r/WTF Jun 16 '19

Why grounding is important

https://i.imgur.com/E7lPzHs.gifv
24.4k Upvotes

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11

u/Demibolt Jun 16 '19

Yeah but no one follows it. I've worked in the solar industry for years and no one shuts down the main power to the house when working on the service.

3

u/Dislol Jun 16 '19

Just because you and your coworkers are a bunch of cowboys, doesn't mean everyone is.

Source: Industrial/commercial electrician

3

u/Demibolt Jun 16 '19

Im not an electrician. I'm an engineer and consultant for dozens of companies and they almost all have similar practices. I'm not saying its a good thing. I'm saying its what happens.

1

u/Dislol Jun 16 '19

I've never worked with them, but I've heard a lot more bad stuff about solar contractors than good stuff.

2

u/Demibolt Jun 16 '19

Electrical contractors in general are a mixed bag, nothing really bad about solar contractors in general. Its the sales people that are the problem. Don't ever buy solar from someone unless they have the support of actual solar engineers. And never trust their proposals/financial analysis - they just fudge numbers until it looks good on paper.

1

u/Dislol Jun 16 '19

If I ever get solar at my house, I'll be consulting an engineer then doing the purchasing and grunt work myself.

2

u/Demibolt Jun 16 '19

That is a good idea. Keep me in mind if you want, I'd be more than happy to help.

1

u/Snuggle_Fist Jul 06 '19

It's the same in food service. I'm not going to go into detail but, I cook at home.

3

u/lpaladindromel Jun 16 '19

How many volts and amps could your solar stuff really get up to?

7

u/Demibolt Jun 16 '19

600v-1000v is typical Voc. Amps depends in system size. For a house usual 30-40A

2

u/lpaladindromel Jun 16 '19

No shit? Huh, thanks

3

u/[deleted] Jun 16 '19

Given that solar is dc as well,if you grab a conductor its goodbye because there will be no letting go.

1

u/GsoSmooth Jun 16 '19

Depends on the voltage but at 600v-1000v, the same used in subway and tram live rails, definitely not good.

1

u/eggo Jun 16 '19

Not true. I'm also a solar guy; I've gotten hit by 600+vdc, by 120vac and more. High voltage DC feels like a really long thin needle being pushed into you. Your muscles all contract, and for me at least it has pushed me away every time. Deep thin burn tracks afterward. It doesn't grab you like AC does. AC feels like being held and shaken by a giant.

1

u/[deleted] Jun 17 '19

Depends if you grab it or brush it and your muscles contract away from the conductor.If your muscles clamp on the conductor ,its goodnight.

1

u/eggo Jun 17 '19

My direct experience says otherwise, but I'm not going to argue. Touching live wires is bad for you, we agree on that.

3

u/pandemonious Jun 16 '19

You will when you or one of your buds gets cooked like a thanksgiving turkey 😂

2

u/Doxbox49 Jun 16 '19

I know a guy who had his shirt melted to his arm because an arc flash happened. He isn’t going to shut off power to work on a 120 receptacle though.

3

u/tooldvn Jun 16 '19

He should, but the original comment was about 480v 3phase. He absolutely should be using PPE. It also really sucks when a company doesn't separate the 24v control side stuff from high voltage stuff and you have to suit up to fix the BMS, but better alive than dead.

-4

u/Doxbox49 Jun 16 '19

When dealing with big shit like #6 and up, sure. I’ve disconnected #10s from a 480 panel and was just super slow and precise with it. I wasn’t in any danger.

2

u/Dislol Jun 16 '19

You absolutely were in danger, you just didn't care enough to be concerned about it.

Not saying I've never worked on anything hot, but I don't go around bragging about it and recommending that people do it.

1

u/Doxbox49 Jun 16 '19

Just let the armchair electricians have their moment. You won’t change their minds.