PORTABLE ELECTRIC LAMPS

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16510, 22 August 1921, Page 2

PORTABLE ELECTRIC LAMPS

Mr L. Birks, Chief Electrical Engineer, has forwarded the following letter to electric supply authorities throughout New Zealand: It is desired to bring under your notice the fact that at least three fatal accidents bare occurred in New Zealand, directly duo to unskilled or careless wiring of portable electric lamps, and your co-operation is solicited in giving publicity to tho danger that exists if proper precautions are not taken to make all portable electrical apparatus safe for handling.’ At a pressure of 120 volts or less the risk is not appreciable, as most people can take this pressure through the dry hand without inconvenience, though even at this Jow pressure fatal results have occurred through handling defective apparatus with wet hands. But the standard pressure of 230 volts, on the other hand, though harmless under normal circumstances, gives it sever© shock liable to ca.uso involuntary action, and such involuntary action has resulted in several cases in a fatal fall, ami in tho three cases under consideration lias rendered the victim unable to free himself from "the defective portable lampholder, with fatal results. It. has been noted that all the accidents referred to have resulted from defective wiring, carried out usually by the consumer himself. In such cases, the wiring contractors are. of course, not to blame, but their salesmen can assist bv asking a few questions whenever they have occasion to suspect that amateur wiring is* intended and advising the risks involved. Electrical apparatus is perfectly safe if properly w ired and it must be noted that each of these accidents was due to defective installation. To minimise this risk it is necessary that all portable lamps for use at a pressure exceeding 120 volts must be provided with substantial guards, which must be insulated from the lampholder and the lampholder itself must be entirely enclosed and protected from accidental contact. The. ordinary bare lampholder should never be used as a portable lamn in any place in which the person holding the lamp can touch an earth or concrete floor, gas or water pipe, or any racial work. In wet places or places impregnated with salt or chemicals, such as brine chambers, concrete-floored laundries, or washhouses and breweries, tbo risk is most, serious* but can be entirely eliminated at the standard pressure of 230 volts by using only fixed lamps, with coiling switches operated by a cord which, to render it impervious to moisture, should bo dipped in melted paraffin. If portable lamps are absolutely essential in such wet places the. pressure should be transformed down to 50 volts for the purpose.