Electrics & Diathermy Flashcards
What is the oscillation of the UK mains supply?
-340 - +340
240V is the root mean voltage
What is Ohm’s law?
For a given voltage the current that flows is inversely proportional to the resistance of the path
What does current depend on?
- How much current flows
- Type of current
- Frequency of current
- Current pathway
- Current density
- Duration of current flow
How is the amount of current flowing determined?
Ohm’s Law
What is the equation for 1) Power, 2) Voltage
1) P = I(sq)R
2) V = IR
I = current
What are the effects of electrocution at different amps?
1-5 = tingling
5-10 = Pain
15 = No letting go
50 = Resp arrest
100 = VF
How is electrical equipment classified?
According to means by which it provides electrical safety
- Class 1
- Class 2
- Class 3
Describe class 1 equipment
- Accessible conductive parts (casing) are connected to earth by earth wire
- Maintains exposed metalwork at 0 potential
- Provides low resistance path for current to return to local substation in event of fault
What happens if a fault occurs in class 1 equipment?
- If live component touches casing this also becomes live
- Current would flow both through the circuit & through the earth back to the substation
- If you touched the casing current would also flow through you
How is a class 1 electrocution prevented?
Earth has very low resistance so in a fault larger current flows along this.
Total current flow increases causing fuse to blow & breaking the circuit
Describe class 2 equipment
- Protected by double insulation
- Minimal chance person could come into contact with faulty live component so no earth
Describe a class 3 component
- Powered internally by a battery/SELV
- Also known as a floating circuit
What is the difference between micro & macroshock?
MICRO: Skin is breached or aberrant currents delivered directly to the myocardium
MACRO: Current flows from intact skin to skin
What is the risk of micros jock induced ventricular arrhythmias based on?
- Site of stimulation
- Area of stimulation
- Risk increases the longer the current passes
When might equipment predispose patients to microshock?
- Currents can be delivered to myocardium via saline filled CVCs/pacing wires/oesophageal dopplers