Newsgroups: sci.electronics.misc
Subject: Re: Electric blanket safety - need some answers
References:    
Watson "Ammonium Chloride" Name  writes:
> > I suppose if one were really afraid of electrocution from any
> > appliance in any setting, then a GFCI device on the circuit containing
> > the appliance wouldn't be a *bad* idea. The GFCI would detect a
> > malfunction and shut down the circuit before the person using the
> > appliance got zapped.
> 
> Hey, has anyone noticed that you can buy a surge suppressor power strip 
> for somewhat more than a regular power strip, but you can't buy a power 
> strip with a GFCI outlet in it.  Didja ever think about why?
> 
> Like, I can manage litigation if my surge suppressor product fails to 
> protect a computer, but I think I would be in deep doo-doo if my GFCI 
> product fails to protect the life of a customer.  Like big-time wrongful 
> death lawsuit with really heavy jury awards.
> 
> This isn't so much of a problem if the GFCI outlet is installed in the 
> wall, since it is probably covered in the NEC and if it conforms, the 
> maker is covered.

There is are those thing on USA to worry maybe more than in Europe. 

Where the GFCI outlets are common in USA, the things are little 
different in European countries. The following description of thing 
is written for Finland in mind (the country I live in), but  
I think also applies mostly to many other European countries 
(countries like Sweden, Norway, Germany etc. I quess).

So the safety related things in Finland:

- The outlets with GFCI built into them are pretty much non-existent 
  here (this kind of products are available, but rarely used)

- All the dangerous locations like bathrooms, kitchens, garages, 
  outlets outside etc. must have grounded power outlets
  This regulation has been here for very long time (tens of years)

- All new building have only grounde outlets everywhere 
  (on older buildings there was usually ungroudned outlets 
   on "safe" locations like normal rooms)

- In new installations GFCIs or similar protection devices are 
  installed to the electrical panels to protect the outlets 
  on the most dangerous locations (bathroom, outside outlets etc.)
  The typical trip current on those protectors is 30 mA leakage.

- You can go to a hardware store and buy GFCI units that plugs 
  between grounded mains outlet the equipment. Those protectors 
  are widely available (cost typically around 10-40 Euros)

-- 
Tomi Engdahl (http://www.iki.fi/then/)
Take a look at my electronics web links and documents at 
http://www.epanorama.net/