Good morning all, I have received an enquiry regarding the risk of possible electrocution to emergency service staff from hybrid/electric cars when attending a road traffic accident. Has anyone else looked at this in terms of procedures, PPE etc.? I also received a copy of a Service News document relating to the Peugeot 3008 HYbrid4 which can be found at the link below if anyone is interested. https://ignis.derbys-fir...icles%20SN%2012%2001.pdf I know this is not really a specific question, but anyone’s views or experiences would be appreciated. Kind regards, Scott

This s going to cause loads of confusion! High voltage in the electrical industry is defined in international standards as >1000 V a.c. / 1500 V d.c.! So we would never consider 200 V d.c. As high voltage! This would be low voltage as defined, & the "normal" automotive voltages as extra-low as defined. Lord help us!

Yes Jane I agree the emergency services DO need the correct advice. Yes they do need to be made aware of the increased voltage, I just believe that it wil cause added confusion. Not enough tech info to date, but, it could be that the 200V side is isolated from the chassis also, thus the only shock risk if undamaged would be between the + & - wiring of the 200V side, not to true earth or to the vehicle chassis, so perhaps this is one of the reasons for the additional info in that in the event of an accident one "side" of the 200V lines could come into contact with the chassis, thus putting the whole vehicle at a potential of 200V wrt to the other side of the supply.

ScottB If you PM me I can mail you some extracts from the powerpoint presentations used by the Brigades if they will help? Phil

And if anyone thinks otherwise then they need to re-think. The problem we get in the electrical trades is when unqualified and ill informed people write about things they have little understanding of. That is when people get killed. Sorry if this seems blunt, but it is the truth and what we, in the Health and Safety game should be about, at least be clear in our definitions. The emergency services need to be aware of the voltage present, that goes without saying, and they need to be aware of the damage electricity does to the human body and the risks of other damaged caused by loose electrons, but please, refer to voltages in their correct terminology

Yes they can be injured

if connected... not is sorry

I'm not asking for anything, merely commenting on the tendency certain people in the health and safety "profession" have to wander away from the point of a question at the earliest opportunity. As for "professionally" qualified people, maybe if said people acted a bit more professionally by addressing the question in hand rather than nit picking over semantics, the "profession" might be taken a bit more seriously, not by those who have the gall to seek advice, but by those who probably think once bitten, twice shy.

Sent by PM to Pete but it may as well be read here, just in case. Pete, really sorry that my mail seems to been short and more than a little harsh. It was not intended to be and for the most part, and those who know me would no doubt verify, I’m a good bloke who takes time (a lot of my own time, at our home with apprentices, out of hours) to help the youngsters with any problems they may have with electrical matters. Being dyslexic it take ages to write things that make on here that sense. My point is this; we as electricians, and those in the electrical industry in the UK have to speak the same language, using the same technical terms. If we don’t, neither party will have a clue what the other is talking about. If I were to say to Paul… ‘yes mate, is high voltage DC’ he would know that I’m talking about a situation that the voltage range is at least 120V ripple free DC up to 1500V DC between conductors, or 900V between conductors and earth. If I talk about voltage at Extra Low voltage I would be talking about a situation where the voltage range is at (DC in this case) not exceeding 120V DC As I said, it is only ill-informed people who quote outside the EWA and BS7671. What is done in-house if you like, is well, that is up to them but in the world of UK definitions then the above is true. Again, sincere apologies for any hurt or offence given, I come over as an idiot I know, but a well intended one.

Thanks for all your responses. Zimmy, if you ask Peugeot your question and get a response, let us know. Agree it's misleading. Scott

Crikey. 1 thread 20 posts 5 posts 'pulled' (25%) 4 posts by one person 'pulled' (20%) Is this a record or a personal best? Did I miss anything 'exciting'? I couldn't have waited until Friday otherwise the percentages would have gone down!

For all of you sparkies. If you are measuring the electric potential of a squid nerve cell anything above 100 mV is high voltage.