Electric situation

Electric situation

Whilst a couple of recent letters have addressed a concern
(whether founded or not) about the effects of electro magnetic
fields from high voltage transmission lines may I comment on a
far more dangerous electrical situation that is ignored daily?

I'm talking about the practice of producing metal framed
electrical appliances without an earth conductor. This is
contrary to all rulings, including the Indonesian Electrical
Wiring Rulebook, and yet the shops are full of washing machines,
refrigerators, pressure pumps and voltage regulators with only a
two wire supply cable.

It is interesting to note that most of the items are of Japan
origin, if not manufacture. Perhaps this helps explain their
healthy balance of payments, as every metal framed appliance that
is produced without an earth connection saves the manufacturer
the cost of the additional conductor in the mains cable (a 50
percent increase in mains cable cost) plus the additional pin on
the molded plug and the crimp connection and termination point on
the appliance itself.

A fault of active wire to frame on these types of appliances
leaves the user as the return path to ground for the fault
current. Great for the manufacturers' budgets but not too good
for the consumers' bodies. Maybe the manufacturers feel that the
consumer has only to invert the appliance plug in the wall socket
and the fault then becomes neutral to frame, no more shock. It's
all too easy, isn't it?

If the manufacturers and the inspecting authorities are not
prepared to exercise any responsibility maybe there is a consumer
group out there that could take up the issue?

GEORGE GORING

Bogor, West Java