RE: Earthing: Checkmate Death By Electrocution in Our Homes
@greenrun, you wouldn't know how many lives you have potentially saved by writing this article.
The birds only perch on the one wire, that wire alone cannot electrocute them. But while flying away, if their wings inadvertently touch a grounded pole or wire while the feet are still on the wire, the circuit is then complete and the bird would be electrocuted.
I have always wondered why birds do not seem to get electrocuted. Now I know the reason why. In Nigeria, we take too many things for granted and as a result **many lives are lost. ** When we were living on campus (before my parents retired), our flat then (Flat C6, campus 2, beside Abraka post office, DELSU) was earthed. Besides, my father wouldn't buy any appliance that does not have earth wire. He is very safety conscious . Maybe because of his training abroad. I need to ask my mum if our family house is earthed.
One quick question. Please, how does wearing bathroom slippers (made from rubber) prevent one from not being electrocuted? Thanks a lot!
The bathroom slippers reduce the severance of the electric shock. It is also dependent on the current in play. If it's minute, the bathroom slippers act as an insulator from allowing the current flow through you to earth.
It is the same principle that insulation mat is used by technicians and engineers while working at high voltage installation
Insulation mats are made of rubber. ... Rubber is a natural dielectric material and will, therefore, inhibit the flow of electric charge as a result of its molecular structure preventing the free flow of electrons.
Also, your body's conductivity increases if you are wet. This is because water is a conductor of electricity. That is why if you are wet and barefoot and touch the refrigerator which has some leakage current in a house that is not earthed, you'd get some shock. But if you are dry and wearing thick rubber shoes (one of the reasons electric engineers/technicians wear safety shoes with thick rubber soles while working) you'd open the same refrigerator and feel no shock.