Mains Powerboard Earth light.

Thread Starter

Art

Joined Sep 10, 2007
806
Hi Guys,
I was wondering how the 4/6 way powerboards with earth light on them know that the earth is good?

It's not something I need to play with, I'm just wondering how you can trust them?
I suspect because our neutral is tied to earth at the power station,
We could locally connect a neon between active and earth to light the neon.
Same as if we touched an active line and our body was earthed, there would be trouble.
Cheers, Art.
 

Thread Starter

Art

Joined Sep 10, 2007
806
Mine is a neon, so I assume they use a pigtail neon with series resistor
same is in the power on indicator between active and neutral.

It wouldn't be a bad idea for some metal chassis appliances to have one.
 

MaxHeadRoom

Joined Jul 18, 2013
28,619
The neon screwdriver testers rely on you holding the metal pocket clip or whatever for your body to complete the path to earth, if you just hold the insulated part you get no light!
Max.
 
Last edited:

Thread Starter

Art

Joined Sep 10, 2007
806
I'm talking about something more permanent like this:
http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=PP4037
I have a four way powerboard that has the "grounded" LED.
For my powerboard it's labeled "Earthed" and I think it's a pigtail neon.

A tester that requires you touch a conductor to earth something
I figure it must be of enough impedance, the testing thing itself, to not hurt you.






The neon screwdriver testers rely on you holding the metal pocket clip or whatever for your body to complete the path to earth, if you just hold the insulated part you get no light!
Max.
 
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