The importance of
electrical safety
With this lesson, I hope to avoid a common
mistake found in electronics textbooks of either ignoring or
not covering with sufficient detail the subject of
electrical safety. I assume that whoever reads this book has
at least a passing interest in actually working with
electricity, and as such the topic of safety is of paramount
importance. Those authors, editors, and publishers who fail
to incorporate this subject into their introductory texts
are depriving the reader of life-saving information.
As an instructor of industrial electronics,
I spend a full week with my students reviewing the
theoretical and practical aspects of electrical safety. The
same textbooks I found lacking in technical clarity I also
found lacking in coverage of electrical safety, hence the
creation of this chapter. Its placement after the first two
chapters is intentional: in order for the concepts of
electrical safety to make the most sense, some foundational
knowledge of electricity is necessary.
Another benefit of including a detailed
lesson on electrical safety is the practical context it sets
for basic concepts of voltage, current, resistance, and
circuit design. The more relevant a technical topic can be
made, the more likely a student will be to pay attention and
comprehend. And what could be more relevant than application
to your own personal safety? Also, with electrical power
being such an everyday presence in modern life, almost
anyone can relate to the illustrations given in such a
lesson. Have you ever wondered why birds don't get shocked
while resting on power lines? Read on and find out! |
