View the thread, titled "Effect of someone touching a device that is protectively earthed Electrical Advice" which is posted in Electrical Advice on UK Plumbers Forums.

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Effect of someone touching a device that is protectively earthed Discussion ThreadEffect of someone touching a device that is protectively earthed Electrical Advice

I am trying to calculate (as a theoretical exercise) what the effect would be if someone touched an electrical device that is protectively earthed. I would really appreciate it if anyone could verify my workings.

I am assuming that the current flowing into the enclosure of the class 1 device is 1 Amp (could this happen?), the earth resistance from that point of the enclosure to ground is 0.2 Ohms and the body resistance (to ground) of the person touching the device is 1,000 Ohms.

If the device earth resistance and the body resistance are treated as being in parallel, the total resistance would be 0.19996 Ohms (1/Rtotal = 1/Rdevice + 1/1body).

The voltage drop across the device would be 0.19996 V (0.19996 Ohms * 1 Amp).

The current flowing through the person would therefore be 0.00019996 Amps (0.19996 V / 1000 Ohms). This would likely be below the threshold of perception.

Does this look reasonable?

Effect of someone touching a device that is protectively earthed for the original thread on Electricians Forums
 

Reply to the thread, titled "Effect of someone touching a device that is protectively earthed Electrical Advice" which is posted in Electrical Advice on Electricians Forums.

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