GFCI, another chance?

[johnday]

Went out and plugged my Stroker in, in case it gets colder tonight. Done it many, many times. This time was just a little different though. When I plugged my extension cord into the blockheater, I got a real nice arc and puff of smoke. See enclosed photos. When I rewired the barn after I moved here, I wired in GFI's on all the circuits. Glad I did, you can see my hand, it could have been a whole lot worse. A good advertisement for GFI's?

 

[bczoom]

You've been hanging around Mith too much.

I'm assuming those are burns on your hand and not dirt. In either case, you better move it before that wolf in the background thinks it's a cooked meal and comes after you.

I don't have any GFCI's in my shop. I suppose I should consider getting some.

Glad you came out (relatively) unhurt. What caused the short?

 

[Melensdad]

Wow, good thing you have the GFIs.

My new shop/garage is full of GFI units. My attached garage is not. Hmmm. I'm thinking I should change them.

 

[Mith]

Wow, John, I better distance myself from you, dont want you hurting yourself too much!

I think its because you guys have them funny plug sockets, all you need is the proper UK style ones, then no problems

If I know the look of burns I'd say that sucker will be hurting like a bitch soon
Are GFIs some sort of circuit breaker? Do you guys have live, neutral and earth? Or just 2 pins? And while we are on the subject of electricity, whats the deal with 110V and 220V with you guys, seems you have 2 diff circuits, 110 inside and 220 outside in your shop? Sorry, just seems a little confusing. Actually, while I'm on it, what is a stick built house? Is it one where you bang posts into the ground and build it off that outta wood? Round here the only way pretty much is to lay conrete foundations (nearly 6 foot deep) and brick build up, seems like you guys dont do it like that much from what I have seen of people building their own houses?
A freind should be phoning some time this week to fit some breakers in my shed to be on the safe side, so far only once does an electrical mishap stick out in my mind, when I managed to connect myself in a 230V circit with a wet pump standing in a puddle of water, sure makes your arms feel a bit tingly dont it!

I hope a beer is all that is needed to cure the problem! Well maybe a new cord too

PS, sorry for all the questions

 

[OhioTC18]

Wow, John, I better distance myself from you, dont want you hurting yourself too much!

I think its because you guys have them funny plug sockets, all you need is the proper UK style ones, then no problems

If I know the look of burns I'd say that sucker will be hurting like a bitch soon
Are GFIs some sort of circuit breaker? Do you guys have live, neutral and earth? Or just 2 pins? And while we are on the subject of electricity, whats the deal with 110V and 220V with you guys, seems you have 2 diff circuits, 110 inside and 220 outside in your shop? Sorry, just seems a little confusing. Actually, while I'm on it, what is a stick built house? Is it one where you bang posts into the ground and build it off that outta wood? Round here the only way pretty much is to lay conrete foundations (nearly 6 foot deep) and brick build up, seems like you guys dont do it like that much from what I have seen of people building their own houses?
A freind should be phoning some time this week to fit some breakers in my shed to be on the safe side, so far only once does an electrical mishap stick out in my mind, when I managed to connect myself in a 230V circit with a wet pump standing in a puddle of water, sure makes your arms feel a bit tingly dont it!

I hope a beer is all that is needed to cure the problem! Well maybe a new cord too

PS, sorry for all the questions

Jim,
I'll try to help you out with the questions. A GFI, also called GFCI is a Ground Fault Circuit Interupter. It can be in breaker form or in a receptacle form. It senses any fault to Ground in excess of 5-6 mA. We do have 110V which is one "hot", a neutral and a ground. Then we also have 220V which is 2 hots, a neutral if needed and a ground. The ground is what you may know as an earth wire.
A stick built house is where there is usually a foundation/footer same as yours. Then above ground it's built on site with piles of lumber, versus a factory made house.

Maybe these helped out some.

 

[johnday]

Bob and Brian,Yeah, I did think of Mith beleive it or not.

Not real sure why the plug shorted out. The only thing I can think of is that it was very damp out when it happened. Must've been just enough moisture in the female end to cause it.

The black on my hand is from the smoke, and some of the red is 1st degree burns. Not enough to keep me from doing anything, I've been burned so many times that little ones like these don't bother me alot.

I always recommend GFI's to anyone that has outlets in their garage or outside, it's code anyway. This was the first time that I know of that one saved my sorry butt though.

Guys, get GFI's installed, either in your outlets or in your service panel, let my little test be a warning, I was lucky.

Brian, had to go back and look at the photo when you mentioned wolf. I've got my den walls pretty much lined with wolves.

 

[bczoom]

Bob and Brian,Yeah, I did think of Mith beleive it or not

LOL!!!

