Physiological effects

The State of Queensland (TAFE Queensland) 2008 20, October, 2008 Version 01 Revision 1

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Table of contents
Table of contents ..................................................................................................................... ii Table of figures ....................................................................................................................... iii List of tables............................................................................................................................ iv Physiological effects ............................................................................................................... 1 Introduction............................................................................................................................ 1 Physiological effects of electrical current .............................................................................. 1 Circuit protection ................................................................................................................... 4 AS3000 safety requirements................................................................................................. 5 Protective devices ................................................................................................................. 6 Residual current devices (RCDs) ....................................................................................... 10

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Table of figures
Figure 1: Circuit protection .................................................................................................... 4 Figure 2: Direct contact .......................................................................................................... 5 Figure 3: Indirect contact........................................................................................................ 6 Figure 4: Types of circuit breakers........................................................................................ 7 Figure 5: Residual current devices........................................................................................ 8 Figure 6 : RCS's how they work ............................................................................................. 9 Figure 7: Fault path ............................................................................................................... 10 Figure 8: RCD......................................................................................................................... 11

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List of tables
Table 1: Effects of electrical current...................................................................................... 2 Table 2: RCD classes .............................................................................................................. 8 Table 3: Portable RCDs.......................................................................................................... 8

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Physiological effects
Introduction
Electricity is dangerous! Electricity is useful!

Compare the two statements above and you should realise that electricity, when handled properly is part of our life. Although it is extremely dangerous, we cannot do without it. We need to understand what effect Electrical shock will have on a body when it comes in contact with a live conductor. These may include but are not limited to: Contraction of muscles, causing the victim to be unable to free himself. Burns at the point of contact. Unconsciousness and signs of shock. Heart failure caused by the shock impulse disturbing the heart beat. Death caused by incapability to breath.

Physiological effects of electrical current

A common misconception is that larger voltages are more dangerous than smaller ones. However, this is not quite true. The danger to living things comes not from the potential difference, but rather the current flowing between two points. Electric shock is not the only ill effect caused by electrical accidents. The heat generated by electric arcs can be over 3000 C and have enough energy to melt metal switchboards. It can certainly cause a great deal of pain to humans burnt by the heat. In generating such heat within a confined space, explosions of hot air and metal vapour can burst switchboards open like fire crackers. You might imagine what effects that would have on human bodies. Electric shocks caused by electrical equipment occur without warning and are often serious. The average worker is frequently involved in a dangerous electrical situation through not realising that voltages are as low as 32 V AC and 114 V dc can be just a lethal as much higher voltages. There are three factors which determine the severity of the physiological effect of current on the human body. The amount of electrical current (DC, AC, Wave shape, Frequency and Direction of current flow) The path the current follows (hand to hand, hand to foot etc) - resistance of body The duration of the electrical shock. (The longer the current is allowed to flow the greater the effect.)

The following table represents the effects of an electrical current passing through an average human body.

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Table 1: Effects of electrical current Current level (Approx.) 0 2 mA 2 8 mA 8 12 mA 12 20 mA 20 50 mA

Effect upon the human body Barely perceptible, slight tingling sensation may be felt Sensation becomes greater and more painful Pain increases and muscle spasms begin to occur Muscles tighten and can not be controlled, victim may not be able to let go of conductor If current passes through chest, muscle around lungs begin to tighten and breathing becomes difficult or even impossible. Reduction of oxygen transfer from lungs to blood capalaries results in insufficient oxygen rich blood getting to brain. This results in severe blackout or brain damage after three minutes. If current passes through heart, ventricular fibrillation occurs resulting in low or no blood circulation. As blood carries oxygen to the brain, the lack of oxygen rich blood to the brain ceases and brain damage can occur after about three minutes. Heart stops beating, blood circulation ceases Severe burning especially in the areas of contact with the electrical current.

50 100 mA

100 200 mA More than 200 mA

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Circuit protection
Overload / over current
When the load current on a circuit exceeds the designed circuit current, there will be an over current. Same causes of over current are: Motor-starting currents which can be seven times higher than the normal motor running current. Sub circuit over current - Some causes are: too many appliances are used on one circuit, Faults in appliances or wiring, wrong design of circuit cable size etc. Insulation failure: Faulty insulation on cables and appliances.

Short circuits
A short circuit has a conducting path of negligible resistance and therefore the current will take the path of least resistance. This will cause excessive high currents to flow.

Fault currents
A Fault current is often caused by short circuits. This will cause that the fault current will have a current that is higher that the circuits rated or designed value

Figure 1: Circuit protection

Protection
In AS 3000/2000 it outlines the requirements for protection against the effects of current.

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AS3000 safety requirements

Protection for safety general
The requirements of this Standard are intended to ensure the safety of persons, livestock and property against dangers and damage that may arise in the reasonable use of electrical installations. In electrical installations the two major types of risk are as follows: 1. Shock current arising from contact with parts which are live in normal service (direct contact) or parts which become live under fault conditions (indirect contact). NOTES: a) A shock current is an electric current of sufficient magnitude and duration to cause an electric shock. AS 3859 provides further information on the effects of shock current through the human body. b) Direct contact and indirect contact are defined and illustrated in Clauses 1.4.31 and 1.4.32. 2. Excessive temperatures likely to cause burns, fires and other injurious effects.

1.4.31 Contact - direct

Contact with a conductor or conductive part which is live in normal service.

1.4.32 Contact - indirect

Contact with a conductive part which is not normally live but has become live under fault conditions (due to insulation failure or some other cause).

1.4.33 Cord - flexible

A flexible cable, no wire of which exceeds 0.31 mm diameter and no

1.7.2 Protection
Protection against both direct and indirect contact by use of extra-low voltage. Persons and livestock shall be protected against dangers that may arise from contact with parts which are live in normal service (direct contact) or exposed conductive parts which may become live under fault conditions (indirect contact).

