Dangers of arc flash

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  • Опубліковано 25 вер 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 101

  • @Joe-kb1sm
    @Joe-kb1sm 2 роки тому +39

    I'm a recently retired Electrician, 45 years.
    Just the words Arc Flash, Arc Blast scare the shit out of me.

  • @JamesCrouchX
    @JamesCrouchX 2 роки тому +17

    Pink Mist. I remember these words from the safety meeting. "We are hooking up this room today, do not go in here or we might not even find your shoe laces."

  • @glenmartin2437
    @glenmartin2437 6 місяців тому +2

    Thank you. Never had the displeasure of an arc flash.
    I am a retired professor and have watched and been taught by electricians as a young boy to my retirement. Thank you to all the electricians out there. Your colleagues kept me safe.

  • @davidhenderson3400
    @davidhenderson3400 5 років тому +57

    I survived an arc flash. A 3 phase 220 volt panel grenaded in my my face. I got lucky. The panel door deflected the blast. I was open the door to reset a breaker when the panel exploded. If I had been just a bit sooner opening the door I would have gotten my face blown off.

    • @hydrobuu
      @hydrobuu 4 роки тому +16

      What was the cause of the arc flash?

    • @ethanweeter2732
      @ethanweeter2732 9 місяців тому

      That is why you turn your head when messing with a disconnect. Might prevent blinding and blows directly to the face.

    • @ethanweeter2732
      @ethanweeter2732 9 місяців тому +2

      Take that back, you stand off to the side and turn your face away.

    • @wolfvash22
      @wolfvash22 8 місяців тому

      ​@@ethanweeter2732Better erase the previous comment, you got the second right, but somebody can get confused with the first one.

  • @sizedtoaster0278
    @sizedtoaster0278 2 роки тому +26

    There is 700,000 Electricians in America.
    182,500 have experienced Arc Flash.

    • @fuffoon
      @fuffoon 4 місяці тому

      None are available in under 3 weeks.

  • @flaplaya
    @flaplaya 2 роки тому +29

    Sometimes working on this stuff (240 volts or less) I get very reckless trying to get a piece of equipment going.. Just yesterday 3 phase 208 volts on a 35 amp breaker I was crouched over the locked up condensing unit and had a phase to phase event. I'm not joking when I say it was like an M-80 going off right in my face. No injuries. It must have touched right when the AC sign wave was peaking because it was bad. One day I know something bad could happen and I pray the circuit protection keeps doing its job. 208 volts can draw tens of thousands of amps with the ohms as low as they were being 5 feet from the 400 amp sub panel. Usually no big deal but occasionally the unexpected very violent arc flash can and will occur. Stay safe all electrical workers 🙏

  • @dennissmith1031
    @dennissmith1031 2 роки тому +13

    I repair welding equipment for a living, arc flash and arc burns , very bad deal. Respect electricity always, no matter what the voltage.

    • @doudymac
      @doudymac Рік тому +2

      💯 agree. I have the highest respect for electricity. I repair circuit breakers and I've seen some really burnt out ones. Big chunk of metals melted like butter. 😵‍💫 ⚡⚡

  • @joshk1487
    @joshk1487 2 роки тому +11

    And here I am I don't even like hooking up a 12v battery 😂😂

  • @serspartacus9657
    @serspartacus9657 3 місяці тому +3

    This video is a bit old and this comment may never be seen, but felt I had to add this here.
    In brief, a coworker of mine ~5 years ago experienced a high voltage arc flash.
    The bulk of his body didn't seem to sustain any serious damage. His eyes did, though. Maybe his face, but we couldn't really tell as he was pressing a rag onto it during the time we saw him.
    Please take me very seriously when I say that his screams about his eyes were unbearable.
    The sound taught all of us that there's a kind or level of pain that no one talks about.
    Parlty because I don't believe it's replicatable. I wish I could forget again I heard it. And I hope you reading this never have to.
    Please wear proper PPE if you have to deal with them at all.
    If you're feeling inventive, invent a different way for us to flip or deal with these breakers.
    For whoever does, the beers on me.

    • @2URB0
      @2URB0 20 днів тому

      Did he lose his eyes?

  • @waylandjennings4073
    @waylandjennings4073 7 років тому +30

    I don't always give talks on the dangers of arc flash... but when I do, I make sure to wear earplugs.

    • @StealthPumps
      @StealthPumps 6 років тому +2

      Wayland Jennings WHAT? Can’t hear ya?