The only thing I can think of is that it was very damp out when it happened. Must've been just enough moisture in the female end to cause it.

Are we still talking about electricity here

I've got my den walls pretty much lined with wolves.

Me too.

 

[Mith]

Jerry, thanks, good answers

So yea, we have breakers that sense a connection between neutral/live and ground, turn it right off, I guess thats the same, that goes off alot in our house. So the 220V like you mention is basically just 2 110V hot wires insted of 1 110V hot and a neutral

I think I got the house thing now too Self built as opposed to prefab.

John, so nice of you to think of me, cant think why though?

 

[johnday]

Jerry hit it spot on Jim. The burns aren't hurting too badly, slag falling on your leg hurts worse than these.

I'll post a couple photos of a stick built house being put up. It's the one I'm building upnorth. First photo are the foundation, then the actual "sticks", or studs. These are 2x4's we call studs. As you can see, thats where your wiring runs thru, as well as the sheathing on the outside, insulation between the studs, and your drywall, an interior wallcovering, is all nailed on.

 

[OhioTC18]

So the 220V like you mention is basically just 2 110V hot wires insted of 1 110V hot and a neutral

Right. And our 220V is just like your 220V except a few more wires to deal with.

 

[johnday]

Are we still talking about electricity here



Yeah, electricity!!! What are YOU thinking of??

 

[johnday]

J
John, so nice of you to think of me, cant think why though?

Jim, Some people are just unforgettable. Every time I strike an arc, either welding or otherwise, I think of you!!

 

[bczoom]

John, so nice of you to think of me, cant think why though?

Mith,

I think of you every time I see "Tim the Toolman Taylor". Don't know if you get reruns of the show "Home Improvement" over there, but to give you an idea, this guy has his own coffee cup at the hospital's emergency room.

Brian

 

[Mith]

John, nice looking house, love the patio bit out front you got there, just right to sit and have a brew, is it aimed toward the setting sun? rising sun?
One of my nicest memories is one morining last summer on Isle of Wight, I am usually the first up of our group, I got up in the morning when it was about 20 degrees already and sat down, turned the reggae up and sat watching the sun come up over the trees, shine across the river that we camped next to and across onto me, was just the perfect scene. (ahhh, going all soft now aint I ) One of my freinds was lying on the bank of the river where he fell asleep the night before which kinda spoilt the view, but the rest of the scene was just right on

That method of building is very similar to how the shed is built, only obviously my shed is on a rather smaller budget and not nearly as fancy (no insulation, wood floors, propped above the ground on pillars) Sure makes the building go up fast though!

 

[Mith]

John, awww, its nice to be remembered
Hey, I got me one of those auto-darkening welding doo-das for crimbo, boy is ever it smart, dont get flashed any more (yea, like babes flash at me?), can see where I am striking, is a good spart sheild (no more hair fires welding above my head), can tack weld without having to look away every time you strike and I can look at the sun without getting spots in my eyes. Its even got a grinding mode so you can look at what you are doing and not get bits in your eyes. Only downside is it cost more than all my other welding stuff put together, guess I need a bigger welder to make up for it
My Dad made me an MDF lightsaber too, he says it makes me look like Darth vader when I am using it, dunno how he knows though, whehn i'm wearing it I'm welding, so how the heck is he seeing me weld without being blinded?

Brian, sounds like a good program to watch, is it a comedy or what? (Nope, never seen it, but I dont watch much TV, not enough time to do that aswell as typing on the forum )

 

[johnday]

Jim; The deck is facing west and looking down somewhat of a hill. We get deer, or longeared rats, at the bottom the hill off and on. On the backside of the house, there is going to be a smaller deck facing east. I like to get up in the morning with a cup of coffee and a cigar and walk east towards the road, to see the sun rise too. We've got besides the deer, turkeys, bear, grouse, porcupines, coyotes, and eagles. Can't wait to move up there year round.

Those auto darkening hoods are one of the best things devised. I've got 2 of them. My first one was from Harbor Frieght, I still use it. My newer one was free!! It's one of those Hornell Speedglas jobs. I still think the HR one is lighter, and I usually grab that one.

Jim, what is a MDF light sabre? Would it be good for chasin' critters with?

 

[bczoom]

and I can look at the sun without getting spots in my eyes.

Mith - please don't tell me you look at the sun just to see if you get spots in your eyes...

Brian, sounds like a good program to watch, is it a comedy or what? (Nope, never seen it, but I dont watch much TV, not enough time to do that aswell as typing on the forum )

It was a comedy that ran for about 10 years over here. It ended probably 5-8 years ago but the re-runs come on now and then.

 

[Archdean]

Mith, pardon me for the inopportune Question!
Is that Jerry Garcia's hand (from Grateful Dead claim) that you so prominately depict as your avitar?

