Notices by Stefan Fendt (stefanfendt@mastodon.social)

@freemo

This is something I honestly cannot second.

Most people I have encountered in the ham radio hobby, so far are very polite and well educated.

There are these statistically normal exceptions you have in every hobby, yes. But this really isn't abnormally high. A clear minority. At least here in Europe.

And if I occasionally do encounter rude hams on the band's, it's most likely that they specifically have some very few origins, tbh...

@jmorris

This only can happen, if you have no (or virtually no --> US) security devices in the installation.

Every time I see US electrical house installations I am scared to my bones...

@jmorris

The difference is:

We do not only have RCDs on lines "near water" or outside, but on every(!) line. Directly in the house's distribution box, not only for "chosen" outlets.

We also have multiple arc-breakers, line-breakers, over-voltage protectors in the distribution box... for redundancy.

Shorting all three phases (or just two of them), it's likely, that you just would see a little spark for about 20ms max (if at all) before at least one of four redundant breakers chimes in.

@jmorris

In that case, if you count/calculate like that, we even have 400V AC for our homes, here in Europe...

3 "hot" wires, 240V, 120° phase difference, each. Circular current. Usually coloured black, brown, grey.

One neutral wire. Usually coloured blue.

One PE "protective earth". Usually bi-coloured in yellow and green (green with a yellow stripe).

All five come directly from the power network supplier.

@jmorris

There is absolutely no risk of non-self-extinguishing arcs with 400V/480V circular AC.

GB, Europe and Australia prove this. Every Day. For Decades, now...

And it is a lot(!) more secure to accidently touch Europe's and Australia's live wire with 240V than US' 120V. Ever heard of RCDs?