On 22/08/2011 12:36, Baz wrote:
Chris wrote in
:

On Thu, 18 Aug 2011 21:42:22 +0100 (BST), "Dave Liquorice"
wrote:

On Thu, 18 Aug 2011 20:58:29 +0100, Chris Hogg wrote:

ELCB's are old technology. RCD's are the thing these days. An ELCB
won't protect you if you are unfortunate enough to contact a live wire
at the same time as providing a circuit directly to earth,

You need to define what type of ELCB you are refering to when using
that term. A Voltage Operated ELCB might not protect you (depends on
the earth path) but there is no difference between a Current Operated
ELCB and an RCD.

From the Wiki article: "Current-operated ELCBs are generally known as
Residual-current devices (RCD)" and again :"When the term ELCB is used
it usually means a voltage-operated device". I assume the OP means a
voltage-operated device, and that was certainly what ours was. More
common with overhead (TT) power supplies.

No the OP meant a current operated device and was using the term ELCB
loosely. The unbalanced residual current is the trigger. Although in the
case of cutting through the hedge trimmer cable a dead short between
live and neutral has a more rapid effect elsewhere in the chain.

Wiki is not to be trusted. EVER. It relies on information taken from the
public and some of these members of the public mean harm, or at least
mislead readers. It may have improved over the years, I don't know, but I
for one never ever go to that site.

That is an incredibly bitter and twisted view of Wiki. It may not be
perfect but it is a heck of a lot better informed than the average
website that search engines will throw up. Obviously you should not
trust the output of Wiki on "DIY open heart surgery" for example.

Wiki is usually reliable on most scientific and mathematical topics and
you can always check the references from the bibliography. It can
sometimes be corrupted in the life histories of politicians for partisan
gain (as past incidents will amply demonstrate). And every now and then
the Young Earth Creationists try to wreck geochronology pages (and not
just on Wiki). Wolframs site may be better for mathematics.

Regards,
Martin Brown