rob on thu 1 may 03
> Janet:
>
> Whoa. Nanny State is right. I lived in England for a while as a student,
> but I don't remember it being that bad then. On the other hand, I wasn't
> doing anything like hard-wiring a kiln.
>
> One thing...electricity isn't the most dangerous thing in the world;
> stupidity is. Carelessness runs a close second.
>
> Rob Van Rens
> -at Pine Ridge Pottery Supply in Alexandria, VA
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Janet Kaiser"
> To:
> Sent: Wednesday, April 30, 2003 10:18 PM
> Subject: Re: hardwiring a kiln
>
>
> > I just want to point out (again) that hard wiring is the ONLY option BY
> LAW
> > in the UK and various other countries. It is NOT a matter of personal
> > choice, preference or prejudice.
> >
> > Just as well, because most people have little more than a very
elementary
> > knowledge of electricity and what is and is not safe. Even though I
> > restrict myself to connecting light fittings, changing plugs, renewing
> > wiring on lamps, irons, etc. and would not dream of stalling anything
> > serious like circuits, reading some recent posts has made me feel quite
> > ill. And not just Lisa's initial mail! If you were a cat, Lisa, there
goes
> > one of your nine lives FOR SURE!!! As you are not, you are one very
lucky
> > woman!
> >
> > 220-40V is more than enough to kill anyone. It is why anyone with any
> sense
> > uses a circuit breaker when working with "high risk" equipment like
> > electric strimmers, hedge cutters, lawn mowers, saws, etc. where it only
> > takes a slight of hand to cut through the cord... They only cost a few
> > pounds. When working with power tools at a bench in a workshop, rubber
> > matting underfoot is also a good idea, just as wearing gum boots or
rubber
> > (not plastic) soled shoes when gardening. It is not being a whimp...
Apart
> > from being good practice, it can be a life-saving strategy!
> >
> > Here in the UK the 6, 16 and 32 amp circuit breaking fuses are clearly
> > marked and colour-coded in the main fuse box. The circuits also have
> > different gauge wiring, depending on whether lighting, sockets or
> equipment
> > like ovens and kilns are connected. Anything from a domestic cooker
> upwards
> > MUST be on its OWN DIRECT CIRCUIT with a hard wired switch within easy
> > reach. This is normally either immediately above or beside the equipment
> > concerned, certainly not the other side of the room and absolutely not
out
> > of the room altogether!! Every child knows that the switch is ON when
the
> > red light is glowing and OFF when it is not. The ON and OFF are also
> > written on the switch panel (unlike ordinary sockets, where up is off
and
> > down is on) and equipment should always be switched off when not in use.
> > Even people who do not go around unplugging the TV etc. before they go
to
> > bed at night (recommended practice), will switch off any "main switches"
> > like ovens or kilns immediately after use. BTW Not doing so will
actually
> > nullify any insurance in the case of that equipment causing a fire!
> >
> > In the event of work needing to be done and before anything is
undertaken,
> > not only is this switch turned off, the correctly labelled RED fuse in
the
> > main fuse box is put firmly OFF too. (the blue and yellow coding on the
> > other fuses are for the socket and lighting circuits in the building).
If
> > in any doubt at all, the whole building is put into darkness by
switching
> > off the main supply.
> >
> > For what it is worth, I am utterly appalled at people wanting to simply
> > plug anything more than the tiniest test or enameling kiln into a
socket!
> > How hot do the plugs get? What about the wear and tear on the wiring
> > through all the plugging-in and out? Can you be sure that the wiring to
> > that socket is the right gauge? Two-pin plugs not even earthed are they?
> > Let alone fitted with removable and testable fuses? You don't have
socket
> > switches either, do you? So the cable is live from the socket to the
kiln.
> > And that is therefore exposed and vulnerable to both visible and unseen
> > internal damage by various means!?
> >
> > Geez. The UK may be turning into a Nanny State, but electricity is the
> most
> > dangerous thing in the world. We take it for granted, but it is
> potentially
> > lethal, so I for one am glad we have some very strict regulations. If
some
> > of these horror tales of incompetent wiring and sloppy regulations are
> > anything to judge by, it is truly a wonder a workshop per week does not
go
> > up in smoke! DO PLEASE BE CAREFUL!
> >
> > 220V is exactly twice 110V... Everything gets hotter and fries quicker.
Do
> > not be the one on the receiving end!
> >
> > Sincerely
> >
> > Janet Kaiser
> >
> >
> > **********************************************************************
> > TRUTH is too precious to tell every fool who asks for it...
> > ****** This post was sent to you today by Janet Kaiser *******
> > The Chapel of Art / Capel Celfyddyd
> > 8 Marine Crescent, Criccieth LL52 0EA, Wales, UK
> > Tel: ++44 (01766) 523570 URL: http://www.the-coa.org.uk
> > **********************************************************************
> >
> >
>
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