RCD or Isolation Transformer?? What is best to use for safety

[Brumby]

I have to agree with Hero999.

The exercise of vetting such "authoritative" members alone is fraught with dangers on all sides.

Who is competent (in the legal sense) to assess this?  Aside from the various classes of licence, this is an international forum.

Even presuming you could find someone suitable for that job, as soon as there is any sense of formal competence being offered - you are taking on the liability that comes with it.  That, in itself, is a scary proposition, but this (a forum) is one of, if not the, worst platforms to execute.

Supposing you got this far ... you still have the fundamental problem of communication via a forum environment.  This is something we already have big problems with - and a significant part of that is the unknown which is the person seeking advice.  There is so much in this can of worms that it is impossible to even scratch the surface in a single post like this - but you could have someone who can safely measure a 10KV high energy power bus - or someone who could blow up a "D" cell.  As it is, we have run around in circles trying to cover safety and functionality aspects ... this thread is a classic.

The next step is the obvious one - actually communicating the necessary information.  I won't go into details - you know how problematic this could be.

The last point I will make is, I would argue, THE most critical consideration.  When the advice has been given and the questioner embarks on the journey to act on that advice, they are going to attempt to perform a task without any physical monitoring of their work.  A tradesperson with a licence, has gone through specific training that encompasses the whole field.  They have had to pass tests including practical tasks.

I'm not saying that we need to do that here - but I AM saying that those safeguards just don't exist through a forum.  You can never say with absolute certainty that someone has followed the instruction correctly.  Even photographs aren't adequate.  You can't beat the mentor being in the same room as the student.


I also agree on the ban being a bad idea.

As messy as this thread (for example) may have become, it does send a message or two which includes functionality, safety and the diversity of members.

[jastreb]

Thank you all for your vigorous and passionate discussion. There is obviously a difference in opinion but none the less I have learned a lot. Nothing is full proof and what you use can be right in one situation but wrong in another. And I am still here alive and well so not planning on suing anybody. And I never would because I read somebodies opinion here. The risk and responsibility is with me and as I am a father of two young kids I will do my utmost best to stay safe so I can watch them grow and one diy perhaps ask the same questions as I do. (provided the computer games don't make everything else seem too boring and hard)

Cheers everyone

[Brumby]

The differences in opinion are more about what is appropriate to mention in a "Beginner" board.  We just don't know who is reading the discussion nor where their skill level lies.

RCDs have their place - and so do isolation transformers.  So long as the message gets across that neither are a magic solution, we can only hope that somebody understands this and applies some basic safety thinking - and asks for further advice, if needed.

We all have our own experiences, preferences and stories to tell and, just like anywhere else on the internet, discussions that involve these can get a bit intense sometimes.

Your response is the sort of thing that gives us some assurance that we have helped you - and not scared you off.  You have survived.    Welcome to the forum.

[Ian.M]

One thing that hasn't come up in this thread is a safe workbench and surroundings that minimises the risk of you grounding yourself (except for ESD prevention with >1Meg to ground).  It wont keep you safe on its own but it is another layer of protection.

If you use a metal desk or a bench with an metal frame where you can inadvertently come into contact with it and/or your flooring may have a high conductivity to ground (e.g. a concrete slab in a basement), you are at much higher risk of a serious shock, than if your bench is non-conductive (apart from ESD matting etc.), and the floor near the bench is insulated, e.g. with a rubber mat.  Don't trust wooden floors or carpet as you don't know how close you are to grounded plumbing and dirt + a little moisture can make them conductive with very little warning. 

The same goes for any other grounded objects in your immediate vicinity - be particularly careful when working near older test gear with grounded metal cases.

Stay safe.