Re: Variac Safety

["Bernard G. Cleyet & Nancy Ann Seese" <georgeann@REDSHIFT.COM>]

Immediately go to the nearest hardware or electrical supply firm and purchase an
"AC OUTLET ANALYZER"  (U ground plug with three NE 2's to indicate, which of any
possible, the  wiring of the outlet tested.)  I further test the ground by
connecting a 300W lamp to the ground and the high side of the line.  It must
appear at full brilliance.

bc



brian whatcott wrote:

> At 17:04 12/1/00 -0600, John Clement wrote:
> > > Of course labs today ought to have GFCI outlets.  Our newer labs
> > > do, but our older labs do not.
> >
> > An excellent solution for the older lab is to have a portable GFCI outlet.
>  These are easily purchased at a lumber yard or hardware store, and they
> protect your life for a few dollars.  Of course a polarized plug can also
> be added for a few cents to prevent uncomfortable shocks you can still get
> with a GFCI.  As a matter of fact the portable GFCI would be a good idea
> for any demo where wires may be exposed.
> > John M. Clement
>
> We are predisposed to favor techno-fixes. And GFCIs are techno-fixes.
>  We are adjured by makers and safety institutes to test GFCIs monthly.
> Why on earth could that be?
> Because GFCI protection is a sometimes thing. A utility or lightning spike
> can disable the solid state device that detects the 5 mA line neutral
>  imbalance at any time.
> An open-ground fault can be a shocking event when you do test a GFCI
>  if you provide the alternate ground path. Don't try this one in a damp
>  bathroom!
>
> Checking GFCIs for functionality is a good thing. Being alert to
> wiring reversals in power sockets is another good thing.
>
> If a wall power socket is configured with the ground receptacle
> at the top, which slot is live? Which slot is neutral? Left or right?
>
> Spoiler is below
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>  A 115V wall socket should be wired with live on the left, neutral on
> the right if ground is on top.
>
> brian whatcott <inet@intellisys.net>  Altus OK
>                 Eureka!