UPS to the house

What changes can we make to our lives to deal with the economic and energy crises ahead? Have you already started making preparations? Got tips to share?

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Vortex
Posts: 6095
Joined: 16 May 2006, 19:14

Post by Vortex »

two pole switches
Eek ...

I once worked in a research lab where one day a Hit Team of electricians arrived ... to rip out two-pole switches and replace them with switches which only switched the live.

Why the panic?

Well, with a single pole switch failure either the equipment stays on - or stays off.

With a 2-pole switch you can get the live side blade stuck ON ... so when you turn the appliance off ... it STILL has a live feed! The switched neutral line is doing all the switching!

Lethal!
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Mitch
Posts: 458
Joined: 04 Aug 2006, 16:48
Location: Grand Union Canal, London

Post by Mitch »

Oh people are such sissie's these days. When my Grandad lost the Neutral to his whole woodwork workshop half a century ago, he didn't have the time or inclination to go fault finding - he simply bridged Neutral to Earth in the fuse box and presto! everything worked again. You had to stand on a piece of wood when using any of the machines though, or they tickled you a bit. Didn't bother Granpa - I think the "fix" remained in place till the house was demolished decades later! :)
Mitch - nb Soma
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