Yesterday while cleaning my tank, i accidentally bump into my pl light and cause it to drop into the tank. My first reaction was to pick it up(forgotten abt the electricity)
....and was electricuted but luckily the current is quite small. Now i have a problem, whenever i touch the metal casing of the pl light, it seems to give out electricity...
Anyone know how to "de-electricute" it ???[]
water must have gotten into the electrical/electronic parts.
let it dry a few days before using your lights again. or use a hair dryer to blow dry the electrical/electronic parts.
a risky method will be to let the light run (if it can be switched on without tripping you mains) even if it is electrified. the heat from the lights will dry faster. do leave a message or warning sign on the lights to say it can electrocute. this is NOT recommended.
thomas liew
wahahaha8
I am surprised that your mains/switchboard did not trip. Doesn't sound good. You might want to push the test button to check if it's in working order just in case a major shortcircuit occurs in future. Years ago, my young boy poured water onto our fan, and we had an immediate blackout and it should be... and that's one childhood episode he'll never forget!
mike
If the lighting is not earthed, it will not trip the ELCB (earth leakage circuit breaker, the one that you test by pressing the button). As I always advocate: earth your light casing!----------------
On 2/17/2003 2:59:43 PM
wahahaha8
I am surprised that your mains/switchboard did not trip. Doesn't sound good. You might want to push the test button to check if it's in working order just in case a major shortcircuit occurs in future. Years ago, my young boy poured water onto our fan, and we had an immediate blackout and it should be... and that's one childhood episode he'll never forget!
mike
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The other circuit breakers (the smaller ones next to the ELCB) only protect against current overload (the rated current is on the circuit breakers). It take quite a lot of current to trip these ciruit breakers (if I am not wrong normally >13A for wall sockets).
BC
[/quote]
If the lighting is not earthed, it will not trip the ELCB (earth leakage circuit breaker, the one that you test by pressing the button). As I always advocate: earth your light casing!
The other circuit breakers (the smaller ones next to the ELCB) only protect against current overload (the rated current is on the circuit breakers). It take quite a lot of current to trip these ciruit breakers (if I am not wrong normally >13A for wall sockets).
BC
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[/quote]
Should be 6A for normal lightings and fans(example ceiling lights and ceiling fans) DIRECTLY connect to it, 15A for bathroom heater and Air-con unit and 20A for NORMAL power sockets(shaver not included). But it was like 12 years ago I took my Electrical course(DAMN!!! HOW TIME FLIES!!!), they might have change it.
The smaller ones are MCBs
20A... that's right... I oni remember that it was higher that the 13A fuse limit. That means the fuse will burn before the MCB trip?
All I know was that MCB don't really protect you from electrical leakage like that. I know that you have to earth an appliance for it to trip the ELCB in case of an electrical leakage.
BC
The theory to it from PUB is always, the latter must be smaller value than the former. 13A is not really that safe anyway, try replacing with a smaller value on those plugs to your electrical appliances if possible, but not compulsary. Normally, unlikely any appliances will consume higher then 6A. Use Current(A) = Power(watts) / Voltage(V) to calculate the fusing value required, stepping up by 10-20%.----------------
On 2/17/2003 3:52:43 PM
20A... that's right... I oni remember that it was higher that the 13A fuse limit. That means the fuse will burn before the MCB trip?
All I know was that MCB don't really protect you from electrical leakage like that. I know that you have to earth an appliance for it to trip the ELCB in case of an electrical leakage.
BC
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MCBs, as you had mentioned previously is simply an overloading tripping device, in other word, mechanical fuse, without the need to replace fusing when tripped.
ELCB will take care of the earth leakage and it detects.
However, several incidents had proved voltage leakage (0 current)through Neutral wire are undetectable. I remembered I was told there was one type of ELCB that could detect both but were said to be extremely expensive and unlikely used in HDB flats, not sure about private estates.
Hi folks
So, what would be the worst case scenario in the event of electrical leakage??? To me, electrocution equals death. What wahahaha8 actually experienced was probably an electrical shock. From my experience, a trip at the MCB will not necessarily blow the fuse at the socket.
I'm sure we've all read abt the no. 1 safety precaution when doing filter/ tank maintenance - never to dip your hand into the tank without first turning off the filter or other electrical equipment. But how many of us actually practice this 100% of the time??? Maybe there was just that one time you'd forgotten or was just too lazy???
As we all know, most tank equipment are unearthed (2 pins) and therefore are potentially dangerous. But what would be the worst scenario in the event of electrical leakage from say, an internal power filter, which is fully immersed? Can one die from it or get a severe unilateral limb burn???
mike
i decided to let turn the light on and let it dry by itself... Any idea how to check whether is there any current on the metal casing ?[
yah ...i learnt my lesson liao ....decided to get a cover for my tank in case the light drop inside again...luckily only a small electrical shock....be careful everyone!!!
wahahaha8 i think u can use a test pen to check whether got current on the light on not..
Some well designed equipment equiped with 2 pin plugs are double insulated. It is indicated by a symbol of double concentric squares.
An appliance which is double insulated has the whole of the inside contained in plastic, underneath an outer casing.
If anything goes wrong with the appliance, no Live conductor can touch the outer casing because of the insulating plastic.
Usually, an appliance with a metal casing or exposed metal parts have to be earthed. In an event of electrical leakage or short, the casing or the exposed metal will become "live". Earthing will conduct away the leakage current and will also trip the ELCB in most cases.
Most filters from reputable makers are double insulated so they run a lower risk. I would say the lightings of fish tanks are of the highest risk. Some are poorly made with 2-pin plugs and there is a high risk of the light dropping into the water.
Personally, I earth my lightings myself by changing the 2-ply wiring to a 3-ply. I connect it up with a 3-pin plug. I hook up the earth wire to the outing metal casing. I found that, in this way, I also got rid to the static electricity charges which I use to feel on the metal casing.
I always believe in safety. At least when I am not around, there is lesser chance for my family to get hurt in case of accident.
BC
errrr... test pen is for voltage testing...----------------
On 2/18/2003 12:48:53 AM
wahahaha8 i think u can use a test pen to check whether got current on the light on not..
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can't really remember any house usable current tester... earthing ur equipment is still the best bet.
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