step 2 Define Problem Area
Step 3 Identify Possible Causes
Step 4 Determine Most Probable Cause
Step 5 Test and Repair

Preparation

You need to gather information regarding the equipment and the problem. If there are equipment history records, you should review them to see if there are any recurring problems.  You must have on-hand any documentation describing the problem. (i.e., a work order, trouble report, or even your notes taken from a discussion with a customer).

Step 1 – Observe

Through careful observation and a little bit of reasoning, most faults can be identified as to the actual component with testing. Look for visual signs of mechanical damage such as indications of impact, chafed wires, and loose components. Sense of smell, listening to the sound of the equipment operating temperature would help.

Step 2 – Define Problem Area

Apply logic and reasoning to your observations to determine the problem parts of the equipment or circuitry that are operating properly and not contributing to the cause of the malfunction.

Step 3 – Identify Possible Causes

Once the problem area(s) have been defined, it is necessary to identify all the possible causes of the malfunction. List every fault which could cause the problem

Step 4 – Determine Most Probable Cause

Once the list of possible causes has been made, it is then necessary to prioritize each item as to the probability of it being the cause of the malfunction.

Step 5 – Test and Repair

Make sure you follow all your companies’ safety precautions, rules and procedures while troubleshooting. Test instruments can be used to help narrow the problem area and identify the problem component. Once you have determined the cause of the faulty operation of the circuit you can proceed to replace the defective component. Be sure the circuit is locked out and you follow all safety procedures before disconnecting the component or any wires After replacing the component, you must test operate all features of the circuit to be sure you have replaced the proper component and that there are no other faults in the circuit.

Follow up

• Did the component fail due to age? 

• Did the environment the equipment operates in cause excessive corrosion? 

• Are there wear points that caused the wiring to short out? 

• Did it fail due to improper use? 

• Is there a design flaw that causes the same component to fail repeatedly?

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