[TenTec] Electric safety

[Phil Sussman]

Notwithstanding the dangers involved concerning the transfer of voltage 
from equipment to you, there is also the inverse to consider. That is,
the transfer of voltage from you into the equipment.

It works both ways! I'm speaking, of course, of ESD (Electro Static
Discharge) the silent killer of many modern microelectronic circuits.
So, while you take care when in the presence of voltage for your own
protection, also take care NOT to discharge yourself into your equipment.
The human body, or metal, or carbon, can easily transfer 20 KV or more
into delicate circuits with a quick little low current static discharge.
Results of that quick spark can be instant or merely shorten equipment 
life drastically.

I heartily suggest brushing up on ESD before you open that equipment
cover.

Just a thought!

73 de Phil - N8PS




 
> With care its not all that hard, if you believe ALL the book tells you
> about connections and wire colors but even electricians some times don't
> understand the need for separate ground wires since by their
> understanding of circuits the safety ground adds nothing to the circuit
> function or safety. Just that when the metal case of the tool is
> grounded to the return wire (neutral) and that wire breaks the tool case
> is now at 120 volts with the impedance of the motor in series. When it
> only takes 50 milliamps to put the heart into fibrillation, the
> impedance of a 7 or 15 amp series motor has no effect on the current
> through the heart.