Electricity is the most basic need for today’s world. The development entirely depend upon electricity.
Electrical energy is a sign of progress if used in a safe & appropriate way. But that same energy can produces destruction due to one wrong step.
There are multiple things to consider as a safety. But in this post we are going to discuss best 10 Electrical safety tip Which every household should follow.
10 Electrical safety Tips
1. Always hire a professional technician
The selection of wires, circuit breakers is very important. Their ratings should be appropriate according to the load. Distribution should also be balanced.
To cover all that important points, Electrical work should be handled & commenced by electrical professional. Other wise, many unwanted consequence can happen.
For example, let suppose there is 1.5 Ton AC with rated current 5.5 Amps. Now, Best suitable mcb for that load is 10 Amps.
But what will happen if 6 Amps mcb is connected. Than their is chances, mcb can get trip at the time of starting.
If 32 Amps mcb is connected, That at fault condition, Entire distribution system can get disturbed due to mains tripping. Or there is chances that AC wires can get burnt in fault situation.
2. Earthing
The Electrical machines & appliances mostly have metallic body. When a power supply is applied to an electrical machine, potential may appear on the metallic body. This can happen either due to induction or due to some sort of fault condition.
Induction is an Electrical phenomenon. Which says; emf get generated in conductive element When changing magnetic field links with it !
For safety of human beings & safety of machinery itself, The metallic surface should be potential free at any cost. Which can be achieved with the help of ‘Earthing‘.
This earth Where we are residing, is a type of sink Which always stay in a position to soak. This Earth is used in ‘Earthing‘.
Earthing is a type of node, a type of sink. Which is created by digging the conductor into the earth. Material additives are poured around that conductor to lower soil resistance. Then, the conductor node is brought near to the appliance through flexible wire or solid conductor.
A GIF below explains the working of earthing. It shows a conductor is buried beneath the earth. The node is then brought into a house through another conductor. Earthing node is connected with the antenna on above the house.
When lightning strikes the antenna above the house, It diverts the potential toward the earth & house remains safe.
- Every household should have at-least 2 Earthings.
- Earthings should be checked by the certified technician at-least once in a year.
- Every electrical load’s body should be earth connected.
3. Circuit Breakers
It does not matter how much the fool proof system is, Chances of electrical faults are always there. Fault situation creates heavy current loading across the distribution line Which can create a dangerous situation of burning of wire.
From the prevention of ‘short circuit‘ & ‘overload‘, Circuit breakers are implemented. ‘Circuit breakers‘ as name implies, Breaks the circuit in overload & short circuit conditions. This can also be used as an isolated switch to disconnect the circuit.
‘Short circuit‘ is quick phenomenon. It happens When potential carrying conductor get directly in contact with earthing or neutral or with another potential carrying conductor.
‘Overload‘ is slow phenomenon. It happen when current flows more than the rated capacity.
In fault conditions, Circuit breakers isolate the faulty circuit. Such that rest of the healthy circuit remains working.
In two GIF below, Both the fault phenomenon ‘overload ‘& ‘short circuit‘ across the distribution line is shown. One GIF is without the circuit breaker While another second GIF shows the working of circuit breaker.
- One of the distribution circuit is shown without circuit breakers. In which when one of the line get faulty, Total distribution circuit get under breakdown.
- While in another GIF, distribution has permitted through mcb . Each line contains the mcb . When fault occurs across one of the line, Faulty line get tripped while rest of circuit remains working.
MCB stands for Miniature circuit breaker. These circuit breaker are available low current ranges up to 100 Amps ! mcb are specially designed to trip the circuit for both the faults overload & short circuit. mcb also contains arc extinguishing chamber which extinguish generated arc at time of tripping.
Apart from mcb , There are various types of circuit breakers such as ‘RCCB’, ‘ELCB’, & ‘MPCB’. Different circuit breakers have different working principle, Working for one common goal of tripping.
RCCB stands for ‘residual current circuit breaker‘. RCCB provides protection from leakage current. If any type of leakage occurs in distribution line either due to induction or fault condition, RCCB trips the circuit.
ELCB stands for ‘earth leakage circuit breaker‘. ELCB is connected with earthing in along with main line. Current leakage across earthing, Produces the tripping in main line.
MPCB stands for ‘motor protection circuit breaker.’ MPCB are specially designed for motor protection as an overload protection. MPCB contains range of current selection for precise motor protection.
4. Superior quality of appliances & machines
Electrical appliances or machines should not be purchased neglecting the quality.
Quality is supreme which should not be compromised. Quality products not only run for long but they provides guarantee of safety !
Every country or region has an authority which provides license to the products which has achieved the required standards. The license make sure that all the quality standards are followed while manufacturing the product. These quality trademarks assure the product meet health, safety & environment standards.
In India, the ‘Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)’ generally grants an ISI mark to electrical products. An ISI mark carrying name plate of 5.5 KW submersible is shown next !
A name plate of 2.2 KW VFD made by Allen-Bradley is shown next. Which carries UL & CE certification. ‘UL‘ stands of underwriters laboratories, a global safety science company. Which ensure product is test & verified to meet the safety standards. It is safe for consumers. CE stands for ‘conformite europeenne‘. CE mark carrying product meet health, safety & environment standards required in European economic area.
5. Voltage stabilizer
Every region has voltage standards such as 230V AC(L-N), 110V AC(L-N). Appliances are designed according to that regional voltage standard.
