Plug and Socket Condition : In the same way that your knowledge of flexes and fuses is wasted if you don't care to ensure that flexes and cables are routed safely and sensibly, so your ability at and knowledge of wiring plugs will be a waste of time if you do not ensure that plug tops, sockets and leads are in good repair at all times. Damage or wear to any of these could expose a user to extreme danger through short circuits, bare terminals, etc. Therefore a regular (annual) and thorough check of plugs. sockets and leads should be a standard practice in your lab. This can be done in the following manner.

Plugs - Check for:

1) Hair-line or other fractures in body

2) Chipped plug top

3) Worn or insecure top securing screw

4) Loose cable clamp

5) Loose connecting screws

6) Loose fuse holders

Sockets - Check for:

1) Fractures of chips

2) Faulty socket shield operation

3) Worn or insecure face-securing screws

4) Correct wiring

Flaes/Cables - Check for:

1) Hairline cuts in insulation -.-particularly where outer sheathing has been

removed

2) Brittle sheathing due to heat or corrosives

3) Frayed sheathing in fabric sheaths where the fabric becomes thin or worn

so that loose threads develop

4) Mechanical distortion to flex -twisted, worn

The Government of India has formulated specific legislation for safety requirements while using electricity. Having learnt about the safe conduct, In the next subsection you will learn about another important aspect of using electrical appliances i.e. earthing. Here you will know how a piece of equipment can be earthed and what the reasons for earthing a metal clad appliance are.