There are a few things in our minds that we would list as essential in life. For most of the population, items such as lightbulbs and other lighting fixtures are most important. Others would conclude that their refrigerators and appliances are more important, such as a trusty coffee machine. Even those would consider their gaming consoles to be their lives, and they would instead pass on than live one lifetime without it.
While these answers differ, the only factor unites them all. This would come in the form of a dangerous yet necessary power source called electricity.
One would only need to analyze all of these appliances to understand why electricity is most important for any of these appliances. Lightbulbs and rods need this power to function and brighten up each corner of the room. Devices need to be plugged in to carry out their designated function, whether found in the kitchen or for gaming.
While these are all well and good, one must remember that these are, by nature, dangerous parts of the house that could potentially cause some severe problems. There is more to this energy source than screws and plugs.
How Dangerous Is Electricity?
Being a danger to home and all who live in it, one must first understand what makes electricity powerful. Even those who do their very best to avoid anything electric have probably heard of the term “short circuit”. This term refers to an unusual connection in which excessive currents of electricity run. In simpler terms, two currents of different amounts run through a circuit.
The result of this is the overloading of the circuit. The superficial result is the termination of power throughout the circuit. Technically, houses run with one big circuit as their distributor. Using the knowledge of short circuits, we may say that these result in power termination throughout the home. Nevertheless, there are other consequences to these incidents.
As a result of a short circuit, the current can cause overheating or even fires and explosions to the circuit in general. Especially when considering residences and other buildings, these are indeed external dangers one would hope to avoid.
What About Dangers To Humans?
As they are dangerous to houses, buildings, or any other structure, one shouldn’t be surprised to know that they are also hazardous to human beings. Of course, the degree of the damage depends on the amps that flow into the body. Those ranging from 1 to 5 milliamps are the limit to which one body can take. Anything above that, however, presents a few problems. For example, consider six milliamps where this additional current would lead to respiratory paralysis and a few burns on the area contacted.
It’s common to see people holding onto exposed wires in movies or TV shows, which may seem idiotic to some. The simple solution to these people would be simply letting go of cables, but if only this were possible. But, unfortunately, a 10 to 20 mA charge would lead to muscle contractions, which explains why people can’t let go of the wires.
Those currents reaching three figures is an even bigger problem as they could cause ventricular fibrillation. This, in simple terms, is similar to cardiac arrest or the typical heart attack. This will turn fatal if continued for a few moments.
How Do You Prevent The Dangers?
With the impending dangers associated with electricity and the works, one should consider visiting a Maurice Electrical Supply or any store providing all your current needs. However, as with any other purpose for visiting hardware stores, there are always a few essentials to keep in mind.
Conduits & Fittings Make A Great Foundation
When discussing the foundation of electricity, one should picture the average wire or cord as this provides a pathway for currents to flow. However, this differs when talking about electrical safety, as one should consider conduits and fittings.
The simple job of every electrical conduit is to provide a much-needed form of protection for the wires from external factors. These metal or plastic tubes or fittings also assure the pathway of the wire in the right direction. Along with conduits and fittings, it would be best to get organized with your wires as cable trays are also available for purchase.
Industrial Controls, Automation, & Power Control
Much like any organization that you see, fictional or real, the electricity running through the currents of your home must have a “headquarters” that connects all circuits. Thankfully, there are methods to control power and assure damages are limited. These come in the form of circuit breakers and panel boards. There should be a few disconnect and safety switches available for one.
Those who find themselves more particular about the usage may also opt for relays and timers for power to flow. Other accessories such as drives and motor control also work well to achieve this.
Enclosures In Case of Emergency
As stated before, running electricity anywhere may place you at risk for a short circuit. Short-circuiting then has severe consequences in overheating, fires, and dangerous explosions. With this in mind, you may want to consider an enclosure as these help shield humans or other vital parts of the home from the explosive potential.
Even if explosions aren’t the most severe problem to consider, there are times wherein spills or unintentional accidents may happen to circuit breakers and switchboards. These could also lead to an explosion which means they are just as dangerous, requiring a few precautions.
Fortunately, there are explosion-proof boxes if these incidents happen even to the most careful of all people. In addition, circuit cabinets and device boxes allow one to accommodate areas that house current movement and the like safely.
Safety, Protection, & Signaling
As with any DIY housework, you will need the right tools for the job. Other than these tools, you need a form of protection in case the worst happens. Some of these needs are as simple as rubber gloves to prevent shocks and safety goggles that protect the eyes. Another essential item in your supplies should be the fire extinguisher, as electricity does cause potential fires.
For the technical side of things, one should also make it a point to include some access control systems, current measurement tools, and smoke alarms. These should be more than enough to work with circuits and electrical currents safely.