Apparently in Ontario (not sure about elsewhere) the electrical code
now requires these newfangled Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters for all
new dwelling areas:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arc-fault_circuit_interrupter

I'm not sure if it's in the code or not, but it was recommended to us
that a different colour wire be used for AFCI-protected circuits. Blue
14/2 is a touch on the expensive side.

Still, during installation of a light fixture (my dad likes to do this
with the circuit on but the switch off) neutral and ground wound up
shorting and the unit tripped.

On 4/23/06, Bob Axtell <engineer@cotse.net> wrote:
> Howard Winter wrote:
> > Timothy,
> >
> > On Sat, 22 Apr 2006 20:15:08 -0400, Timothy Weber wrote:
> >
> >
> >> ...
> >> I did notice when she had a screwdriver and was finding
> >> screws to push it onto - she was perilously close to some live AC
> >> outlets, so I put a stop to that and reminded her not to get near them
> >> because they're very, very hot.
> >>
> >
> > It still faintly astounds me that US mains sockets are completely unprotected - they're such an obvious place
> > for screwdrivers in little hands, that there must be a number of tragedies each year.  I realise that 110V is
> > less dangerous than 240, but it can still be fatal.  In a country that does so much to protect its children
> > (school busses, for example) this seems a curious omission.  Are shielded outlets even available as an option?
> >
> >
> We use GFI outlets. They look like regular outlets but have a fault
> detector which checks for an unbalanced line, even a few uA of a short
> (child with a screwdriver) will trip the device. Very reliable and even
> include a convenient test button, which forces a trip (at 2uA, if I recall).
> They can deliver 10A easily yet protect instantly. I have 'em all over
> the house.
>
> --Bob
>
> > Cheers,
> >
> >
> > Howard Winter
> > St.Albans, England
> >
> >
> >
>
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--
-Randy Glenn
Computer Eng. and Mgt. Year IV, McMaster University
Regional Student Representative, IEEE Canada

randy.glenn-at-gmail.com - glennrb-at-mcmaster.ca
randy.glenn-at-computer.org - randy_glenn-at-ieee.org
http://www.randyglenn.ca

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