At rated voltage, Appliances provides ideal output with maximum efficiency. This also increases the useful life of the appliance.
Due to improper load distribution & excessive load across the distribution line, Voltage get drop across the line. Which result’s voltage get lowered. Sometimes, the voltage falls significantly low such the load then can not deliver the desired output. In worst cases, Load get damaged due to low voltage, high current flowing through it.
On the other hand, High voltage greater the rated range can damage the insulation of the load.
Whether, voltage is high or low; Both the phenomenon’s are dangerous for electrical loads. Voltage should be stable in standard range.
For stable voltage Voltage stabilizer should be installed at start in distribution line. Voltage stabilizer’s rating should be chosen according to the voltage variation of the region.
‘A name plate of 200 KVA voltage stabilizer is shown next. In which input voltage range is 365V-465V, Output voltage is 415.‘
6. Voltage monitoring device
Voltage should be balanced around the rated value. Voltage variation either high or either low, Both the situation are dangerous for electrical loads. More than that there are rare but dangerous situations like neutral loss. If such condition appear across the distribution line, a two-phase situation appear across the distribution load. Which can damage total single phase connected loads.
From the prevention of vast voltage variation & neutral loss problem, Voltage monitoring device should be connected in distribution line. Voltage monitoring device produces a signal after analyzing the input voltage. It also produces the rapid trip signal when voltage varies far beyond the standard range.
Modern voltage stabilizers are equipped with tripping protection for voltage variation like voltage monitoring device. In such scenario external voltage monitoring device is not required.
7. Surge arrester
Distribution lines are connected with multiple types of loads. There is continuously switching processes been happening across the distribution line. Which can create a surge across the distribution line, That surge can damage the insulation of the load.
There is also the risk of surge appearance in line due to thunderstorm or lightning. These sudden spikes do not get capture by voltage monitoring devices & voltage stabilizers.
From the safety of surges, ‘Surge arresters‘ should be employed. Which works rapidly in surge like situation. These special safety devices either block the surge or diverts it towards the earth.
In a GIF below, It is shown that energized HT line is fitted on pin type insulator. When surge occurs across the power line, surge arrester connected across the insulator, diverts the surge towards ‘earthing‘.
8. Good habits
Ever wonder, Why do bird sitting on high tension line not getting electrocuted ?
While, We at domestic voltage level get electrocuted, Why ?
The answer is; potential difference .
Potential difference is the voltage difference between the two nodes. An electrical load functions when rated current flows through it. When rated potential difference is applied across the load, current flows from high potential node to low potential node.
An image representing potential difference is shown next. There are 2 nodes, V1 & V2. Potential difference is V1-V2. Let suppose, V1 is equal to 230 V AC While V2 is equal to 0. The resultant voltage becomes, 230-0=230 V AC.
Bird sitting on line, is a single potential phenomenon. There is only single high potential node Where bird is sitting. But there is no lower end, no sink, no path for current.
It does not matter how much higher the potential bird is carrying. But current will not flow until there is another node that creates a potential difference.
This earth where we are residing is the biggest sink, a zero node. Which can consume the infinite potential. When we get in contact with domestic voltage level while standing on earth, We get electrocuted. Domestic voltage level act like a higher voltage node while this earth act like a sink node.
If there are bad habits, Then there are good habits too ! We should adapt some safe habits. Like operating the electrical appliances with dry hands & proper insulation under the feet.
While operating the electrical appliances & gadgets, Our complete body should be dry. Our feet should be well insulated with shoes & electrical mats.
9. keeping of Appliances & Gadgets
Appliances, Gadgets & machines are designed according to some preferred standards. Which are considered in term of IP rating.
IP rating refers to ‘ingress protection’. It specifies the overall bearing capacity of a machine’s encloser to prevent the ingression of dust and moisture. IP rating is denoted with 2 number digits. For example IP67. Higher the number, Higher the degree of protection.
IP67-The tens digit 6 represents the protection degree for dust particles. This digit indicates the container is dust-tight. No dust can ingress.
While unit digit 7 represents the protection degree for moisture. It represent object can be immersed inside the water deep 1 meter for up to 30 minutes.
That’s why machines should well maintained & well placed according to its IP rating .
Apart from the place of machines, it should be well maintained and well operated. Machines should be cleaned and kept wear-tear free.
10. Think about the outcome first
It is very easy to ‘switch on’ or ‘switch off’ the machine. The state of the machine should be checked at least once.
You need to decide whether it is appropriate to use the machine or not. Consider whether it is safe to run the machine for the person sitting next to it. Also, think about whether it is safe for the machine itself.
Similar the case, Before switching the machine off, Machine should be thoroughly checked. Some times, machines are running & completing the task. Intermediate switching can disturb the running function of machine.
SUMMARY
Electricity is essential for modern life, but it poses risks if not handled safely. This post outlines ten crucial electrical safety tips for households.
- Key advice includes hiring a qualified technician for installations to ensure correct wire selection and circuit breakers.
- Using earthing to prevent electric shock
- inspecting electrical appliances for quality standards.
- ‘Circuit breakers’ protect against overloads and short circuits,
- Voltage stabilizers and supply monitoring devices maintain safe voltage levels.
- Good habits, such as using appliances with dry hands, are emphasized, along with maintaining appliances based on their IP ratings.
- Always evaluate safety before operating any electrical device.
If you have any doubt, Suggestion or query please do comment !