UK & Canadian electric plug query. Help ?
#16
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 14,227
Re: UK & Canadian electric plug query. Help ?
An appliance does not spark unless it is defective, it would be the contact between the plug connectors and the receptacle. The spark occurs when connecting and disconnecting. A load only occurs when an appliance is switched on, not when standing idle, connected or not. If the appliance is not switched on (not the outlet) no current is flowing.
#17
Binned by Muderators
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: White Rock BC
Posts: 11,685
Re: UK & Canadian electric plug query. Help ?
It might be worth checking with the manufacturer. Some amps that seem to be single voltage can be used on 110V just by changing a fuse. Unfortunately, I don't know how or why or which ones.
#21
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 14,227
Re: UK & Canadian electric plug query. Help ?
There's always a spark when you make a connection if the power is high enough (it's not the voltage per se, i.e you plenty of sparks from a 12v car battery). The difference with electrical sockets that have switches is that the sparking happens out of sight.
#22
Re: UK & Canadian electric plug query. Help ?
Well here's the difference. Outlets don't have switches so appliances like irons spark like buggery as they're always on. The higher the load the greater the spark. Can't believe you've not noticed this. It's very well known, but if you're not looking for it I guess it's easy to miss.
#23
Account Closed
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 7,284
Re: UK & Canadian electric plug query. Help ?
I can tell you that Canadian electricity gives you quite an oomph if you are touching the plug connectors when you push the plug into the outlet. I don't do this anymore.
#24
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 15,883
Re: UK & Canadian electric plug query. Help ?
I hope you weren't doing it deliberately in the first instance.
There are less dangerous ways to curl your hair.
#25
Account Closed
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 7,284
Re: UK & Canadian electric plug query. Help ?
No, not deliberately though there are days when it seems like a good plan. I was lying on the floor under the bed trying to plug the extension cable in. My finger hit the connector and the electricty hit me. Rather unpleasant but very luckily no lasting damage
#26
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2003
Location: 100 mile house BC (tiz a long way away from devon)
Posts: 888
Re: UK & Canadian electric plug query. Help ?
Hi
Maybe it's a BC thing,
But in the houses we have been in the front rooms have sockets covered by a switch, very handy for things like lamps etc..
Likewise the local council, will issue permits for '240v' sockets in the house.( apparently a lot of brits request them)
As to 'The higher the load the greater the spark', I tend to agree, try 'plugging' in an a item turned on with a 10A draw then try one with a 50A draw, the spark will be bigger..
Some 240 only equipment does work here, i.e. chargers, but they take longer to charge, and my boys scalextric set states 240v only but it works OK and has been for 3 yrs..
cheers
jerry ( where's the snow...)
Maybe it's a BC thing,
But in the houses we have been in the front rooms have sockets covered by a switch, very handy for things like lamps etc..
Likewise the local council, will issue permits for '240v' sockets in the house.( apparently a lot of brits request them)
As to 'The higher the load the greater the spark', I tend to agree, try 'plugging' in an a item turned on with a 10A draw then try one with a 50A draw, the spark will be bigger..
Some 240 only equipment does work here, i.e. chargers, but they take longer to charge, and my boys scalextric set states 240v only but it works OK and has been for 3 yrs..
cheers
jerry ( where's the snow...)
#27
Re: UK & Canadian electric plug query. Help ?
When unplugging a turned on device, surface imperfections on the contacts could cause a discharge (more likely to happen at 240V than 120V and independent of the current draw, i.e. independent of load at constant V), and this discharge, once established, could extend to larger scale lengths due to ionization of air providing a reduced resistance pathway once the spark is established.
#28
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2009
Location: Toronto
Posts: 62
Re: UK & Canadian electric plug query. Help ?
I have also witnessed sparks when plugging things in. Also noticed the lights dimming when turning on the vacuum cleaner or hair dryer. Agree entirely about dodgy foreign electrics. Those stupid wire nuts would never be allowed in a civilised country.
#29
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 14,227
Re: UK & Canadian electric plug query. Help ?
No. The breakdown voltage of dry air at STP is about 33kV/cm. So, at 240V you might get a spark about 0.08 mm long on plugging something turned on in. At 120V, it'd be half as long.
When unplugging a turned on device, surface imperfections on the contacts could cause a discharge (more likely to happen at 240V than 120V and independent of the current draw, i.e. independent of load at constant V), and this discharge, once established, could extend to larger scale lengths due to ionization of air providing a reduced resistance pathway once the spark is established.
When unplugging a turned on device, surface imperfections on the contacts could cause a discharge (more likely to happen at 240V than 120V and independent of the current draw, i.e. independent of load at constant V), and this discharge, once established, could extend to larger scale lengths due to ionization of air providing a reduced resistance pathway once the spark is established.