MEDICAL PHYSICS

LECTURE# 13
ELECTRICAL OUTLETS HOT, NEUTRAL AND
GROUND CONNECTIONS, HOUSE WIRING
ELECTRICAL OUTLETS, HOT, NEUTRAL AND
GROUND CONNECTIONS, HOUSE WIRING

 electrical outlet -
 holder providing a place in a wiring system where current
can be taken to run electrical devices
 Synonyms:

 electric outlet, electric receptacle, wall plug, wall

socket, outlet power point.
ELECTRICAL OUTLETS, HOT, NEUTRAL AND GROUND
CONNECTIONS, HOUSE WIRING
 Household Wiring
 The standard U.S. household wiring design has two 120
volt "hot" wires and a neutral which is at ground
potential. The two 120 volt wires are obtained by
grounding the center tap of the transformer supplying the
house so that when one hot wire is swinging positive
with respect to ground, the other is swinging negative.
This versatile design allows the use of either hot wire to
supply the standard 120 volt household circuits. For
higher power applications like clothes dryers, electric
ranges, air conditioners, etc. , both hot wires can be used
to produce a 240 volt circuit.
ELECTRICAL OUTLETS, HOT, NEUTRAL AND GROUND
CONNECTIONS, HOUSE WIRING HOUSEHOLD WIRING
house wiring
POLARIZED RECEPTACLES
POLARIZED RECEPTACLES

 The high voltage (about 120 volts effective, 60 Hz AC) is

supplied to the smaller prong of the standard polarized
U.S. receptacle. It is commonly called the "hot wire".
 If an appliance is plugged into the receptacle, then electric
current will flow through the appliance and then back to
the wider prong, the neutral. The neutral wire carries the
current back to the electrical panel and from there to the
earth (ground). The ground wire is not a part of the
electrical circuit, but is desirable for prevention of electric
shock.
PERVASIVENESS OF ELECTRICITY AND
OF ELECTRIC SHOCKS
PERVASIVENESS OF ELECTRICITY AND OF
ELECTRIC SHOCKS
 An electric shock occurs when a person comes into contact
with an electrical energy source. Electrical energy flows
through a portion of the body causing a shock. Exposure to
electrical energy may result in no injury at all or may result
in devastating damage or death.
 Burns are the most common injury from electric shock.

 The minimum current a human can feel depends on the

current type (AC or DC) and frequency. A person can feel at
least 1 mA (rms) of AC at 60 Hz, while at least 5 mA for
DC. The current may, if it is high enough, cause tissue
damage or fibrillation which leads to cardiac arrest. 60 mA
of AC (rms, 60 Hz) or 300–500 mA of DC can cause
fibrillation.
CAUSES OF ELECTRIC SHOCKS AND
PRECAUTION
CAUSES OF ELECTRIC SHOCKS AND
PRECAUTION
 Factors in lethality of electric shock
 the lethality of an electric shock is dependent on several variables:

 Current. The higher the current, the more likely it is lethal. Since current is
proportional to voltage when resistance is fixed (ohm's law), high voltage is
an indirect risk for producing higher currents.
 Duration. The longer the duration, the more likely it is lethal — safety
switches may limit time of current flow
 Pathway. If current flows through the heart muscle, it is more likely to be
lethal.
 Very high voltage (over about 600 volts). This is an additional risk over
the simple ability of high voltage to cause high current at a fixed resistance.
Very high voltage, enough to cause burns, will cause dielectric breakdown at
the skin, actually lowering total body resistance and, ultimately, causing
even higher current than when the voltage was first applied. Contact with
voltages over 600 volts can cause enough skin burning to decrease the total
resistance of a path though the body to 500 ohms or less.
CAUSES OF ELECTRIC SHOCKS AND PRECAUTION

 If a person is going to help someone who has sustained a

high voltage shock, he or she needs to be very careful
that they don't become a second victim of a similar
electrical shock. If a high voltage line has fallen to the
ground, there may be a circle of current spreading out
from the tip of the line.
 A victim who has fallen from a height or sustained a
severe shock causing multiple injuries may have a
serious neck injury and should not be moved without
first protecting the neck.
 CAUSES OF ELECTRIC SHOCKS AND PRECAUTION
 Steps to prevent electrical injury depend primarily on the age of people
involved.
o For children younger than 12 years, most electrical injuries are caused
by power cords.
o Inspect your power cords and extension cords.
o Replace any cords that have broken or cracked external covering and any
cord that has exposed wire.
o Do not allow children to play with any electrical cord.
o Limit use of extension cords and be sure the cord is rated for the current
(measured in amps) that will be drawn by the device being powered.
o Use outlet covers to protect infants from exploring electrical outlets.
o Update old, ungrounded electrical outlets to grounded (3-prong) systems.
Replace outlets near any water (sink, tub) with fused (GFCI) outlets.
CAUSES OF ELECTRIC SHOCKS AND PRECAUTION
 In children older than 12 years, most electrical injuries
result from exploring and activities around high-power
systems. Explain to adolescent children that they should not
climb on power towers, play near transformer systems, or
explore electrified train rails or other electrical systems.
 Among adults, use of common sense can help reduce
electrical injury. People who work with electricity should
always check that the power is off before working on
electrical systems. Avoid use of any electrical device near
water. Be careful of standing in water or when working with
electricity.
HOW TO PREVENT ELECTRIC
SHOCK
 Educate yourself. Know the following:
o Voltage is the force that causes the flow of current.

 Current is the amount of electricity that is flowing.

 Resistance slows down or stops the flow of current.

 The greater the resistance the lower the amount of flow.

 A ground is a connection between the electrical

circuit and the earth.
 Electricity always seeks a ground.
HOW TO PREVENT ELECTRIC SHOCK
 Be safe. Here are a few tips to follow:
o Never overload electrical circuits.

 Check electrical cords for fraying, signs of wear, and defects.

 Always cut off the power switches when working on

equipment.
 Keep all electronic equipment away from dampness and water.

 Inspect your area for any electrical hazards.

 In case of an electrical fire, shut the power off and use a fire
extinguisher on the fire.
 Never use water to put out an electrical fire! To do so could
result in a fatal shock. Use fire extinguishers that are
recommended for electrical fires only.
EFFECT OF ELECTRIC CURRENT ON
HUMAN BODY
 Current Involved in Electric Shock
 The electric current in amperes is the most important
physiological variable which determines the severity of
an electric shock. However, this current is in turn
determined by the driving voltage and the resistance of
the path which the current follows through the body
effect of electric current on human body
TECHNIQUES TO REDUCE THE EFFECT
OF ELECTRIC SHOCK