Using, Inspecting and Repairing Electrical Appliances at home, basic rules of safety

Most people have a healthy respect for electricity and understand that it can be dangerous — even lethal — if misused. Electricity at all voltages should be respected. Anyone who does not follow the basic rules of electricity is not only a danger to himself but to everyone around him. Electrical accidents are avoidable: most are due to plain carelessness and failing to follow the basic rules.

There are about sixteen million homes in Britain supplied with electricity and each one contains an average of about 25 electrical appliances. Given the sheer number of items, it is perhaps surprising that there are fewer than 80 fatalities from electrical accidents a year. Although this represents only a small percentage of the entire population and represents only one per cent of the 8,000 deaths each year that result from accidents in the home, the figure is still far too high.

Avoiding Electrical Accidents

Being fully aware of the need for safety means that the commonest causes of shock or fire from electrical appliances can be avoided. Regular inspection and the immediate correction of faults, failure and wear are absolutely essential. Misuse, whether due to foolhardy complacency or genuine ignorance of danger, can be overcome by understanding and — above all — acting upon the guidelines.

If you ever feel you do not have the ability to do a particular job yourself, then it is advisable and sensible not to try. You can still diagnose the problem because this will ensure that any work carried out by a repair company is correct, safe and reasonably priced. This can sometimes save much time and expense.

DOs

• Do read all the information and make sure you understand it before putting it into practice.
• Do isolate any appliance before inspecting or repairing it.
• Do fit the mains plug correctly.
• Do check that the socket used is in good
  condition and has a sound earth path.

• Do take time to consider the problem carefully and allow enough time to complete the job without rushing.
• Do be methodical when stripping down an item and make notes. This helps greatly with the eventual reassembly.
• Do double-check everything.
• Do ask or seek help if in doubt.
• Do ensure that a residual current device (RCD) is in circuit when using electrical equipment anywhere outdoors.

DON’Ts

• Do not work on any machine that is still plugged in, even if the socket switch is off. Always isolate fully by taking the plug out.
• Do not use portable mains appliances in bathrooms or shower rooms. It may seem harmless to run a lead from a convenient socket on the landing so that a fan heater or hairdryer can be used in the bathroom, but it is extremely dangerous and must never be done. The rules concerning electrical appliances in bathrooms are strict for good reason: the combination of water and electricity vastly increases the possibility of serious injury or death.
• Do not use mains powered equipment outdoors in rain or damp conditions.

• Never repair damaged flex or cables with insulation tape.
• Do not sacrifice your safety by effecting a temporary repair.

Caution —Electrical Safety First

Use this slogan as a memory aid for the basic rules of safety when using, inspecting and repairing electrical appliances.

Plug Electrical Wiring

Plug wiring must be connected according to the following code to ensure safety. The colours are as follows:

• Live — Brown (or Red), symbol `1.:
• Neutral — Blue (or Black), symbol ‘N’
• Earth — Green/Yellow (or Green), symbol ‘E’.

The colours in brackets are those that used to be used until the present international standards were introduced and may still be found on some older equipment. Plug terminals are identified either by colour (old or new) or by the letter symbols shown.

S: Switch off!

A: Always pull out the plug and disconnect from the mains. Appliances vary — make sure you have a suitable replacement part.

F: For screws use a screwdriver, for nuts use a spanner, for knurled nuts use pliers.

E: Examine and clean all connections before fitting new parts.

Y: Your safety depends on these simple rules.

F: Fuses: up to 250 watts 1 amp; 750 watts 3 amp; 750 to 3,000 watts 13 amp.

I: Insulation is for your protection. Do not interfere.

R: Renew worn or damaged flex.

S: Secure flex clamps and all protective covers.

T: Test physically and electrically when you have finished the job.

Faulty wiring of appliances, such as frayed or damaged flex or cable, incorrect fuse, poor socket, damaged plug, or incorrectly wired plug.

Misuse of appliances, such as using a hairdryer in the bathroom or a power tool in the rain.

Continuing to use an electrical appliance in spite of knowing it to be unsafe; for example, with a cracked casing, faulty plug, damaged cable, or faulty on/off switch.

Electrical Tools and equipment

Most of the usual electrical appliances found in the home do not require very specialized tools for servicing or repair. However, sometimes tamper-proof screws or fixings may have been used, such as torx head or unusual tops to screws which do need a special type of tool.

These can often be obtained from local specialist tool shops or you can adapt an existing tool from your kit.

Basic Electrical kit

Most repairs can be completed with a selection of the following tools: a good range of cross-blade and flat- blade screwdrivers, a pair of combination pliers, ordinary pliers, and a simple multimeter. Most people who are interested in D-I-Y will already own most, if not all, of these tools.

It is fairly easy to build up a good collection of tools suitable for tackling the faults that you are most likely to encounter in your electrical appliances. Most large D-I-Y stores stock the tools you need, often at an extremely economical price. When buying tools, you should always check the quality. Cheap screwdrivers are often poorly made and may soon prove to be a false economy. They may even be dangerous. However, there are many tools on the market that are of a reasonable quality and relatively inexpensive: try to buy the best that your budget will allow.

Remember that the tools you buy are a long-term investment and should give you years of useful service. As with any investment, they should be looked after and kept in a serviceable condition. Always make sure they are thoroughly cleaned and dry before storing them.

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