Damian Bennett Electricians – The Poole Electrician – Call Today – Tel : 0793 255 7563
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In domestic premises, all sockets outlets, which may be used for portable equipment outdoors, should be protected by an RCD ( a safety device that switches off the electricity automatically when it detects an earth fault) to provide protection against electric shock.
Sockets which are below worktops in the kitchen are normally considered to be not used for outdoor electrical equipment, and would hence not RCD protected. Sensitive RCD protection is not normally used on socket outlets intended for refrigerators and freezers.
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Damian Bennett Electricians – The Poole Electrician – Call Today – Tel : 0793 255 7563
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This article is meant to help you to use electrical items safely outside and avoid electrical accidents. The risk of an electric shock causing serious injury or death, is greater outdoors than indoors, due to possible wet conditions and physical contact with the ground.
Residual Current Devices
An Residual Current Device(RCD) is a device that automatically switches off the electricity when it detects the cable shorts. Any socket that might be used for powering any portable electrical equipment that you will be using outside, should be RCD protected.
An RCD with a maximum rated residual operating current of 30 milliamperes (mA) should give you optimal protection. If your socket-outlet is not protected by an RCD, purchase a good quality plug-in RCD adaptor from a reputable dealer, as a temporary measure. The best option is to get a registered electrician to install RCD protection to all sockets that might be used for 230 V portable electrical equipment you will use outdoors.
Your RCDs need to be tested four times a year in line with a notice that should be located near them. This should involve pushing the red test button and ensuring that the RCD turns off the power supply immediately. Regular testing is important, to ensure correct operation of the RCD mechanism in the event of a fault.
Unwinding extension cable from the reel
When in use, extension cables that are coiled up on a reel can overheat, causing damage to the cable, which may in extreme cases result in fire. The risk of electric shocks from such extreme damage increases, which could prove to be fatal or cause injury.
An unwound cable reduces the risk of overheating and the risk of fire or electric shock.
Wet conditions
Do not use electrical equipment in areas that are being watered or when it is raining. The risk of injury, or even death, from electric shock are much higher in wet conditions, compared to the dry. The ground may also be more slippery in the wet which consequently increases the risk of accidents. In wet conditions electrical equipment may also suffer damage.
Using electrical equipment in the garden in dry conditions reduces the risk of an accident.
If you would like to discuss any aspect of your electrics call me or drop me a line at The Poole Electrician.
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Damian Bennett Electricians – The Poole Electrician – Call Today – Tel : 0793 255 7563