USING ELECTRICITY SAFELY

SAFETY HAZARDS

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CLICK ON THE YOUTUBE LOGO AND WATCH THE VIDEO ON USING ELECTRICITY SAFELY.

DAMP CONDITIONS

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WATER CAN CONDUCT ELECTRCITY WHEN THE VOLTAGE IS VERY HIGH. THEREFORE, WHEN A PERSON HANDLES APPLIANCES WITH WET HANDS, ELECTRICTY IS ABLE TO FLOW THROUGH HIS BODY CAUSING HIM TO GET AN ELECTRICAL SHOCK.

DAMAGED INSULATION

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THE INSULATION OF A WIRE PREVENTS ELECTRICITY FROM FLOWING TO THE PERSON WHO IS HANDLING THE APPLIANCE. EXPOSED WIRES MAY CAUSE A SHORT CIRCUIT AND GIVE THE PERSON AN ELECTRICAL SHOCK.

OVERLOADED CIRCUITS

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WHEN AN ELECTRICAL SOCKET IS OVERLOADED WITH PLUGS, THIS CAUSES A LARGE AMOUNT OF CURRENT TO FLOW THROUGH THE SOCKET. THIS SURGE OF ELECTRICAL CURRENT MAY CAUSE A FIRE TO START.

SAFETY TIPS

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GO TO THIS WEBSITE AND READ ON SOME TIPS ON USING ELECTRICITY SAFELY.

SAFETY DEVICES

CIRCUIT BREAKER

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A CONSUMER UNIT THAT DISTRIBUTES ELECTRICITY THROUGHOUT THE HOME/CLASSROOM. IT IS MADE UP OF 2 UNITS - MCBs AND RCCB.

MINI CIRCUIT BREAKERS

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A SMALL ELECTROMAGNETIC SWITH WHICH WORKS LIKE A FUSE. BUT WE DO NOT NEED TO CHANGE THE MCB AS IT DOES NOT 'BLOWS'. THE MCBs BREAK THE CIRCUIT BY 'TRIPPING' WHEN THE CURRENT FLOWING THROUGH THE CIRCUIT IS TOO HIGH.

RESIDUAL CURRENT CIRCUIT BREAKER

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AN ELECTROMAGNETIC SWITCH THAT SWITCHES OFF THE POWER SUPPLY WHEN THERE IS A CURRENT LEAKAGE FLOWING THROUGH THE EARTH WIRE EXCEEDS 30mA.

FUSE

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A SHORT, THIN PIECE OF WIRE THAT WILL HEAT UP AND MELT WHEN THE CURRENT FLOWING THROUGH THE WIRE IS MUCH HIGHER THAN ITS RATING. WHEN A FUSE 'BLOWS', IT HAS TO BE REPLACED BY A NEW FUSE OF THE CORRECT RATING. THE RATINGS ARE WRITTEN ON THE FUSE.

THREE PIN PLUG

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THERE ARE THREE WIRES ATTACHED TO EACH OF THE PIN IN THE PLUGS - EARTH, LIVE AND NEUTRAL. LIVE AND NEUTRAL WIRES ARE ATTACHED TO THE MAIN SUPPLY WITH THE LIVE WIRE CONNECTED TO THE FUSE.THE EARTH WIRE IS A SAFETY WIRE.

DOUBLE INSULATION