Figure 2: Direct contact

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Figure 3: Indirect contact

Protective devices
There are numerous types of protection devices in general use. In this section we will only look at those in use for protection against Electrical shock, fault currents, over current.

Fuses
The function of a fuse is to detect over currents or short currents and then automatically disconnect the faulty equipment or circuit from the supply. The simplest form of overload and short circuit protection is a fuse. When the element of a fuse melts close to an over current or short circuit it is said that the fuse has blown

Definition of a fuse
A fuse is a device designed to open a circuit by melting off its element when the current through it exceeds its rated value for a certain time. Many fuses are equipped to give visual evidence that the fuse element has melted. These are called indication fuses. Fuses are manufactured in a number of forms. The rewritable and high rupturing capacity (HRC) types are the most common types of fuses used.

Circuit breakers
A Circuit-breaker is a device used to protect circuits against overloads and fault and short circuit currents by automatically opening its contact points. The methods used to open the contact points under such conditions vary according to the type of circuit breaker used.

Definition of a circuit breaker

A circuit breaker is a protective device suitable for opening a circuit automatically as a result of short-circuit or overload. Because of the many advantages circuit-breakers have over fuses they are more and more generally used. Their construction is such that they never need replacement, they are safe and cannot be tampered with. The switch on the circuit breaker is designed in such a way that the contacts cannot be held in the closed position under abnormal conditions. There are two main types of Circuit breakers:
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The thermal type

The thermal circuit breakers are equipped with bi-metal strips, and their operational principal is the heat effect of an electrical current flow.

Magnetic type
The operating principle of this circuit breaker is to trip if the magnetic flux produced by the current Exceeds a preset limit.

Figure 4: Types of circuit breakers

Protection
If however, an earth fault current develops, a path parallel to the neutral point of the transformer is formed through the earth. This will result in an imbalance (the one conductor carries more current that the other). As a result, the magnetic fluxes set up by the two primaries no longer neutralise each other, and the resultant flux induces and emf in the secondary winding (transformer action). When the earth fault current exceeds the predetermined value (between 15 mA and 30 mA the emf induced in the secondary winding will trigger the tripping circuit in the printed circuit board (PCB). The tripping coil (Shunt trip) is energised and the circuit is disconnected from the supply. For added safety RCD switches both the active and neutral conductor.

Residual current devices

AS3000/2000 defines a residual current device as a device intended to isolate supply to protected circuits, socket-outlets or electrical equipment in the event of a current flow to earth which exceeds a predetermined value.

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Figure 5: Residual current devices Residual current devices are inserted into a circuit not to protect the circuit conductors but to protect people from electric shock. An RCD uses the principle that a current travelling in a conductor generates a magnetic field around the conductor. The greater the current the greater the magnetic field. An RCD also uses the principle that magnetic fields of opposite polarity will tend to cancel each other out. A residual current device uses a type of transformer called a toroid through which the active and neutral conductors pass through. If the current in the active and neutral are equal, the magnetic field within the toroid will be equal and opposite thereby cancelling each other out. If a fault to earth occurs, the fault current will travel through the active conductor but not the neutral. This out-of-balance will be detected by the RCDs electronic circuit and will cause the RCD to operate opening both the active and neutral conductors. RCDS are classed by their residual current rating and wether or not they employ a selective tripping-time delay. Table 2: RCD classes Type I Type II Type III Type IV residual current rating not exceeding 10mA residual current rating exceeding 10mA but not exceeding 30mA residual current rating exceeding 30mA but not exceeding 300mA without selective tripping-time delay residual current rating exceeding 30mA but not exceeding 300mA with selective tripping-time delay

Portable RCDs are divided into two basic classifications: Table 3: Portable RCDs Class L Single-phase domestic use

Class H General industrial use

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For further information on residual current devices see Electrical Wiring Practices Vol. 2 p. 60 to 78 The following figures provide a brief description about how an RCD saves lives and the theory of body protection.

Figure 6 : RCS's how they work

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Residual current devices (RCDs)

AS 3000/2000 states the following 1.7.5 Protection by use of residual current devices (RCDs) 1.7.5.1 Where required RCDs shall be installed for the protection of persons and livestock as required by this Standard. (See Clause 2.5) NOTE: Attention is drawn to the additional provisions made for the installation of RCDs in other relevant Standards, including AS 3001, AS 3002, AS/NZS 3012; and additional requirements and regulations, such as Occupational Health and Safety legislation.

Additional protection against direct contact

RCDs are not recognized as a sole means of protection against direct contact (in normal service) but may be used to augment one of the means set out in Clause 1.7.3.2.

Protection against indirect contact

RCDs are recognized as a means of providing automatic disconnection of supply in accordance with Clause 1.7.4.3.

Definition of a residual current device

AS3000/2000 defines a residual current device as a device intended to isolate supply to protected circuits, socket-outlets or electrical equipment in the event of a current flow to earth which exceeds a predetermined value.

Purpose of an RCD
The purpose of an RCD to protect the person if the unit is to detect an earth fault currant (Residual current) and to automatically disconnect the circuit from the supply when it exceeds a specified or predetermined value (sensitivity) within a set time limit.

Figure 7: Fault path

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Figure 8: RCD The standard trip sensitivity of an RCD is set at 30 milliamps which will give a victim a severe electrical shock however the trip time is so fast that the chance of the heart going into ventricular ventilation is negligible.

Operation principle of an RCD

When the load circuit is faultless the current through the active and neutral conductors (primaries) in the core are equal in magnitude but opposite in direction. The magnetic flux set up by the two conductors (primaries) neutralise each other, thus no emf is induced in the secondary winding.

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