Evening all
Plagued by power cuts in our rural office, we recently bought a cheapo 2.2Kw generator from Aldi to keep the small computer network running. It works fine (although we're probably taking a risk with what must be a very lumpy output).
It's got me thinking. As I understand it, the mains supply works by swinging 240V AC around a neutral that is nominally at earth potential. As a body standing on earth, you are also earthed; if you touch Live you'll be forcefully reminded of the fact.
But what happens with an unearthed generator? Presumably it's delivering 240V across what it calls Live and Neutral, but these are relative to thin air. If you touch either (but not both) there is no complete circuit and you wouldn't feel a thing. Or would you?
Any comments other than "try it"?
(Perhaps this should be on another forum - I'll leave that to Mod)
Paul
Plagued by power cuts in our rural office, we recently bought a cheapo 2.2Kw generator from Aldi to keep the small computer network running. It works fine (although we're probably taking a risk with what must be a very lumpy output).
It's got me thinking. As I understand it, the mains supply works by swinging 240V AC around a neutral that is nominally at earth potential. As a body standing on earth, you are also earthed; if you touch Live you'll be forcefully reminded of the fact.
But what happens with an unearthed generator? Presumably it's delivering 240V across what it calls Live and Neutral, but these are relative to thin air. If you touch either (but not both) there is no complete circuit and you wouldn't feel a thing. Or would you?
Any comments other than "try it"?
(Perhaps this should be on another forum - I'll leave that to Mod)
Paul