Ten dumb things smart people do when testing electricity * |
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![]() Anyone who makes their living by working with electricity quickly develops a healthy respect for anything with even a remote chance of being “live.” Yet the pressures of getting a job done on time or getting a mission-critical piece of equipment back on line can result in carelessness and uncharacteristic mistakes by even the most seasoned electrician. The list below was developed as a quick reminder of what not to do when taking electrical measurements.
If your digital multimeter (DMM) meets today’s safety standards, that fuse is a special safety sand fuse designed to pop before an overload hits your hand. When you change your DMM fuse, be sure to replace it with anauthorized fuse. That may seem like a quick fix if you’re caught without an extra fuse, but that fuse could be all that ends up between you and a spike headed your way. It’s important to match your DMM to the work ahead. Make sure your test tool holds the correct CAT rating for each job you do, even if it means switching DMMs throughout the day. You can upgrade later, right? Maybe not, if you end up a victim of a safety accident because that cheap test tool didn’t actually contain the safety features it advertised. Look for independent laboratory testing. Take them out. Put them on. It’s important. Ditto insulated gloves and flame-resistant clothing. De-energize the circuit whenever possible. If the situation requires you to work on a live circuit, use properly insulated tools, wear hearing protection, safety glasses and an arc rated face shield or hood if required, and insulated gloves. Remove watches or other jewelry, stand on an insulated mat and wear flame-resistant clothing, not regular work clothes. Don’t! When working with live circuits, remember the old electrician’s trick. Keep one hand in your pocket. That lessens the chance of a closed circuit across your chest and through your heart. Hang or rest the meter if possible. Try to avoid holding it with your hands to minimize personal exposure to the effects of transients. For hazardous measurement applications,additional measures for reducing the risk of hazard and arc flash should be considered. These include the use of protective equipment including gloves, clothing, and eyewear as prescribed by NFPA 70E and NEC (National Electrical Code) Article 110.16 for flash protection, plus consideration for additional local government and country requirements. Test leads are an important component of DMM safety. Make sure your leads match the CAT level of your job as well. Look for test leads with double insulation, shrouded input connectors, finger guards and a non-slip surface. Today’s test tools contain safety features unheard of even a few years ago, features that are worth the cost of an equipment upgrade and a lot less expensive than an emergency room visit. Back to Top
Back to Top* Courtesy of the Fluke Corporation
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