Lamp Grounding
Lamp Grounding
(OP)
I understand why toasters aren't grounded due to the exposed burners, and I understand why some appliances aren't grounded when the enclosures are non-metallic. But what about Lamps (desk, table, & night-stand); these never have a safety ground even if the lamp is made of metal. Why is this?






RE: Lamp Grounding
Lamps and power tools frequently use 'double insulation' where two discrete insulation systems exist, either of which is sufficient to prevent electric shock. It is a tradeoff of risk against probability. While it is usually possible to receive an electric shock from such an item, it is highly unlikely unless the appliance is being subjected to gross misuse.
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Sometimes I only open my mouth to swap feet...
RE: Lamp Grounding
Most toasters here in the USA are only a two wire cord. There is no protective grounding conductor from the wall outlet to the toaster.
Don
RE: Lamp Grounding
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Sometimes I only open my mouth to swap feet...
RE: Lamp Grounding
Damn! My toast is stuck! Where's something to tease it out? Oh, here's the butter knife. Allll most have itBZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzsizzle.
A nice piece of toast..wasted.
That little spot of theater brought to you by:
Keith Cress
Flamin Systems, Inc.- http://www.flaminsystems.com
RE: Lamp Grounding
FYI.
CEC supports Double insulation (Rule 10-408(3)), but NEC still does not, the reason being "How to prove by test the condition of the Reinforced Insulation?".
Therefore, you can see 120 V Toasters with 2-wires in NA. If anybody needs ground fault protection, he has to use a receptical with GFCI!
But in IEC world, where IEE 16 th edition (or IEC 60364)is the governing document,double insulated equipments with 2 wires are widely used.
Thanks
RE: Lamp Grounding
Thanks
RE: Lamp Grounding
RE: Lamp Grounding
RE: Lamp Grounding
I don't know that I would consider it a serious flaw. The method has a good track record. If lots of people were being electrocuted by their range, the Code would probably get changed.
RE: Lamp Grounding
There is an exception in the code; if there are no grounded equipment in a room - then you may have two-prong (no PE) outlets in that room.
Gunnar Englund
www.gke.org
RE: Lamp Grounding
If lamps and various appliances have floating metallic enclosures, why ground any enclosure? Who decides which electrical devices require safety grounds for enclosure protection and which do not? What is the criteria they use? Waiting around for electrocutions to justify safety grounds for a particular device just doesn't seem right.
RE: Lamp Grounding
Gunnar Englund
www.gke.org
RE: Lamp Grounding
This is what determines why some are two wire and others three wire. (Not that it will necessarily make sense) It's pretty difficult to sell an electrical appliance that is not UL approved, so that becomes the lowest common denominator in the US.
RE: Lamp Grounding
I was under the impression that electric ranges under the NEC were grounded by using the neutral conductor as a common neutral/grounding conductor.
Can anyone verify this?
thanks
respectfully
RE: Lamp Grounding
Keith Cress
Flamin Systems, Inc.- http://www.flaminsystems.com
RE: Lamp Grounding
WAROSS gave some interesting comments about canadain ranges having four wires. I am not sure, if my home's cooking range has four wires or not. But I will check tonight though. Just out of curosity, here is the link
http:/
This link states about a fault in case of 120 V system. For example if we dont have a ground wire and a fault happens, we will get a shock. How do we cope up same situation in case of electric ranges. May be, I am just being more inquisitive about this cooking range thing.
Thanks
RE: Lamp Grounding
Keith Cress
Flamin Systems, Inc.- http://www.flaminsystems.com
RE: Lamp Grounding
It certainly used to be the case that ranges were wired with only three wires. But I haven't checked the NEC on this in some years, so it's possible it could have been changed.
itsmoked,
Yes, I'm well aware of the derivation and history of UL. But their current standards and requirements go well beyond fire prevention these days. There are shock prevention requirements in many of the UL standards that I'm familiar with. UL would love to be involved in just about everything, unfortunately. As to why the toaster standards have no requirement for a three-wire cord, I have no idea.
One of the problems with UL is that the initial product standards are developed when the first manufacturer submits his product for certification. Sometimes the standards developed leave a lot to be desired.
RE: Lamp Grounding
I'm probably a lot safer using the range than turning on a lamp.
RE: Lamp Grounding
So it will be long time before all ranges and dryers have separate grounding conductors.
RE: Lamp Grounding
RE: Lamp Grounding
Respectfully