This is probably stupid question, and probably proof that I may be a walking hazard but...
Is earth-ing absolutely necessary. I have a very long and useful power extension cable, but its missing a third wire. The place where the earth wire should be is obviously empty in both ends.
If I plug in an a standard earth ready power equipment (like a lawnmower) into the socket of the extension cable, what happens? I'm guessing it won't be earthed anymore? Could it be dangerous? Will it be *only* as dangerous as a power equipment plugged in a standard European home.
If the equipment you plug in has a 3-core cable then a fault on the appliance when you have it plugged into your extension cable could kill whoever's using it. I'm not saying the cable isn't useful, just that in this application it's use would be for killing people.
If you use it for normal double-insulated lawnmowers etc which only have
2-core cables then it would be OK, but you should make the socket end of the cable a 2-pole socket to connect to the mower connector. Leaving a
3-pole socket on the end is inviting a possibly fatal accident sooner or later.
No, although I'm get the feeling I should of said yes and quietly scarpered away.
Honestly, I'm clueless when it come electrical stuff (!). Do European power leads have a different means to earth? How do they get away with not having the 3rd wire? Can I get away with it in the same fashion?
If you look at a euro socket, there is an earth connection on the sides of the socket (and somtimes there is a pin sticking out of the socket). Here is an example of a euro plug with the earth contacts
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there is also a hole in the plug, this is also used for earth connections where the socket has an earth pin sticking out.
Things that don't require an earth connection have the connection you are thinking of (Like this)
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only reason things that don't require an earth connection have the earth pin in the UK, is so the little shutters are opened on the socket, usually this pin is plastic, so provides no electrical contact.
Thanks for the reply John. I probably need a crash course in basic electricity to understand why it would be dangerous, but at least I know it will be. Thanks for saving my life.
cable!? Although, it does look pretty useful, especially compared to my now, lethal piece of rubbish!
:-) no problems - just don't go and attempt to rewire the house now you know this much!
The best use for your extension cable, would be for something that doesn't require an earth connection, like most garden tools (Lawn mowers, hedge trimmers etc) Please remove the three pin plug and socket from this extension cable, as the user of it could come to serious harm! (It should be replaced with a different arrangement, if you want to do this, let us know, and I am sure you will be instructed!)
Just some more information for you, so hopefully it will be a bit clearer!)
The reason for earthling is quite simple - say you have a metal appliance, like a toaster for example. This appliance develops a fault, where a live wire comes into contact with the metal casing of the appliance. Now if this appliance is earthed correctly, lots of power will flow down the earth wire, more than the toaster would normally use - this would cause a fuse to pop.
Now if the earth was not connected, the casing of this appliance stays live, but with no power flowing out, so no fuses pop. You come along, with the intention of making some toast, and touch the toaster, you are standing on the floor (earth!) or even more dangerously, you have your other hand on something like a tap (that's earthed!) the power will then flow from the toaster, across your body, to earth - this is NOT good! You can die from a shock of as little as 40mA - The average toaster would have a fuse of probably 13A (13,000mA) this has a very high chance of killing you.
(This assumes you have fuses in your consumer unit, not earth leakage circuit breakers, but that's another subject!)
Well, I think you are in serious danger with this lead. THe only thing you could reasonably use it on is something like a double insulated drill that only has the live and neutral connections.
Probably. I got away with all sorts when i was a kid. But probably isnt really good enough, personally I prefer almost everyone to survive using electrical goods, rather than just 90%. If we all put silver foil in fuse holders, didnt bother with things like earth, cord grips etc, eletricity would become one of the big killers.
The USA doesnt bother with separate earth wires, they often just use the neutral, or even nothing. They dont bother with various other safety issues either. The result is thousands of deaths every year. Its your choice.
This is factually incorrect. The USA does have earthed plugs, but like many other parts of the world use 2 pin plugs for "class II" (Double Insulated) products
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shows both 2 pin and 3 pin plugs that are in use in the US.
That one's known technically as a 'dogzbollox' cable reel - has all sorts of useful features. But even one of these at 5.79 GBP would be infinitely better than what you're using:
what you say there does not address the point I made though, that the neutral wire is sometimes used to provide an 'earth.' And as we know, that isnt really an earth at all.
against a tool fault, to a fair extent yes, though it varies. Against driling inot a live wire, an on-tool RCD offers no protection at all. Common misconception there.
It will if the RCD is protecting the circuit you drill into.
As you say, having a RCD on the circuit supplying drill will not protect you from drilling a live wire as such (although the double isolation should as long as you dont fondle the bit or chuck while it is drilling), but it is still essential for other reasons.
If I remember correctly--when I didd some wiring in my house in Oregon, USA--Many high load sockets (kitchen-bath-workshop etc) had 3 pin sockets--others did not. In any event both earth and ''neutral'' all connected to the same grounding strip in the main fuse panel. Made sense to me as both leads serve the same purpose. Jim Pine
It's rather unlikely you'll be touching the business end of a working drill etc when it goes through a cable, so the only shock will be the surprise type.
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