Electrics Explained
1.Why Is It Important To Earth The Lights In My House?
2.Why Is It Important To Have An RCD Installed In My House?
3.Who Should Install An RCD?
4.Why Should I Get My Old Fusebox Replaced With A New Tripswitch Board?
5.How Can My Old Fuse Board Cause A Fire?
6.Who Should Install A Tripswitch Board?
7.What Are Mains Linked Smoke Detectors And Why Should I Get Them Installed In My House?
8.Why should my house be properly earthed?
Q 1: Why Is It Important To Earth The Lights In My House?
1: When a metal light is not earthed it means that if anything goes wrong with that light then the light becomes live and anything it is screwed into also becomes live. That means that when you touch that light or the area around that light then you become live.
So getting your lights earthed is highly recommended.
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2: Why Is It Important To Have An RCD Installed In My House?
RCD stands for 'residual current device'. This may not mean much to you but it can save your life.
This device, in my opinion, is the one most important safety device in your home.It regularly saves lives.When an RCD is installed in your house properly this means that if you accidentally plug in and touch something that is live then instead of you getting an electric shock the power will automatically trip off in less than half a second. It can also detect potential fire hazards and trip the power off.
By law RCD units have been installed in all homes since 1980 but there are still many homes in Ireland which do not have one, or have ones which are installed incorrectly.
MAKE SURE YOU HAVE AN RCD AND IT IS WORKING PROPERLY.
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3: Who Should Install An RCD?
To install an RCD properly it is sometimes necessary to clear faults that exist in the wiring and also to make sure the earthing in the house will work. This means that you should get a qualified electrician who knows exactly what he is doing to install an RCD, and to test it.
Many times I have come across RCD units installed in houses which are simply not doing what they are supposed to be doing.
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4: Why Should I Get My Old Fusebox Replaced With A New Tripswitch Board?
A: If you have an old fuse box installed in your house then this fuse box is at the very least 35 years old.
- It is a potential fire hazard ( see next question)
- Your new trip switch board will be fitted with an RCD.( see previous question)
- Your new trip switch board will be fully fireproof with a fireproof base.
- It will contain mcb units instead of fuses which give you better protection from fire and electric shock.
- It will be a lot easier to use because it will be easier to recognise when a fault has occurred and to reset it.No more searching for fuses in the dark.
- Lastly it looks a better, more streamlined with a door at the front.
- In fact it can be mounted into the wall and can be completely inconspicuous.
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5: How Can My Old Fuse Board Cause A Fire?
If you have an old fuse box installed in your house then this fuse box is at the very least 35 years old and is a potential fire hazard.
HOW?
Stage 1. First stage the screwed connections and especially the main fuse unit and the hand tightened connection of the fuse can become loose with age. When an electrical connection is loose it begins to overheat.
Stage 2. When it overheats it becomes looser and eventually it will get dangerously hot, red hot.
Stage 3. If left it will start to melt anything around it and if there is anything flammable around it (timber, clothes etc.). With extreme heat these items will dry out will combust and a fire can start.
NOTE: I have been called to jobs many times in the Clontarf and surrounding area where I have seen fuse boards in the three stages above.
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6: Who Should Install A Tripswitch Board?
A: Installing a tripswitch board properly is a job for a qualified Electrician.
Where are a number of things which have to be got right and a number of things which can go wrong. It is sometimes necessary to clear faults that exist in the wiring and also to make sure the earthing in the house will work.
The siting of the tripswitch board, the earthing, the MCB sizes, etc. all have to be got right
Many times I have come across tripswitch boards installed in houses which are simply not doing what they are supposed to be doing.
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7: What Are Mains Linked Smoke Detectors And Why Should I Get Them Installed In My House?
A: Mains linked smoke detectors can save lives, especially in larger houses.
Example: A mains smoke or heat detector is installed in the kitchen, the hall and the landing.
You are upstairs in the bedroom with the door closed.
The kitchen door is also closed. You have mistakenly left the cooker on and a tee towel begins to smoulder. The kitchen begins to fill with smoke.
With a standard battery smoke alarm, you will not hear the alarm from the bedroom; the fire spreads.
With a Mains Linked smoke alarm, the alarm in the hall and the landing will also sound, you will hear the alarm in time. The mains alarms are powered by the mains electricity which means they do not rely on batteries to work.
How many times have you seen smoke alarms with the batteries out?
8: Why should my house be properly earthed?
A:All the metal parts of the appliances and lights in your house are connected through the wiring system to the "main earth" (also called the neutraliser) at the fuseboard.
If a fault occurs and this "main earth" is not properly connected all the metal of all the appliances (and also the copper pipes) can become LIVE which could result in an electric shock.
This is why it is VERY important that you have the main earth checked by a qualified electrician and make sure that it will work properly in the event of a fault.
This earth should be checked visually but also with an earth loop meter.
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