    • @toryknotts8026
      @toryknotts8026 5 років тому

      And wear my hard hat on crooked

  • @SavedByFaithInJesus
    @SavedByFaithInJesus Рік тому +3

    Was researching Wadsworth panels not tripping and stumbled onto this video. I am an electrician and currently doing some work in a house that has a Wadsworth panel (I explained to the customer that panel needed changed and she understood and said ok.) I was changing an outlet that I thought it was dead, the breaker was OFF, or so I thought. A previous DIY'er had reversed the wires in an upstream outlet box, white was hot and black was neutral. My tick tester only went to the black wire and didn't beep. I unscrewed the black wire first with an impact and as I touched the white wire the impact the shank also touched the side of the box... sparks flew... breaker NEVER tripped.

    • @wolfvash22
      @wolfvash22 8 місяців тому

      So, ¿the breaker wasn't off to begin with?

  • @chuckvoss9344
    @chuckvoss9344 2 роки тому +5

    Personal protection is most important. Nothing less than Face shield, Eye protection, Gloves and Hearing protection.

  • @neta562
    @neta562 4 роки тому +14

    The day u take a shortcut is the day you will have an arc event

  • @charlessmith263
    @charlessmith263 Рік тому +4

    Thinking of lightning's electrical current, and how electrical paths from lightning can cause the completion of the circuit, we can now figure out in detail the two types of arc flash events:
    Phase-to-phase - this means ionizing electrons from one metal object to another metal object (given the metallic objects are too close to each other) created an air gap good enough for charge separation to set off the arc flash.
    Phase-to-ground - this means a metallic object got too close to or touching (contacting) metal that goes to the ground, or metal that is on the ground, causing the same air-gapping, electron ionization and resultant charge separation to set off the arc flash.
    Also.....
    Combustible dusts that happens anywhere these two events happen can also cause the arc flash if the heat or charge separation (along with enough oxygen) to set off a spark is good enough for these dangerous flashes.

    • @charlessmith263
      @charlessmith263 Рік тому

      With that, working with anything silver on energized electrical equipment creates the highest danger because silver is the greatest conductor.

  • @Tribecasoothsayer
    @Tribecasoothsayer Місяць тому

    But, I didn’t learn anything here today that can help me prevent or survive an arc flash. Thanks Mr. Fluke. 😢

  • @ShannonSmith4u2
    @ShannonSmith4u2 7 років тому +21

    wow, simple, informative, great clip, very, very well done. 5-6 arc flashes/day, still? youch!! sad.

  • @shagantinaresh4005
    @shagantinaresh4005 7 років тому +12

    thank u mr. john fluke

  • @sto2779
    @sto2779 4 роки тому +31

    This is the only video, where a person knows what they are talking about arc flash. Precisely said 4 times hotter than the surface of the sun rather than saying just the sun.

    • @guilhermearaujo1350
      @guilhermearaujo1350 Рік тому

      Can i make a question to you?

    • @sto2779
      @sto2779 Рік тому

      @@guilhermearaujo1350 sure

    • @guilhermearaujo1350
      @guilhermearaujo1350 Рік тому

      @@sto2779 you understand about arc flash right?

    • @sto2779
      @sto2779 Рік тому

      @@guilhermearaujo1350 Sort of but not years of experience about it. They are extremely dangerous when high voltage is involved. As shown in the video.

    • @guilhermearaujo1350
      @guilhermearaujo1350 Рік тому +1

      @@sto2779 a transmition lines can have arc flash? And arc flashes have the same power than the cable? If a cable have 1000 Volts and 100 A = 100 000 Watts the flash will have the same wayts? Or its just heat?

  • @dustinmacheske989
    @dustinmacheske989 20 днів тому

    I had a 480v 400A main arc phase to phase before due to carbon tracking after the panel previously blew. Definitely wear your spacesuit, stand to the side and hold your breath before you turn shit on. The best way to describe the explosion is like having a grenade going off next to you. Another tip, put your panel cover on before you energize!

  • @diy561
    @diy561 4 роки тому +18

    Hot as the sun in 1 millisecond and circuit breaker takes about 16 milliseconds to trip. Wow!

  • @digitalimigrant
    @digitalimigrant 6 років тому +6

    i stopped at the look out spot in Pacifica ....
    a light rain began ... then to my right a arm sized bolt zigged to roof of my car ...... bzzzzzzzz .....
    I looked around other drivers started cars and jammed ... as second bolt hit ....
    i sat there realized hey that wasnt lightning ... no sky flash .....no thunder .... i tingled .... i feel different.
    i call PGE .... have you called the media or police ....nuh nuh no i say ... i see a wire about 4ft off ground.
    30 minutes and pge truck was there ....
    maybe ive been effected .... the signs telling you how fast you going were out.
    anyway ...

