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The highly skilled Electricians in Tyler, TX have gained a lot of experience from working around scenarios involving high voltage for quite some time. This is why they know about the misconception and myths that people hold with regards to hazards from primary and secondary electricity. In order to debunk these myths, they have compiled their findings on the topic.
The following are the most common myths that are widely believed by people regarding 120 volt equipment and circuitry as well as fault current exposure and lightning. Let’s get right into it!
Myth #1: Fuses Should Be Replaced by Circuit Breakers Because They are Better.
Electricians in Tyler, TX have found that people think circuit breakers are better in terms of convenience. They think they represent safety. However, this is a myth! Circuit breakers may be convenient in terms of price but they are certainly not safer than fuses.
This is because fuses generally work faster than circuit breakers. Circuit breakers are considered to be convenient because they operate at three to four cycles, whereas fuses work for less than a quarter cycle. Is allowing current to flow freely for longer periods of time safer? Obviously not. Reducing the overall time for current to flow in a circuit is a better strategy.
Electricians in Tyler, TX found that electrical fuses that offered the least protection were interrupting 10,000 amps of energy while a typical circuit breaker can interrupt only 5,000 amps.
Myth #2: You Will Get Electrocuted if You Switch a Light on with Wet Hands.
Even though there is a slight possibility of this being true, electricians in Tyler, TX can assure you that it is highly unlikely to happen. To understand this statement, you need to understand the difference between getting a shock and being electrocuted. A shock occurs when current flows through your body in any magnitude or for any duration.
However, electrocution means experiencing severe shock that can kill you because it interferes with your bodily processes. It takes around 50 milliamps for an adult heart to go into a state of ventricular fibrillation and it takes 4 to 6 minutes for someone to die because of this. In a household, electricians in Tyler, TX think fault current is the main reason as to why this could happen. Still, the likelihood of this happening because of wet hands is very low. Therefore, electrocution is not possible simply because of wet hands on a plastic switch.
Myth #3: Golfers are Most Likely to be Hit with Lightning as Opposed to Other Sportsmen.
Electricians in Tyler, TX have encountered countless people who believe in the myth of golfers being prone to getting electrocuted because they are standing in an open golf course holding a metal club. If that is true, don’t you think that fishermen or other boatmen in general are exposed to the same risk because they are out in the open, holding a metal fishing rod or row? In fact, golfers even have clubhouses they can retreat to when a thunderstorm hits but fishermen only have their boats!
If you happen to be in the water during a thunderstorm, then Electricians in Tyler, TX advise that you just don’t hold your fishing rods or rows in the air. This is because lightning always looks for path that has low impedance for its current flow so as to neutralize its accumulated charge.
Myth #4: Aluminum Is a Bad Choice for Wiring.
This myth was formed in the late 60s because this is when aluminum wires were being used for all branch circuit sized conductors. Insurance companies then got involved when they found that a large number of fires were caused because of these conductors. This effectively ended the use of aluminum wires.
However, electricians in Tyler, TX have found that feeder-sized aluminum wires are now gaining momentum again because the industry has made three very important improvements in them. Firstly, the alloys have been made more durable. Secondly, these wires have been specified to work only with AL rated provisions of terminals. Lastly, they have been made to inhibit corrosion with joint compounds.
These types of wires, especially the #8 AWG, are more preferred as opposed to copper because they are cheaper and have a higher resistance while being flexible and lightweight. This means that aluminum is not the bad choice any more.
Myth #5: Fault Current Is Always on the Look-Out for Ground.
Many electricians in Tyler, TX, still believe in this myth which is why it prevails among non-electricians as well. There are three essential reasons as to why fuses blow and circuit breakers trip; ground faults, short circuits and overloads.
In the case of overloads, currents are following normal paths for a period of time before the breaker trips. Short circuits are seen flowing in a path which is a hot to neutral one. If the current reaches the limiting factor, the circuit will be broken. Lastly, a ground fault can also occur when the current isn’t flowing in the normal hot to neutral path in the circuit.
In all of these cases, if the fault current leaves the circuit via a person panel or conduit, the hot and neutral sensors of the circuit become unbalanced which instantly opens the breaker. Electricians in Tyler, TX, have found that it will take less than 5 milliamps for a fault current to interrupt the breaker which is well below the threshold for causing injury to any person.
Mister Sparky Electricians
There are always some self-anointed experts around us that are the reason for old wives tales persisting such as the ones mentioned above. If you’re looking for experts that can give you something more along the lines of facts, then Mister Sparky should be your choice for electrical services.
Give us a call today!
