PHUKET: A three-year-old boy has been electrocuted in a tragic mishap, causing his own death when he stuck a key into a power outlet at his grandmother's Phuket home. Paramedics called to the house in Baan Ko Ean, northern Phuket, about 2pm yesterday tried cpr but could not revive the boy. His grandmother had left him momentarily while she showered ready for afternoon prayers.
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A situation than could be avoided in every house by simple installation of an RCD on each circuit or at the main switch. Posted by Manowar on June 10, 2014 14:13 
The safest electrical system is in the UK as a far as I can see. The Ground/Earth socket has a mechanism which only opens the Live and Neutral terminals via a small internal shutter in each when a plug is fitted. Therefore children cannot stick things into the plug openings, except the Ground/Earth which is harmless if working correctly. This might be why MK in Thailand use UK plugs in their restaurants. Posted by Fiesty Farang on June 10, 2014 14:16 
This is a very sad story. RIP little fella. Posted by sateeb on June 10, 2014 17:57
An RCD is a residual current device. They have different names in other countries, older ones we're call ELCB's but most work on the same principle. They detect the current on both the active and neutral conductors and any imbalance causes the RCD to trip, isolating the power. For domestic applications the imbalance to cause tripping is 30 milliamps and can occur in less than 40 milliseconds of sensing the imbalance such as electrocution where earthing occurs through the person rather than through the neutral conductor Posted by Manowar on June 10, 2014 20:25
Sateen, the other part of your question, where to get. I assume you can buy them at electrical wholesale stores but you need a licences electrician to install and modify the wiring as the neutral conductor has to return through the RCD also. The basically replace the old style fuses or circuit breakers but 2 poles rather than 1, so they are slightly wider in frame size. Posted by Manowar on June 10, 2014 20:36 
What people are saying is true up to a point that they are assuming your electrics are already at a working standard. These devices won't work if Electrics already have a problem. Nothing is as easy as you think it is. Posted by Scott on June 10, 2014 21:56 
Manowar, thanks for the explanation. I will soon be renting an apartment on phuket for long term. Definitely something to address... Posted by sateeb on June 11, 2014 00:02 
For these safety devices to work all power outlets need a good low resistance earth, which most homes/buildings do not have. Posted by Laurie Howells on June 11, 2014 06:31
Laurie, earth is not required with an RCD but was required with some of the original ELCB's and similar by other names. All the RCD does is measure, in simple terms, current in and current out. Any variation between the two is current leakage which can only be to earth by an external path. This could be either by tracking along a moisture path, through a person or ten other similar faults. Plastic encased electrical appliances will often not have an earth connection, the third pin, as it is unnecessary as earthing of an appliance is to provide a low resistance path should the active conductor short against the casing. Posted by Manowar on June 11, 2014 09:28 |
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A horrible tragedy that can be avoided.
Please get your electrics checked. I can offer you free advice - scott@phuketukelectrical.com
Posted by Scott on June 10, 2014 13:22