  • @jayy9887
    @jayy9887 2 роки тому +1

    Do they got extra extra long probs to measure the voltage from a distance lol that’s what I would use

  • @bridypow1947
    @bridypow1947 5 місяців тому +1

    Dear land lord. This is why YOU MUST HAVE A CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY..one of the many reason 0:58

  • @ski6712
    @ski6712 Рік тому +2

    maybe industry can incorporate a new method/pc board that views the needed electrical measurements and sends them to a device/receiver a safe distance away like a radio frequency signal add on to the panel box that sends the required info to a battery powered hand held device. the new key fobs in autos comes to mind as they have many functions as they are. 🙂

  • @fuffoon
    @fuffoon 4 місяці тому

    This was very educational.

  • @toryknotts8026
    @toryknotts8026 5 років тому +7

    An arc flash sounds like the man made equivalent of lightning

  • @manabimikan
    @manabimikan 6 років тому +12

    Im hit a new low? high? ended up watching safety electrical hazards, where are the cats now ....

  • @jnorris3738
    @jnorris3738 3 місяці тому

    Unfortunately the lower the voltage the greater the arc flash danger. The nature of breaker coordination means that downstream loads trip slower than upstream and the energy released will be much higher.

  • @patrickwelch620
    @patrickwelch620 7 місяців тому

    Like when I see the prices of your meters. 20 years ago they were fairly priced.

  • @jandudl74
    @jandudl74 6 місяців тому

    Making something tension-free is not that difficult. Simply switch off the consumers and measure at the fuses whether there is still current flowing (measure three times, the second time on a current-carrying conductor to check your meter). Placing the fuses is something completely different. Fluke should make an instrument that measures the impedance on the outgoing side, so that you know what current to expect when you place the fuses. Unfortunately, they don't have something like this in their range. You can measure with your ohm meter, but this one measures the direct current resistance. Not the impedance.

  • @andyxox4168
    @andyxox4168 2 роки тому +2

    I’m lucky, never had to use or specify US standard switchgear!

  • @tristanhubacz2041
    @tristanhubacz2041 4 місяці тому +1

    You can be the best electrician on your job town or city but all it takes is one time and it can get ugly

  • @jasonbradley7973
    @jasonbradley7973 2 роки тому +2

    Why not cut the power when you have to open a panel....

    • @doughnut4867
      @doughnut4867 2 роки тому +2

      How can you locate and trace voltage without power? I have to assume your not an electrician. We require voltage to trace faults. It's like turning off a car engine then trying to figure out what's broken without ever running it. It's called HOT WORK. 60% of work electricians do has to be hot work. Wear PPE, follow rules, be as careful as possible then say a prayer. Lack of attention to work will put you in the ground.

    • @Tre16
      @Tre16 2 роки тому +2

      @@doughnut4867 95% of what electricians do is installing lol. New construction we don't have power till the near end.

    • @doughnut4867
      @doughnut4867 2 роки тому +2

      @@Tre16 so no temp poles, you don't install power on site? No troubleshooting? Just new construction with a master license? I'm talking about MCC repairs, ats installs, rewire existing services, service replacements? Then your missing millions of dollars doing TURN KEY work. Go for it man. No commercial or residential repairs?

    • @oldschooljack3479
      @oldschooljack3479 2 роки тому

      Yeah... Just shut shit off. I'm sure the rest of the people in the hospital... Or refinery... Or any other critical operations, won't mind.

    • @mrtechie6810
      @mrtechie6810 2 роки тому

      @@doughnut4867 I'll bet you could do some of that with the power off, using test equipment?

  • @johntucker2826
    @johntucker2826 6 місяців тому

    when i was a teenager, a friend of mine taught me how to build a carbon arc flash device on my parents home electrical system, and we used it to melt lead and scare cats and other fun things......

  •  7 місяців тому

    I've had an arc flash once when working on home 220V, so not much power. Luckily debris from ceramic insulator didn't hit me.

  • @iowanation1034
    @iowanation1034 Рік тому +1

    Why would the voltmeter cause an arc flash?

