Heated mattress pad induced AC voltage Tursiops_GTechnoidMVMjoin:2002-02-06Norwalk, CT said by Tursiops_G:Well the reversed Hot/Neutral is pretty likely, this house was built in the 50's from a Montgomery Wards kit. The ground is open since I know there are only two wires to that outlet.However, the mattress pad only has a two prong plug not three prong. Optimum OnlineARRIS TM1602TP-Link TL-WDR4300 The fact that there appears to be a connection with the "hot" side of the line with the switch in the OFF position, suggests a Hot/Neutral reversal... Is the outlet and cord both Polarized?Old Electrician's saying: "White to White, You're All right. White to Brass, Shocks Your @$$"... -Tursiops_G. cmslick3join:2004-05-24Joliet, IL to Tursiops_Gsaid by Tursiops_G:"White to White, You're All right. White to Brass, Shocks Your @$$"...I like that and I'm going to use that in the future.The outlet is polarized, and there is a power strip plugged into the outlet. The strip is a cheapie, but polarized as well with built in safety covers.
The plug for the pad I'm not sure about, something makes me want to say it is not polarized. I guess what you're going to suggest next is that I reverse the plug and see what happens?said by cowboyro:It's normal and expected.I'm not quite sure this should be an expected experience... But I do understand your point. The thing that bothers me is that my wife's side does not do this. Also, I believe this is a recent development and we've owned the same pad for over a year now.What I don't quite understand is how much voltage would have to be running through the coils to induce 40VAC on my body? Since is has to jump the gap of padding and sheets between the coils and myself I would think it should be a considerable voltage. cowboyroPremium Memberjoin:2000-10-11Shelton, CT75.3 5.5· said by cmslick3:What I don't quite understand is how much voltage would have to be running through the coils to induce 40VAC on my body? Since is has to jump the gap of padding and sheets between the coils and myself I would think it should be a considerable voltage.
It really doesn't take much. You're making the mistake of looking at voltage, not current. In this case the voltage is almost irrelevant, what matters is the current - which is very small. Think of it, all you have is a capacitive voltage divider. If you get on a chair and you hold an insulated wire in your hand, you will have ~60V between you and the ground (equal capacitors between your hand and both hot and neutral). Will a meter register 60V between you and the ground? Highly unlikely, since the internal resistance, even extremely high, will be a almost a shunt compared to the reactance of the capacitors your hand forms with the wires... cmslick3join:2004-05-24Joliet, IL cowboyroPremium Memberjoin:2000-10-11Shelton, CT75.3 5.5· said by cmslick3:The skin contact closed the circuit and allowed a small current to flow between us which is why we felt a little tingle. But the current was kept low because I wasn't in direct contact with the wires, correct??Correct - all you had was capacitive coupling and the current is somewhat small at 60Hz...
Had it been 6000Hz it would have been a different story though SmokChsrWho let the magic smoke out?Premium Memberjoin:2006-03-17Saint Augustine, FL to cmslick3Call me weird, but I like that feeling. This particular effect I can create any time in the kitchen, by simply grabbing the fridge and touching someone at the sink.As coyboyro said it doesn't take much, and you are measuring with a very high impedance meter. If you were to measure it with an older VOM that actually used a meter movement, you would likely only see a slight deflection if anything at all.That's part of the reason that some of us experienced techs like to keep a true "analog" (sorry, Luthful ) meter around, because in certain (Hi-Z) cases, the newer meters can deceive you into thinking something is good or bad when it really isn't. to cmslick3said by cmslick3: didn't do really well with capacitance in school. Assuming the heating element is powered directly from the AC line one end of the element will be a 0 volts - relative to Earth ground and the other side at 120 volts.
As mentioned the amount of voltage depends on capacitive coupling and how each body is coupled to the heating element. Worst case is that one person is at the low end and the other at the high. That being said because frequency is low - 60 Hz and so is capacitance (not a lot of area and pretty far away from the element) the amount of energy coupled is very small. As mentioned modern DVMs have very high input impedance resulting in high voltage ready even for very small current flow.Sounds like each side is powered separately. Are the plugs polarized? If not you ought to be able to change the voltage/current between persons by reversing the plug on one of the heaters. Try the different combination and see if that changes the amount of current between you and your wife. said by cmslick3:Something that I failed to mention is that the pad has digital controls, with 10 levels of adjustment.Even with digital control off should be "off." With a digital control there is a snubber across the Triac or back to back SCRs that passes a tiny amount of current even when off.
