Hi All
Electrocution in WA
Hi All
This may be of interest:
Hi Al l
This will no doubt cause some discussion:
quote"Safety switch may have prevented electrocution death
By office of energy safety, michael bunko, death, rcd
Posted Wed Aug 18, 2010 3:29pm AEST
Map:
Geraldton 6530 The Western Australian Office of Energy Safety says the weekend electrocution of a 22-year-old
Geraldton man may have been prevented if an electrical safety switch had been in use.
Christopher Anthony Orlando was killed when he received an electrical shock as he stepped out of his caravan about 8:30am on Saturday.
Investigations into the death are continuing but authorities say it appears a damaged extension cord may be to blame.
Chief electrical inspector Michael Bunko is encouraging all home owners to consider installing residual current devices (RCDs) at their properties.
"We're urging everyone to fit RCDs to all socket eyes and lighting points, especially extension cords as the equipment in the caravan was supplied from a socket outlet in the house," he said.
"If RCD's had been fitted to the house, the tragedy may have been prevented."end quote
Note that :
[A]The van was possibly being supplied from a10amp power point in the house
[B]The house , van ,extension lead, were not fitted with an RCD
The van obviously became alive,this may have been due to the damaged ext lead
It would be interesting to know the results of the full investigation.
questions:
Was the lead legal 10amp to 10amp?? or was it one of the 10to 15amp home made jobs??
What was the damage to the lead & why did the fuse olcb not blow/trip?
As many seem to believe it should.
The coroner will have some interesting questions to ask
[a]was the ext lead legal [same rated/sized plug & socket]
[b]was the extension lead an approved lead,or a home made job
[c]What was the actual damage to the lead,how did the damage occur & should the fuse /olcb have blown /tripped
[d]In what manner did the van become alive
Needed @ least two faults:
[1]A fault from active to the frame either in wiring or an appliance &
[2]An open circuit in the earthing system
A damaged lead could be the SOLE cause IF:
[1]the earth wire was cut in half &
[2]the open end of the earth wire ,on the van side of the break, has made contact with damaged active cable ,,making the frame of the van live
This is exactly the scenario that can occur with using an inverter in a vehicle to supply 240v to a van, which many see no problem with. & those will no doubt read this thread
Peter--------------------------------------------------------------