MikeUK

I think my 'Canadian' wife put it rather well shortly after returning from living in the UK for a couple of years

things in Canada tend to be 'Good enough' rather than actualy being 'Good'

Steve_P

Present rules for Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland state that all bathroom/washroom receptacles must be GFI protected either with a GFI type receptacle or the whole circuit by a GFI circuit breaker in the main panel.

I would imagine the other provinces follow the same rule.

Cheers
Steve

iaink

But in the absense of any statistics to say its less safe than the UK then you have to say that it is as safe.


Its a bit like nuclear overkill capacity...once you have the capability to kill everything on the planet, additional capability is a bit pointless....If UK and Canadian electical accident rates are the same, then making it "better" is obviously not making any real difference.

What I hate is the assumption that just because its different, its necessarily better. Maybe its just additionaly complex safety overkill for the sake of it?

MikeUK

Wasn't that most governments approach when applied to the Ozone, Global warming etc...

until the stats came out

coolzak

in Canada all plug within 1 m from sink must be GFI protected
breaker in panel here for line protection not for device protection.
all breaker rated for 15 a will trip on 13a(code)
only electrician can work with live line-is not for DIY
But is no obligation to upgrade wiring up to new code in houses-70 s house could have wiring up to 70 s code

MikeUK

I love this one sit in a the now common plastic bath/sink, insert any twin pronged device and drop it in the bath/sink, no leakage to earth, just more current just flowing from live to neutral

How many of those devices you’d use in a bath room have an earth?

Fortunately most piping to the taps is copper and earthed, so as long as the water is still running or you’re still holding the tap then the GFI should trip

Steve_P

Is this for bathrooms only?

I can't find any reference to a GFI for kitchen counter receptacles within one meter of the kitchen sink.

MikeUK

This is a good example of why a GFI without a suitable earth is not always much use

http://www.southtexaswgc.org/electric.html

coolzak

kitchen plugs normally have 2 phases (upper one phase/bottom second )so you have to look on panel for gfi double pole breaker.
to be electrecuted you have to create way for current to earth-without current going on is no danger-birds sitting on wires for exemple

Steve_P

But from I am reading there is no requirement to protect kitchen circuits with a GFI breaker, so it would seem pointless to look for one in the panel.

MikeUK

That's birds sitting on 'one' wire...insulated by about 4m of air

Sit in a plastic bath and if you're brave enough you can hold the hot (single) wire... No GFI trip

Sit in a plastic bath and add in a neutral wire you’ll fry but still no trip on the GFI (current between hot and neutral is balanced)

Earth that bath or add in a earth wire to the bath and your GFI will trip and protect you

However I sincerely doubt that the chrome surround at the bottom of your bath is earthed

Steve_P

Thankfully my bath is not plastic.

coolzak

all plug within 1m from sink must be protected and all outside plug and all line for tub with jets and motor but maybe wiring was done before this become a rule
and jumping in tub with water with any plugged electrical device is not smart move-no limits for stupidity and no possibility to avoid selfdestruction of idiots-rules are for smart and careful people

Steve_P

When did this change take place?

coolzak

it was in 2001 code