ever got electrocuted by internal filter?

[dx]

Just want to know the practice of people here: when you wetting your hands down inside the tank (planting especially), do you really bother to switch off the whatever internal filter first?

I got the phobia of getting electrocuted and always turn it off.

[elmike]

[quote:4646dfcb="dx"]Just want to know the practice of people here: when you wetting your hands down inside the tank (planting especially), do you really bother to switch off the whatever internal filter first?

I got the phobia of getting electrocuted and always turn it off.[/quote:4646dfcb]

That's good practice. You should continue to do that, always. Take no chances and insure you life!

[jhansolo]

I usually would pull out the mains while I maintain the tanks.

[juggler]

I do - but for a different reason. The moving water makes it hard to look down from the top.

[elmike]

[quote:ef4a488256="jhansolo"]I usually would pull out the mains while I maintain the tanks.[/quote:ef4a488256]

Is pulling the plug off the mains any safer than just turning off the switch at the extension cord??

I don't know if there's some truth or basis for this....
A butcher friend recounted how he lost his forearm. He sticked his hand into a mincer while the switch was at the off position, but somehow the machine turned and his forearm was caught. The plug on the mains wasn't pull off.

And why is it that some people say you should pull out the mains to your TV, computer, etc during a thunderstorm??? Is it because if there's a power surge, sparks can fly and make the connection to a disaster??

[vinz]

I don't know about sparks during a surge, but it can damage your electronic appliances. Happened to my family before... lighting strike, blackout, burnt smell (like when elcetronics short ciruit) from the TV or computer and their dead. Lightning can travel down antenna cables and phone lines too. Thats how I lost 1 modem. Internal one, so the PC went with it.

All these are now prevented by lighting conductor spikes on the roof.

[tawauboy]

back to original topic.
though one should disconnect all electricals before meddling with tank, quite a number do not. if you are one of 'these', then always keep the other hand away from any conductor (best place is behind your back). the reason is if the other hand touches a conductor which has less electrical resistance path as compared to the path down your body, legs and feet, the electric current will travel across your chest and stop your heart. by keeping your hands behind your back, electrical current can only travel to your feet, thus bypass your heart. however, if the electric current is strong enough, it makes no difference.

for me, i will not take my chances with any products without ce or ul safety markings.

[elmike]

tawauboy

Any comments on the quote below and why some would recommend that plugs be pulled off the mains during thunderstorms??


[quote:2583a157="elmike"]He sticked his hand into a mincer while the switch was at the off position, but somehow the machine turned and his forearm was caught. The plug on the mains wasn't pull off.

And why is it that some people say you should pull out the mains to your TV, computer, etc during a thunderstorm??? Is it because if there's a power surge, sparks can fly and make the connection to a disaster??

[/quote:2583a157]

[dx]

I am rather feeling more comfortable with my tank using external filter only. I don't think when do some simple things like leaves cutting, you will bother to switch off all the power supply right?

For the tanks using internal filter, to be honest, I don't switch it off for just picking up some floating leaves.

[jhansolo]

Is pulling the plug off the mains any safer than just turning off the switch at the extension cord??

And why is it that some people say you should pull out the mains to your TV, computer, etc during a thunderstorm??? Is it because if there's a power surge, sparks can fly and make the connection to a disaster??[/quote]

The best bet is when your extension is not connected to the wall. A lot of equipment are 2 pin and the off switch is only cutting one of the AC lines, Worst when you use a Low quality extension, sometimes the switch might jam and you didn't cut the current.

As for thunderstorm, in HDB no problem as for landed, you just need to have enough protection using the ELCB and spike divert. When I was in KL, I have seen my telephone socket burst open during a thunderstorm, that was quite a sight.

[tawauboy]

[quote:6db6603218="elmike"]tawauboy

Any comments on the quote below and why some would recommend that plugs be pulled off the mains during thunderstorms??


[quote:6db6603218="elmike"]He sticked his hand into a mincer while the switch was at the off position, but somehow the machine turned and his forearm was caught. The plug on the mains wasn't pull off.

And why is it that some people say you should pull out the mains to your TV, computer, etc during a thunderstorm??? Is it because if there's a power surge, sparks can fly and make the connection to a disaster??

[/quote:6db6603218][/quote:6db6603218]

mincer - my guess is a faulty switch.
a plug pulled from a socket is that safest, foolproof and guaranteed.

thunderstorm - the saying is most likely passed down from older generations. in earlier days when most are living in kampung houses, most houses do not have lighting conductors on their roof tops. so tv antennas acts like a lighting 'attractor'. however, nowadays all high-rise buildings and houses have lighting conductors, which reduces the chances of a lighting strike. lighting conductors equilibrate the +ve and -ve charges in the air.
when a lighting strike, we are looking a millions of volts of electricity. anything that comes into contact will be fried, no questions asked. there will definately be a power surge but whether sparks will fly (from tv, pc, modems, etc...) depends quite a lot on the product design.
anyway, plug out of socket will be safest.

[tawauboy]

[quote:6bf5121831="jhansolo"]Is pulling the plug off the mains any safer than just turning off the switch at the extension cord??

And why is it that some people say you should pull out the mains to your TV, computer, etc during a thunderstorm??? Is it because if there's a power surge, sparks can fly and make the connection to a disaster??[/quote:6bf5121831]

The best bet is when your extension is not connected to the wall. A lot of equipment are 2 pin and the off switch is only cutting one of the AC lines, Worst when you use a Low quality extension, sometimes the switch might jam and you didn't cut the current.

As for thunderstorm, in HDB no problem as for landed, you just need to have enough protection using the ELCB and spike divert. When I was in KL, I have seen my telephone socket burst open during a thunderstorm, that was quite a sight.[/quote]

plug out of socket is safest, period.

all switches cut-off only live ac line while the neutral line is always connected. neutral line has zero voltage.

elcb does not protect you from the effects of a direct lighting strike. lighting conductor will help.

in singapore, i doubt the telephone will be affected by lighting because all cable are buried. in kl or countries with overhead telephone cables, you should not use a telephone during a thunderstorm. there is almost no protection against a lighting strike on overhead telephone cables.