Electrical safety

Yesterday I passed SFS6002 electrical safety course and got SFS 6002 käytännössä book. SFS 6002 electrical safety training is for all electrical work in Finland engaged in compulsory education, which must be renewed every five years. Now I know somewhat more than before on electrical safety related to electrical installations.

SFS6002 is a Finnish standard how electrical work should be performed safely. It is based on European general standard EN 50110-1 (Operation of electrical installations – Part 1: General requirements) plus Finnish national additions to it.

If you want to get your hands on the original European EN 50110-1 standard, you need to buy it. There are also free information on standard available: British edition of the standard BS EN 50110-1:2004 can be found on-line.

 

779 Comments

  1. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Dangerous Chinese Power Extension (+ wire maths & circuit breakers explained)
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kEd1bVSyME

    So I managed to make a 22 minute video about a piece of wire :). Actually, I made a thorough analysis of a cheap and dangerous power extension from China for LED strings or anything else.

    Power Extension Load Test
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jf8ygFJtOCg

    Today I made an (over)load test of the dodgy power extension

    Most power strips may cause a fire when overloaded, but some are risky even when loaded within their rating.

    Reply
  2. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Dangerous Euro Extension Lead purchased in Greece
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ajdXuzDD0s

    A dangerous and poor quality extension lead purchased in Greece with Russian or Ukrainian packaging. Everything about this device is a fail.

    Reply
  3. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Double male electric extension cord danger
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izBOouh6JJk

    Explains danger of making and using a double male electric extension cord due to electricity traveling through both ends.

    Just don’t do it, please.

    Is it safe to plug power bars into power bars?
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jyHOKpDhUc

    Common sense says no more then 1 power strip at a time just because of the fact you can plug a lot of things in already. Most power strip packages they tell you not to plug multiple strips into each other. If you need a second one, use both wall plugs. These cheap power strips are a joke

    Reply
  4. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Panther Extension Cord – Dangerous?
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqyejMf-oFc

    I review the Panther PSP 1102; a Philippine made extension cord.

    When I first thought of creating this review video, I was expecting it to be a positive review since I’ve previously been impressed with Panther products. After opening the extension cord and then looking closer, I realised that it’s potentially a dangerous product.

    Reply
  5. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Dangerous, Extension Lead: Repair/ Analysis.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLYiMZqLbgQ

    Bit of a somewhat educational video, looking at a dubious electrical RS components branded extension lead. the device its self has been re-instated in service providing power to the fridges in the kitchen.

    Reply
  6. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Dangerous Chinese Travel Extension with USB Charger – teardown
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOzjjWAVBrU

    Today I made a teardown of a travel power extension socket with a USB charger from China with a picture of a mouse on it. It has a mains plug, a cable, mains socket and 4 USB sockets. It immediately looks quite dangerous because of a very thin mains cable and a 3-terminal mains socket, despite the mains plug is just 2-pin non-grounded. The ground (earth) terminal doesn’t go anywhere. The charger can’t continuously supply the claimed 4.8A current and the mains isolation is questionable. Risk of electric shock and fire.

    Reply
  7. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Extension Lead Overload
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGPkkOU3Uf8

    What happens when you overload an extension lead?
    If you’re a homeowner, you may be shocked and scared by the results.

    For once I decide to provide some useful consumer information. You’ve probably been warned not to plug too many appliances into an extension lead before, you may even have seen pictures of the charred remains where someone made that very mistake.
    But you’ve probably never seen exactly what happens when you do overload an extension lead.

    Luckily for you, when I want to do something i’ll normally just go and do it. And I wanted to see what happens when you overload two different flavours of UK extension leads, so I did.

    In this video you’ll see a standard 4-gang power-block style and a cassette style extension lead, both pushed to their limits by a slightly modified arc welder to simulate an electrical overload.

    A 13 amp fuse might not blow until the current through it reaches even 22 amps – which is more than enough to make the device heat up to dangerously high temperatures – and if there is a fault it could immediately start a fire.

    Always consult your extension lead’s destruction manual before using it, and ensure that the maximum load rating is not exceeded. If it is rated for 10 amps (or 2400 watts) like the ones shown in the video, a 2500 watt heater for example will overload it and should not be used.
    If you use a ‘reel’, ‘wind-up’ or cassette style extension lead, you should also take note of the separate power rating for fully wound, compared to unwound.

