@GopherT
Any switch connected to the mains must have a modest amount of insulation between you and the electrical connection. But if your hands are wet (or the switch), and you touch it (which in itself is just plain stupid), then in either scenario you would be in parallel with the ground and live. I cant see any scenario where you would be in series with anything unless you put your finger on one side of the switch and then the other.

Overall, switch on the live side = much safer.

Agreed! ---And anyway - even 'idiot proofing' has definite limits!

 

I was asking about high-side and low-side switching because I have seen older "how-to" books and example circuits show both options depending on where the source of power is and where the lamp may be. I haven't looked at a book on the topic in 20+ years but I was always surprised there wasn't a standard - apparently there is. Maybe the editing standard of the how-to books didn't have standards.

 

N.A. standards

NEC, CEC, NFPA79:
"Each disconnecting means shall disconnect all ungrounded conductors of a single supply circuit".
Max.

 

Plus you want to be in parallel to the mains so that the RCD trips.
Any current flowing through a device will not trigger an RCD. Any current through you and ground will.

I take it RCD=GFI/GFCI?

Fairly drowning in alphabet soup
HP

 

RCD used in the British Commonwealth!
Max.

 

RCD used in the British Commonwealth!
Max.

Thanks! Somehow I missed that one in the daze (sic) of my youth

Best regards
HP

 

Whoops forgot about that RCD being UK

 

Used to be ELT when I last practiced there!
*Earth Leakage Trip*.
Max.

 

RE:GFCI/RCD/ELT
I am uncertain as regards the timing of general adoption of such devices...? --- Though I expect they predate me - I don't recall seeing them in the early 80's...

Best regards
HP

 

There are rare cases where neutral can be switched. My recollection of NEC codes is only in a piece of equipment. I've only seen one piece of equipment that did switch the neutral ad it was powered by 70 A 3 phase , 5-wire and generated 15 kV at 1.5 Amps.

It was an older version of one of these: http://www.telemark.com/e_beam_power_supplies/e_beam_power_supplies.php

 

Thanks! Somehow I missed that one in the daze (sic) of my youth

Best regards
HP

Would this then support my suspicions that your origin is not of N.A.?
U.K. maybe?
Max.

 

Would this then support my suspicions that your origin is not of N.A.?
U.K. maybe?
Max.

I'm native NA (Spec: USA) but resided the UK during my 'formative' years...

Thanks for your interest
HP

 

I was close!
Funny how little 'ism's give us away.
Max.