@Dave, Suggestion for fundi friday: Isolation transformers, fuses and worksafety

[con-f-use]

So I could surely use some basics on workplace safety. Also I'd like to understand why and when each of the specific precautions is need. So far I just used common sense and my general knowledge from my few labs in college. I never got hurt and want to keep it that way. I think that most hobbyists come to the point where the build or troubleshoot main voltage devices. I surely tinkered with the lighting and mains wiring around my house. Also I built and troubleshooted a few devices pored by the mains. If I do the troubleshooting part more often I think I'll need an isolation transformer. Also I'd like a breaker circuit and an extra fast fuse for my bench.

But I find it very difficult to wrap my head around it in the limited time I have for my hobby and still get stuff done. Also it's not the easiest of tasks to separate the overkill from the really useful advise. So I'd be thankful for a good basic introduction to workplace safety focused on mains voltages and the electronic hobbyist.

If you, Dave, are not interested in doing such a video, I'd be happy for someone to point me towards good tutorials and equipment to have. I still feel a bit lost on the topic.
Thanks for your attention.

[nitro2k01]

You may want to try EEVBlog #279 which touches on that kind of issue, even if it's not exactly what you're asking for.

[con-f-use]

Thanks, I saw that and it was very helpful. But things like RCDs, isolation transformers emergency switches, spike protection and general wiring is dearly missed.

[iXod]

The subject is important enough and the potential for saving one person from a BAD day -- or worse.

If you find something you think is useful re. safety, yes, I would be interested to hear it.

[con-f-use]

By the way, do you guys know a good place in the EU (preferably Germany and Austria) where to order a modular power plug system for a small lab? I was thinking something like Ehmann Modular Series. I need RCD, over current and voltage protection and noise filtering. The Ehmann RCD module there is somewhat pricy thinking I could by an RCD+Fuse for about 4,-€ and build my own strip of power plugs.

[ResR]

Safety is very important in workplace, you so not want to unleash the magic smoke from the house wiring. I have an ABB C6A circuit breaker just for plug-in soldering iron and 8W T5 light in my own built suitcase workbench.

[SArepairman]

fundi friday sounds like some kind of scary "devout" christian religious festival