Since stupid human was mentioned below i just had to share my story...

When i was quite young I thought I knew a bit about things electrical, so
nearing xmas the tree was up and the lights were yet to work.

So fresh out of the swimming pool, still wet and sitting on a concrete floor
I thought it was time to fix em.

I read the voltage on the bulbs, 14volts.  Ahh I thought that cant hurt me
so I began to insert wires so i could work out which bulb was open circuit.

Yes you guessed, I got a very good 240v shock, but i think the bigger shock
was that my assessment was soooo wrong.

Took me many years before i discovered exactly why i got booted.

Justin

PS Have had many a failed argument with some electrical professionals when I
tell my story and state that if you remove 1 14v bulb from daisy chained
xmas lights and measure across the 2 contacts in the light socket with a
voltmeter it will read 240v.

-----Original Message-----
From: Jinx [mailto:joecolquitt@CLEAR.NET.NZ]
Sent: Thursday, 7 November 2002 08:26
To: PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
Subject: Re: [PIC] What have you designed using PIC?


> I'm just not too sure on the safety of the system, Jinx.
> The bulbs are connected directly to AC so they would need
> suitable physical protection - how have you organised that?
>
> RP

I presume this is what you're talking about -

The strings used where sheathed in clear heat-shrink tubing. But
many 240V strings available off the shelf don't have even that
protection - the bulbs are bare and as they have passed all the
regs and been deemed fit for sale I guess you take the same risk
that you would with any exposed conductor. Obviously it's not the
intention to make something dangerous, but accidents and stupid
human tricks do happen

--
http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us!
email listserv@mitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body

--
http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList
mailto:piclist-unsubscribe-request@mitvma.mit.edu