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Registered Member #1430
Joined: Sun Apr 06 2008, 11:12AM
Location: Ã…rhus, Denmark
Posts: 102
Hey everyone. for a long time i have been experimenting with electronics and high voltage. for the last few months i have been becoming increasingly annoyed that i can't experiment with mains voltage in my house. im my house we don't have "breakers", we have 16 Amp fuses. that means that every time i screw something up i have to buy a new 6$ fuse AND set the time on my alarm clock
so i was wondering, can i stick some wires from a mains plug to This and solder the wires coming out of it to a new mains plug? like this:
Registered Member #543
Joined: Tue Feb 20 2007, 04:26PM
Location: UK
Posts: 4992
Have you thought about getting a heavy duty isolation transformer of the sort used on construction sites?
I have my entire bench, and all its instruments, tools and outlet sockets running from a 230/230 industrial transformer, so everything I do is isolated from the mains.
Registered Member #1430
Joined: Sun Apr 06 2008, 11:12AM
Location: Ã…rhus, Denmark
Posts: 102
it sure sounds like a nice alternative. but if it's possible i would much rather go for the breaker, as it's VERY cheap(about 4$) and i have no idea where to get an isolation transformer or how much it would cost. also, in the same shop they sell USB TV receivers. i could really use one, since i ride the train 2 hours a day :(
Registered Member #509
Joined: Sat Feb 10 2007, 07:02AM
Location:
Posts: 329
Yes, the breaker should work, and the 10A should work well too. Fuses are typically quicker then breakers, so a 15/16A breaker wouldnt always prevent the fuse from popping, but 10A should leave plenty of headroom depending on what else is on in the circuit of course.
Registered Member #162
Joined: Mon Feb 13 2006, 10:25AM
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 3140
Your minimum requirement would be met by adding quick-blow fuses in both power lines. In uk, fuses are categorised as
T time-delay, allows a short-term overload current (no letter) normal (a length of wire) F fast FF f'ing fast
To protect the normal 16A house fuses start with F10A or FF10A
Nice would be a couple of lamps/neons etc. one across the input to indicate mains incomming power one across the output to indicate fuses ok.
Just a quick note, a mains filament lamp in series with the mains allows low-power devices to operate normally but the lamp will glow brightly if your circuit is faulty. The lamp will often protect the faulty circuit and it will always protect the mains fuses/breakers etc. Low power lamps for small loads, high power lamps for heavier loads and electric heater elements for high power. Lamps and electric heaters also make good test loads.
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Safety relay/breaker?
