Strange english language - was AC Safety Questions

[Magnus Danielson]

>>>>> "JLH" == J Larry Hendry <jlarryh at iquest.net> writes:

 >> Christopher Jeris wrote:
 >> > (apologies to Commonwealth English speakers; `earth' always sounded
 >> > strange to this particular unwashed Yankee)
 >> 
 >> Ingo Debus wrote:
 >> Isn't the term "PE" (for Protection Earth) used in the US too?

 JLH> In the midwestern US, the term "ground" is more commonly used to describe
 JLH> protection earth.  I work in the utility industry.  I rarely hear anyone
 JLH> use the term earth when making that reference.

Isn't ground in a sense very much in use such as GND?

The connection to ground or earth is obvious since the protective
earth or ground is done in powerstations with big plates into the
ground. The potential is about the same all over the planet and it can
infact be shown that between any two points of a sphere with
homogenous surface conductance one get the same resistance. So, when
you connect protective earth to your chassi you are indeed connecting
it to mother earth even if it is more or less poluted due to common
impedances and ground loops.

BTW. The earth does not have even surface conductivity.

There are places where people have to dig up their garden in order to
get a few square meters of copperplates down so that they get a
propper earth for their studio. Actually is this more common than one
might originally think. Also, even mother earth (moder of all earth's)
gets poluted every now and then with creeping currents from bad engines.

 JLH> I did get a good chuckle from the original intended humor suggesting a good
 JLH> grip would be necessary when bolting the "planet" Earth to a chassis.  That
 JLH> certainly provides a good example for understanding another's intended
 JLH> message rather than taking words too literally.  Here in the USA, something
 JLH> might be stained if it was "bloody."  To you UK guys, I guess that might be
 JLH> associated with swearing?  There are even places in the deep south USA
 JLH> where the term "Yankee" might raise a red flag.

Fortunatly there is allready many bolts applied on planet earth, if
not you can get one yourself. 

 JLH> All this is just another reason to try and assume the best possible
 JLH> intended message when interpreting other's writings.  I read this group
 JLH> everyday, but rarely contribute as most of you guys are light years ahead
 JLH> of my electronics knowledge.  However, I have learned a lot and thanks
 JLH> everyone for the generous way in which they share their knowledge and
 JLH> circuit ideas.  Most of my electrical knowledge involves terms like
 JLH> kilovolts and megawatts.  I sure am glad someone had the foresight to
 JLH> introduce metrics to the measurement of electrical quantities instead of
 JLH> our strange US measuring standards.   If not, perhaps my neighbor might
 JLH> want to borrow a quart of electricity.

Shouldn't we measure our amps in horsepower? Shouln't we extend the
length system downwards with anoying 12's 3's and all that in a nice
combination? Wavelenghts measures in microinch? Too simple.

I had a neighbor come over the other day to borrow a cup of electrons,
I said he had to borrow some protons as well but he didn't want to
overdo it. Well, since I could not convince him that Coloumb had an
opinion on this he went slowly away. It was a not a pretty sight, the
neighbor was smashed to the wall with a large flashburn where the
electrons had returned back... I am sure that Coloumb also tried this.

Cheers,
Magnus