[chbot] Electrical Safety

[Andrew Errington]

Buy a Honda EU20i and don't worry about anything.

A

On 20 August 2014 14:37, Mark Beckett <m.beckett at amuri.net> wrote:
> Yes
> But 100 years ago he wouldn't have been able to ask questions in the same
> manner.
>
>
> My suggestion is RCD at the source, however you really need to have an earth
> to connect the generator to.
> In my case I've usually treated the load as a plug in device, and not
> bothered with trying to connect back to the switchboard, etc.
>
> What you might find is that the frequency is way off and the voltage
> fluctuates like crazy, so some care is required.
> Luckily most monitors (and I assume TV's) seem to simply rectify the mains,
> then do the magic with the DC voltage.
> So they should be fine.
>
>
> Mark
>
>
>
> Charles Manning wrote:
>>
>> To add to Robin's worry-list, you also need to consider the DC side
>> too... DC arcing is a pig as it is not suppressed by zero crossing.
>>
>> C'mon Richard... live on the edge. That you lived over 30 is just an
>> accident of time and place. If you'd been born more than 100 years ago
>> or in 3rd world, odds-on you'd never have graced us with your
>> presence.... which would have been a loss for us.
>>
>> On Wed, Aug 20, 2014 at 4:49 PM, Robin Gilks <robin at gilks.org> wrote:
>>
>>>>
>>>> I almost hesitate to re-open this old chestnut.
>>>>
>>>> I'm considering the purchase of a generator or inverter in the 1-2kVA
>>>> range and was wondering about electrical safety, especially with some
>>>> inverter/charger/UPS combinations.
>>>>
>>>> I found some products from China on trademe without any obvious claim
>>>> to meet AU/NZ electrical safety standards. When I checked back on the
>>>> standards route I was surprised to discover that new imported items
>>>> may be exempt by a "Conformity Co-operation Agreement" in Section 80
>>>> Part 2(b) of this document:
>>>>
>>>> http://www.legislation.co.nz/regulation/public/2010/0036/latest/DLM2763717.html
>>>>
>>>> So referring on to the cooperation agreement I have little idea how to
>>>> check whether a device I plan to purchase is really safe or not.
>>>>
>>>> http://www.med.govt.nz/energysafety/appliances-fittings/electrical-appliances-fittings/core-requirements/international-cooperation-recognition/current-mras/new-zealand-china-2013co-operation-agreement
>>>>
>>>> At the end of the day I want to live long and prosper safely through
>>>> the odd power cut or DIY activity away from mains power. Any thoughts
>>>> on that? Maybe running an inverter/charger or generator through an
>>>> appropriately connected RCD is the prudent way to go.
>>>>
>>>
>>> A lot depends on what part of the system you are trying to make safe.
>>>
>>>  * exploding batteries due to too high a load
>>>  * smoking inverter due to poorly specced parts
>>>  * grid-mains isolation (anti-islanding etc) to not kill your neighbour
>>>  * output voltage being within the range of the appliance connected to it
>>>  * output waveform being appropriate for the device being powered
>>>  * earth isolation to prevent dangerous current loops
>>>  * earth leakage breaker for personal protection and fault detection
>>>  * insulation appropriate for the voltages present in the system
>>>
>>>
>>> For example, I use an electric hedge trimmer running on a small 2-stroke
>>> generator which has a floating mains output. If I cut the cable, the
>>> chances of me being across both live and neutral is pretty slim compared
>>> to livening the cutters if I hit the live on a grid-mains connected
>>> trimmer.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Robin Gilks
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
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>
>
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