    • @antwanshenouda8328
      @antwanshenouda8328 Рік тому +1

      Reduced the distance (air clearance) between the terminals

  • @chadvail4436
    @chadvail4436 2 роки тому +1

    I hope the guy in the video is ok 🧐 that thing sparked in his face

  • @RizwanKhan_99
    @RizwanKhan_99 6 років тому +17

    So Fluke is a real person?

    • @asbaDoce
      @asbaDoce 6 років тому

      Time ago
      www.ebay.com/itm/John-Fluke-412A-High-Voltage-DC-Power-Supply/332626549398

    • @fvckyoutubescensorshipandt2718
      @fvckyoutubescensorshipandt2718 3 роки тому +2

      Yes, I saw him on MTV's Amp back in 1997 when they still showed music videos ua-cam.com/video/DAQISes7iXU/v-deo.html

    • @mrtechie6810
      @mrtechie6810 2 роки тому

      Was just a fluke.

    • @imho2278
      @imho2278 Рік тому

      Joshua Fluke is a youtuber who talks about corporate issues.

  • @mikehunt2190
    @mikehunt2190 4 роки тому +8

    My butt does this after taco bell

  • @danimal865
    @danimal865 5 років тому +7

    why are the most important videos like safety videos always the most corny boring sleep inducing videos. you guys can in fact make them interesting you know.. so people will stay awake and be interested

    • @imho2278
      @imho2278 Рік тому

      People have to grow up and pay attention.

  • @mikepearson5066
    @mikepearson5066 7 років тому +1

    iam so glad i was never out of the shop.

  • @Meaningalex
    @Meaningalex 3 роки тому +4

    this is all a fluke!

  • @sizedtoaster0278
    @sizedtoaster0278 2 роки тому +2

    Arc Flash= SUN farts in your face for a millisecond.

  • @cwagner122
    @cwagner122 3 місяці тому

    Always keep your meters dry as well I heard about a dude that left his fluke outside and it absorbed some moisture and then when he went to go test one of these panels it set it off he was in bad shape from what I heard but the thought never even occurred to me but mine definitely stays nice and climate controlled now that's for sure.

  • @stonedstonecold_6943
    @stonedstonecold_6943 5 років тому +9

    I grounded out a single phase terminal on a 440 3phase while roughing a new wawa a few years back.. one of the scariest moments I’ve had in the field for sure
    who tf cornrows about 70grounds all together and throws em all behind the already shitty organized neutrals for the next guy to come undo..

    • @bradzee9947
      @bradzee9947 5 років тому +2

      Some dumb-ass that didn't know what they were doing!! (nor did they care!) I wish we had Wawa's here (CT), awesome place to get a sandwich in the middle of the night!!

    • @mmark8394
      @mmark8394 2 роки тому

      It's only 440 across phases, you had 240 440 sounds better

  • @TrevorMagee-md8lg
    @TrevorMagee-md8lg 8 місяців тому

    I thought the + sign was where I put my screw driver

  • @dougjones4987
    @dougjones4987 2 роки тому

    Ive seen some good face offs in hockey but..

  • @daveyt4802
    @daveyt4802 7 місяців тому

    Don't use your meter set for current to measure high voltage. Not fun. Only 70A at 220VAC.

  • @MrSunny334
    @MrSunny334 3 роки тому +1

    Thanks 😊 so much ❤

  • @stuffuponstuffuponstuff7449

    I just randomly stumbled on this shit. Maybe picked up some valuable piece of knowledge.

  • @LL-og5df
    @LL-og5df 2 роки тому +1

    I just lost a relative because of this.

  • @charlessmith263
    @charlessmith263 2 роки тому +5

    Arc flash - a non-explosive electrical flash which gives off high heat and can cause severe burns or shock, and even death.
    Arc blast - much more dangerous - is an explosive electrical flash which can cause not only severe burns or electric shock - but also fractures, and also even death. Like an arc flash, an arc blast gives off high heat but also there is the pressure wave of the explosion which can lead to severe physical consequences as well.
    Examples of arc blasts happen during explosions on electrical transformers when they fault.

    • @charlessmith263
      @charlessmith263 2 роки тому +1

      LIghtning strikes from thunderstorms are also examples of arc flashes and arc blasts.

  • @ski6712
    @ski6712 Рік тому

    basically arc welding gone rogue......yikes😵‍💫.

  • @lexluther919
    @lexluther919 7 років тому +2

    Louie the lighting bug taught me all i thought i need to know....till.that day.....respect GOD power

  • @tychaplin7673
    @tychaplin7673 3 роки тому +1

    Tiktok comment section brought me here