    Reply
  8. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Dangerous Multimeters (+ Explosion, Smoke & Fire)
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjtoIRclid8

    Sharing my explosive experiences with dangerous multimeters and recreating the explosion of the probe that originally exploded inside my hand. Some multimeters can’t handle mains voltage on some ranges, despite the manual claims they should. They often claim maximal voltage to be 500 to 1000V, despite the fuse is rated only 250V. The cables have very thin copper core, despite being rated 10 or even 20A. In use, they get very hot. As the cables of the multimeter are frequently used and are exposed to bending, the copper core slowly breaks, until just few hairs remain. This mostly happens where the cable leaves the probe. Then you measure a high current (like 10A) and the cable just EXPLODES!!! This is exactly what happened to me while measuring the current of a 230V 10A load. The multimeter probe exploded in my hand and miraculously only burned me but it didn’t electrocute me.

    Reply
  9. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Tiny $2 Multimeter with 1000V Range! Test with Smoke
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AK02JakVVPY

    Testing a tiny Chinese $2.20 analog multimeter with 1000V AC / DC range. This little thing has very small probes, thin cables and loose plugs.

    If you really want to use such multimeter, use it only for safe voltages and low currents.

    Reply
  10. Tomi Engdahl says:

    The GFCI/RCD: A Simple but Life-Saving Protector
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILBjnZq0n8s

    These devices are a common sight in homes and businesses around the US and around the world. But what are they for? Why do we need them? This video explores the life-saving potential of the GFCI (known alias: RCD) and explains how they work.

    Reply
  11. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Top 10➤ DANGEROUS Short Circuit
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNfedRe6dd0

    a compilation of short circuit and electric blast.

    Reply
  12. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Electricity Fails – Electrical Explosion [TNT Channel]
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhBbF4A_gBI

    Dangerously beautiful!

    Comments:

    For any who aren’t yet aware, I wanted to warn you about observing these incident’s.It’s very easy to get mesmerized and stare but depending on your distance, your eyes can get damaged when a transformer blows.

    You should never look directly at it; the radiation from the plasma can damage the eye’s retina.

    its the same light when you are welding. Its sending out UV radiation that damages your eyes

    Reply
  13. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Why Different Countries Use Different Plugs
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJQOxpcq1zA

    Why do different countries all around the world use so many different plugs, and why can’t we standardize them all?

    Reply
  14. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Why you should keep ground up on electrical outlet
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmVH5En6x6o

    This is a demonstration of why you should keep the ground up on an electrical outlet. If a metal object were to fall between the hot and neutral prongs, it can cause injuries or damage to your equipments. The better solution would be to install a GFCI outlet or a GFCI circuit and a surge protector for your home.

    Demonstration of a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) – Don’t try this at home!!
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UT2EDYXYWIY

    Demonstration of a Ground Fault Circuit interrupter (GFCI).

    Reply
  15. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Power strip failure analysis
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZH4grCIK52Q

    A brand-new power strip emitted a loud pop and left a soot mark on my friend’s hand when he plugged it into the wall. No devices were attached to the power strip. I decided to take the thing apart to see what failed. The circuit breaker in the household electrical system did NOT trip during this event.

    My guess is that a very fine piece of wire bridged the neutral and hot terminals on the switch. When power was applied, the whisker vaporized.

    Think You’re Protected? Power Strip Blows Up!
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arN-rGcejNw

    Panamax’s Marshall Currier demonstrates how OVER VOLTAGE is one of the many types of power problems a Home Theater system can daily experience. Most standard surge protectors, even with the highest joule ratings, can’t stop a 200 volt swell from leaking through to your precious equipment, shortening the life of your components internal circuits.

    Watch how the MFP400 flat panel Power Management product protects repeatedly against the 200V surge and the competitive product doesnt survive!

    Reply
  16. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Made In China Power Strip – EXTREME FIRE HAZARD!
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqamvvLDcMg

    Deadly fire shines light on power strip safety
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7cUixU_Pj4

    Reply
  17. Tomi Engdahl says:

    The Dangers of UK Safety Socket Covers
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-WhFgaqCX0

    Demonstrates how socket covers for UK power sockets are actually dangerous, not just useless.

    British Plugs Are Better Than All Other Plugs, And Here’s Why
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEfP1OKKz_Q

    Reply
  18. Tomi Engdahl says:

    A Bright Arc: A Guide to Power Line Safety
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tIa564zW74

    This video deals with the dangers of working near overhead and underground power lines. Dramatic footage and computer animation show what can happen if you or someone on your jobsite accidentally contacts an energized power line.

    Electrical Safety: Crane Truck Contact
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBUvYh93pQc

    In this video, a crane truck operator contacts a high-voltage power line. If this happens and you are not in immediate danger, stay put until help arrives. If you are in immediate danger, shuffle at least 10 metres away from the point of contact.