Dean

 

[Mith]

John, sounds nice getting up with the coffee and cigar idea! Sounds like you sure got it sorted for this whole retirement lark!

Cha, some people get all the deals! Looks like a nice one too! Got an Optrel Stellite, if that means anything, never heard of it myself!

MDF (medium density fibreboard (wood)) light saber (as in star wars, beam of light used like a sword, burns throught things), and yes, it could be used for chasing things very effectively!

Brian, I might have, maybe
Nah, never seen that show before, sounds like a lark though, man, they gotta have reruns on soon, its about due!

Dean, nope, its mine (the pic is a little misleading though)


PS, what did you guys all get for Crimbo? Do we need a thread for it? I think I know that Brian is about to have Christmas this week seeming as his wife is gone out!

 

[Melensdad]

Jim . . . that is one fancy looking helmet you got there! From the looks of the front shield it appears to be solar powered, does it also have battery back up too? How many darkness settings does it have. If I had to do it all over again, I'd get a helmet that auto darkens more than mine does. I think mine goes to "11" but I've seen some that go to "13." The first few times I used mine I didn't trust it to darken fast enough, but once you get used to the auto-darkening helmets they are great to use.


John . . . did you use 2x4 or 2x6 on the exterior walls? Seems like 'up north' you'd want to get all the insulation in the walls that you can get.

 

[Mith]

Bob, it has a battery that is charged by the solar power, you never need to do anything to the battery. When I got it I lieft it in the light for 30 mins and it darkened up fine when I used it, with the arc I expect there is quite a bit of light to charge it up.
You can set the darkness anywhere between 5 and 13. It also has a grinder setting at shade 4 so you can grind without the glare of the sparks, and it acts as a face sheild too, it s also quite cool getting the green sparks. I have been using it on 10 for arc, which I beleive is correct, but for TIG (with the same helmet at work) I think we use higher shade (you sure get a good tan with TIG )
Is is quite odd at first, I still find myself closing my eyes before striking from habit, but that will go away soon, the only thing I have found is if you look away from your weld when welding it might go back to clear, but I havent tried this yet. It has a UV filter even when it isnt darkened so even if it doesnt darken it wont cause any bad damage.
If you want the spec try here at the bottom of the page

 

[Melensdad]

Is is quite odd at first, I still find myself closing my eyes before striking from habit, but that will go away soon, the only thing I have found is if you look away from your weld when welding it might go back to clear

You will go from closing your eyes to squinting to eventually leaving your eyes open as you get used to it.

It should lighten up if you look away but it will darken back up as quickly as you look back.

 

[DaveNay]

You will go from closing your eyes to squinting to eventually leaving your eyes open as you get used to it.

It should lighten up if you look away but it will darken back up as quickly as you look back.

Also, always remember that the protection from the UV and IR is always present in the lens, and is not dependent on the shading. The shading only protects you from flash blind (severly constricted pupils) and allows you to see what the heck is going on while striking an arc.

 

[johnday]

Jim, that Optrel is a top notch hood!! If I hadn't gotten my Speedglass for free, the Optrel was what I was going to buy. Ya done good mate!!

Bob, I used 2x4 on this part of the house. I plan on using cellulose insulation with a latex binder to keep it from settling. Can't remember the R-value off hand, but I've used this system down here, and it's a real good way to go. The house you see, is only about 1/3 off what it will end up being. Where you guys can see the double windows on the end, is where I plan on adding on the rest of the house once I get up there. This module is 26x26, just big enough for a bedroom, full bath, and a kitchen/dining/living room area, along with a small utility room. It's small by any standard, but the addition will be another 1500 sq/ft. a 15x30 livingroom, a 15x20 bedroom adjacent to another full bath, and a loft bedroom area upstairs. It will be a saltbox style addition with a sloped cieling in the livinroom.

If all goes well, I may find myself retired this June. Then I have to build a barn for my stuff, move my tools in, then go to work on the second module. I'll most likely use 2x6 on this part. I guess I suffered from gas on the head by not using 6's on the first module.

My apologies to Jim and Bob. I've been having a little problem with FF today and yesterday, and hadn't noticed you guys had posted.

 

[Big Dog]

Speaking of sparktricity, take a look at this Johnday...........ouch!

http://www.mytractorforum.com/showthread.php?t=15585

 

[Mith]

Let me guess John, after reading that thread you are feeling a weenie bit more lucky now Nasty!

 

[johnday]

Greg and Jim; I guess ya could say I do feel lucky. Jan saw the photo, being the RN, she said, What the hells wrong with that guy, he should be seeing a Dr. I know guys that have had similar tales to tell. They don't wear rings anymore either.