This little thing might save your life!

[jamesjung21]

Hi guys,

Is anyone familiar with rcd safety switches?

The description looks great...

Do you guys think that this thing should be used with most tubed devices?

As you know, an unexpected electrocution can occur while an amp is running...

Especially when you're turning on a DIYed amp for the first time.

Here's a part of the description:

Get shock protection with aBodyguardThe Bodyguard Safety Switch Adaptorprotects from those unexpected electricshocks. If anything alters the usualflow of electricity, Bodyguard’s microchipimmediately switches off the flow –in under 4/100ths of a second.Bodyguard is fully automatic andmonitors electrical activity from themoment you plug it in. Bodyguard canbe used for all electrical appliances inyour home, office, or workshop

Wait, it sounds more like I'm advertising this stuff.... But hey, I just wanna get some comments from you guys.

Cheers,
James

[dnsey]

I have one permanently installed in my workshop supply, and usually use a plug-in one when working on live or suspect equipment.
They come in (at least) two trigger currents - 10mA and 30mA, and different response times if I remember correctly. The sensitive ones offer more safety at the expense of spurious triggering.
The most important thing is not to use a device such as this as a substitute for good safety practice, but to regard it as an additional precaution.

[Layberinthius]

Yes these RCD's can also come pre-installed into the housing fusebox, I didn't know we even had one until 2 years ago when I plugged in a television on the test bench without first turning it on from the wall.

Another instance is when they /probably/ saved a little dogs life.

We get a monthly bath for our pets and there is a trailer-style wash bath that is brung by 'them', and not six months ago, in came the extension lead, whack into the wall and trip goes the weazel.

I remember loosing my sanity that day, tee hee, oh well! =P

Last poster is right though, don't trust em.

[hacknet]

i have something similar at on the power distributer. it has save me many times.

[jamesjung21]

But hey,

It won't save you from being electrocuted by touching an incompletely discharged cap....

[Knarf]

These ground fault relays, or something very similar to them, are mandatory in electrical installations here in Denmark.

[djmiddelkoop]

These ground fault relays, or something very similar to them, are mandatory in electrical installations

The same thing in the Netherlands aka Holland.

But if you use an isolation transformer it doesn't work anymore, unless you use a second secondary.

The use of an isolation transformer is also safe as long as you don't touch the secondary with both hands.

Dick.