    Reply
  19. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Power Line Safety
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glJQIlnbpvs

    Live Wire Demonstration
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Xoyb9M5-EA

    Dominion Safety Experts travel our service area conducting live wire demonstrations for fire departments and emergency responders to alert them to the dangers of working around power lines.

    Reply
  20. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Power Strips Whatever Something Something: Furman SS-6B vs. Belkin Surge Protector [G9S12FG9]
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvgtm85D8RY

    Wow, 3 different power strips!? What are the odds??

    Reply
  21. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Technical Pro PS9U vs. Cyberpower CPS-1220RMS PDU (And One is a Fire Hazard) [C39FD0152]
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgfoHJEdg7Q

    I had the occasion to buy a Technical Pro PS9U from Amazon, precisely because it had a bunch of really bad reviews. Like fire-and-meltdown bad. This intrigued me, because I wanted a product just like this and, well, how bad could it be?

    Reply
  22. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Are Power Strips Safe?
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKVDupwshIk

    Do you have a power strip under your desk? Perhaps you have them all around your house, serving a dual purpose of both increasing the number of plugs at a given place and protecting your electronics from sudden surges. Are these power strips safe? How can you tell one is about to go out? Could you be overloading your power strip?

    Power strip failure analysis
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZH4grCIK52Q

    A brand-new power strip emitted a loud pop and left a soot mark on my friend’s hand when he plugged it into the wall. No devices were attached to the power strip. I decided to take the thing apart to see what failed. The circuit breaker in the household electrical system did NOT trip during this event.

    My guess is that a very fine piece of wire bridged the neutral and hot terminals on the switch. When power was applied, the whisker vaporized.

    Reply
  23. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Inside a Failed and Recalled APC Surge Protector
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4t9cSK6poc

    In this video I took a part a failed APC surge protector and analyzed its failure mode. More information on
    http://www.kerrywong.com/2018/06/10/unusual-failure-mode-of-an-apc-surge-protector/

    Reply
  24. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Testing the Wet Circuits Power Strip
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dmi7gacx8KE

    We pour water over a power strip while it’s plugged into an outlet. It’s not our finest moment.

    Comments:
    it isn’t water resistant at all , be careful …

    the way this strip works is it has mechanical switches inside , so the terminals are isolated from electricity when nothing is plugged in
    once you plug in the socket , it become a normal power strip , the contacts will be live.

    its well designed , uses high quality materials, cable and cord , but again … it is NOT a water proof strip

    Reply
  25. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Power supply electric shocks.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YP8okiLOdKk

    I got asked if I could take a look at some LED strip and its power supply. The owner had received a small shock from the supply while testing the LED strip.

    Reply
  26. Tomi Engdahl says:

    2015-09-10 – Power Strip Safety
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLhir422VyE

    This is a FOX 13 segment that I captured to demonstrate safety usage with power strips.

    49Macman
    2 vuotta sitten
    I’m confused. The one they are showing appears to have a circuit breaker on it. However, it is toast. I think it is the one that I have used and am about to re-use.

    Reply
  27. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Tips On Power Strip Safety, Electrical Fire Prevention
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9ObdKFSnN8

    Christmas lights adorn our trees and deck the halls of our home, thanks to the convenience of the power strip. But a fire at Pier 38 last week has many concerned about the safety of the devices.

    Reply
  28. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Think You’re Protected? Power Strip Blows Up!
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arN-rGcejNw

    Panamax’s Marshall Currier demonstrates how OVER VOLTAGE is one of the many types of power problems a Home Theater system can daily experience. Most standard surge protectors, even with the highest joule ratings, can’t stop a 200 volt swell from leaking through to your precious equipment, shortening the life of your components internal circuits.

    Watch how the MFP400 flat panel Power Management product protects repeatedly against the 200V surge and the competitive product doesnt survive!

    Reply
  29. Tomi Engdahl says:

    TSMC’s Outlook Underscores Foundry Market Challenges
    https://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1334227

    TSMC’s announcement last week that it expects its quarterly sales to decline precipitously quarter to quarter put the chip foundry market on notice as it begins what is expected to be a challenging year.

    TSMC (Hsinchu, Taiwan) said that it expects sales to decline nearly 14% quarter to quarter to between $7.3 billion and $7.4 billion. It would be the largest quarter-to-quarter sales decline for the world’s leading foundry since 2009.

    Reply
  30. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Inside a Hyundai surge protection strip. (With schematic.)
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBeSDAp5kCw

    Having looked in another surge protection strip I thought it would be worth getting a different brand to compare them.

