your electrical safety section has a bit of a loophole I'd like to clear up...
It states that when you touch an energized circuit that isn't grounded, you don't get electrocuted. This most certainly is not true, especially if you ask anyone thats been struck by lightning. The ground is what it is only because of its ability to absorb electricity, and in doing so, dissipate it. In the diagram involving the tree touching the power line accidentally and electrocuting the unfortunate stick figure, the tree would burn before any person(or any path) touched it because of its path to ground...as well as any person, tree or not.
When you touch something energized without insulation, you create a path to ground, which instantly absorbs electricity. When you get struck by lightning, you're not touching a circuit thats grounded, you become the circuit, as well as its path to ground. If you wonder why batteries don't shock you, then use Ohm's law to figure out why.
My career evolves around electrical safety. I wear rubber gloves insulated to 36000V everyday, and I know that if you touch a wire with that kind of voltage while providing a path to ground, you will die. If the power line is given a good path to ground, there will be an flash and explosion very much like a lightning bolt, and in the case of contact with concrete poles, concrete will actually explode off the pole. I have heard many a story about people losing limbs from the burns caused by slight contact with power lines so don't forget: there may not be enough current to stop your heart, but that doesn't mean there isn't enough current for you to lose your arm.
Other than this mis-step in safety the site is great, and I'll remember it when i go to tradeschool again.
- Powerline Technician
It states that when you touch an energized circuit that isn't grounded, you don't get electrocuted. This most certainly is not true, especially if you ask anyone thats been struck by lightning. The ground is what it is only because of its ability to absorb electricity, and in doing so, dissipate it. In the diagram involving the tree touching the power line accidentally and electrocuting the unfortunate stick figure, the tree would burn before any person(or any path) touched it because of its path to ground...as well as any person, tree or not.
When you touch something energized without insulation, you create a path to ground, which instantly absorbs electricity. When you get struck by lightning, you're not touching a circuit thats grounded, you become the circuit, as well as its path to ground. If you wonder why batteries don't shock you, then use Ohm's law to figure out why.
My career evolves around electrical safety. I wear rubber gloves insulated to 36000V everyday, and I know that if you touch a wire with that kind of voltage while providing a path to ground, you will die. If the power line is given a good path to ground, there will be an flash and explosion very much like a lightning bolt, and in the case of contact with concrete poles, concrete will actually explode off the pole. I have heard many a story about people losing limbs from the burns caused by slight contact with power lines so don't forget: there may not be enough current to stop your heart, but that doesn't mean there isn't enough current for you to lose your arm.
Other than this mis-step in safety the site is great, and I'll remember it when i go to tradeschool again.
- Powerline Technician