That can sometimes be a problem if the load is extremely low but not with an electric blanket. If you are able to measure the voltage at the element in the off control position it should be extremely close to zero volts.Out of curiosity are both blankets in the same orientation on the bed - cord comes out the same place? Do they plug into the same receptacle? If the sides are connected to different receptacles it is possible there is 240v between them rather then 120. They would still work fine but the induced current will be higher./tom alphapointeDon't Touch MeMVMjoin:2002-02-10Columbia, MO to cmslick3said by cmslick3:With both sides plugged into the outlet there was 40VAC between my wife and I based upon measuring from skin to skin, with 15uA of current.Anyone care to explain this??Let her know you know a good way to equalize the voltage potential... (couldn't help it ) SmokChsrWho let the magic smoke out?Premium Memberjoin:2006-03-17Saint Augustine, FLYou are sure to love your pets.
Dogs, and especially small dogs, make wonderful companions for people of all ages. They become a part of the family. You want them to be the best part of the family and fit in with the group. But, like other family members they are not always on their very best behaviors. What do you do when FiFi has a little too much to say about absolutely everything? Just like anyone else, talking too much has no appeal. But, unlike Uncle Lou, you help her learn to be quiet with the use of a bark collar. Amazon has a wide variety of options available and this guide will help you locate the very best bark collar for small dogs so you’ll be able to find just what you need to tame your talkative friend. #5 New Classic Design – No Bark Dog Collar – 2.5 Stars The by New Classic Design is made specifically for dogs from 4 pounds up to 34 pounds. It has an adjustable nylon strap collar and runs on a small battery. It starts with a warning tone and continuous barking leads to stronger shock discharge.
It comes with small and large electrode so fit the coat thickness of any type of dog. It has seven adjustable levels of intensity so you always have the appropriate level for your dog’s size. And, there’s no need to worry about continuous shock since the collar also has a built in one minute auto protection mode that it enters after level 7. It also has a 30 day no questions asked guarantee. It’s a great option for bark training. See our full review here. #4 Minature Dogs A-101 Classic Design No Bark Dog Collar The is made specifically with smaller dogs and miniatures in mind. This collar is ideal for dogs up to about 4 pounds. This is a gentle way to train your tiny pet since this is not a shock collar. It starts with a painless tone and then it uses different intensity of vibration to help modify behavior. The more barking, the stronger the vibration, but this collar is smart and also knows your four legged furry friend talks so not every noise triggers a vibration.
And, the collar is very light weight since you don’t want a tiny dog to be top heavy with a big collar. #3 VK-BEST 330 Yards Remote Dog Training Collar E-collar – 5 Stars The by VK-Best is actually a pair of collars. This is great for 2 pets or for allowing a switch after wet or dirty activities. This is a completely waterproof collar so no need to worry even when your pet makes it out for a romp in the rain. The RF receiver also allows a big range on these collars. 330 yards to be exact or about 3 and a third football fields. This gives your pet plenty of room to run while still being under the control of the collar. These collars are made for dogs under 15 pounds and with necks between 7 inches and 26 inches. This one operates in 4 modes with 100 different settings. That makes this so extremely customizable. And, the backlit display aids in getting the settings just right. #2 SportDog Small Dog Yard Trainer Shock Collar – 5 Stars The by SportDog is another great choice to help with your little dog that talks too much.
It has a range of up to 100 yards or about the size of a football field. It has a tone only button as well as 8 levels of intensity. The collar receiver is waterproof and the transmitter is water resistant. This particular unit is for dogs 8 pounds and up so you won’t want to use it with your tiny pets. But, it still works great for most small breeds. The unit only works for one dog at a time so if you have multiples that need to be trained, this is not the best small dog bark collar for you. #1 Our K9 Red Bark Collar – 4 Stars The by Our K9 is the number 1 choice on the list. It allows normal behavior so 1 or 2 barks sound a warning and correction comes with the 3rd bark or more. K9 makes sure you know exactly how to use the system with manuals and videos included with the collar. It is a very safe using only mild static shock and causing no real pain to your pet. You love them so that would be an important consideration. There are no short or long term side effects from using the Red Bark Collar with your pet.
The collar is super lightweight so it’s fine for constant wear. No matter which option you choose to help curb your too noisy, barks to much small dog, you’ll be glad you took the time to help your pet become a calmer, more connected member of the family. When your pet displays better bark behavior, she or he is a more welcome addition to any group. Yes, choosing to use corrective technology to modify behavior may seem like a big step, but these small dog bark collars really are a gentle option to help you make your dog a better and bigger part of the family. The quiet cuddle time, low key company time, and free play time with the ability to talk to your pet and have him or her respond while knowing it won’t turn into a bark fest is a real win. It’s a win not only for you but also for your pet. Fifi wants to spend time with you not in time out because no one can talk over her yelping and yipping. It’s a beautiful thing to be able to make that connection stronger and make your pet a member of the family.