    Reply
  31. Tomi Engdahl says:

    PVC, Rubber, LSOH Cable Insulation Compared
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hyN3NOmqGo

    How much smoke and flame will various types of wire insulation produce when overloaded?

    Three types of wire are compared – ancient rubber insulated cotton covered wire, modern PVC insulated wire, and modern LSOH wire.

    Reply
  32. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Monster Power HTS 1000 MKII buzzing noise
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXSbdedv_Qw

    A ten year old Monster Power HTS 1000 MKII surge protector starts making buzzing noise. Find out what’s causing it as I troubleshoot and fix the problem.

    Reply
  33. Tomi Engdahl says:

    720V vs. “Surge Protector”
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaVQygsJ46c

    720VAC, fault current was about 100A. Power about 70kVA.

    I wonder if the fault lasted long enough to cause damage to whatever is plugged in.

    Reply
  34. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Fuse vs Circuit Breaker │ Difference between Fuse and Circuit Breaker │
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7TcGgoK5P8

    Electricity is the main power source in our households and industry. With its innumerous advantages, still electricity may cause problems in any application if not regulated properly. An overload in electrical power can damage any appliances or machinery connected to the power supply line; perhaps even cause loss of life. Both fuses and circuit breakers are devices used to prevent damage due to power overloads. The idea behind the safety features like fuses and circuit breakers is to disconnect the internal circuit from the power main, when an excessive voltage or current tries to pass through that.

    Reply
  35. Tomi Engdahl says:

    What is Ground? Earth Ground/Earthing
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLW_7TPf310

    What is ground and what does it mean to do Earthing? Here I answer what ground is, how it relates to your wall socket and the wiring in your appliances, how to get grounds for your high voltage and other experiments, and about the ground symbol in electrical schematics.

    Reply
  36. Tomi Engdahl says:

    British weatherproof socket with clever design. (bonus rant)
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqOzWunmKdE

    In the past, outdoor electrical stuff involved either waterproof connectors or sheltered sockets. With the increasing amount of outdoor electrical stuff this style of weatherproof socket has become very common. Although intended for walls of buildings I’ve seen them used on lamp posts for Christmas lighting as an alternative to the traditional blue Ceeform connectors.
    They allow the use of an ordinary non-waterproof plug for an outdoor application by shrouding it and its cable completely inside an enclosure with a sealed lid.

    I disapprove of protection rackets and firmly believe that people have a right to do electrical work in their own homes. The resultant cash-for-approval system and its shallow crash-training seems to put more emphasis on filling out paperwork than it does on proper electrical theory. A very high percentage of modern “electricians” are suffering badly from the Dunning Kruger effect where their confidence is inversely proportional to their skills.

    Reply
  37. Tomi Engdahl says:

    AFDD – Arc Fault Detection Device – Part 1
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVpXQa6EW3k

    An Eaton AFDD connected to power and tripped using various methods.

    Comments:

    Worth staying a huge difference between UK and American systems. Whilst similar in principle very different. This video is a great public service given the marketing of some companies show bedside cabinets with lamps next to sleep kids and it evidently needs high current faults to work..

    Reply
  38. Tomi Engdahl says:

    NESMA Victoria 2013 Seminar Short Circuit testing
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwXmChaTdQI

    IEC 61439 – Short-circuit withstand tests
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qu-ssfQRRJg

    Short-circuit withstand testing, examples of rated conditional short-circuit (Icc) tests on functional units of a low-voltage assembly (Protective device trip units are enabled)

    Reply
  39. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Short Circuit Testing
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KvWZgD4u3g

    Short Circuit Test Lab
    25kA @ 6Seconds
    Designed and built by Electropar

    Centaur Short Circuit Test – KEMA Arnhem 2008
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPiH5X-Dz54

    Reply
  40. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Do Volts or Amps Kill You? Voltage, Current and Resistance
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iKD7vuq-rY

    There’s a saying that “it’s not the volts that kills you, it’s the amps” and while that’s true in a way, you can’t have amps without volts and skin resistance plays a big part too. This video explores all this, introducing voltage, current and resistance for those new to these things.

    Reply
  41. Tomi Engdahl says:

    EEVblog #996 – What Is The CE Mark On A Product?
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0uvS80YIGU

    What does the CE mark on a product actually mean?
    How do you get one?
    What is it NOT?
    What is a Declaration Of Conformity?
    There might more to this mark than you realised!

    The FCC mark is also discussed.

    Reply
  42. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Dangers of arc flash
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDLKLnVdlWE

    In this video, Fluke presents common dangers associated with arc flash, as well as what to watch for.

    Electrical Measurement Safety
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzwN8yibjjA

    Watch our video and stay safe.

    Reply

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