Making all electrical devices totally safe

Protectelec has developed a new electrical safeguard system designed to prevent electrocution and protect appliances from electrical damage. Known as Protex Switching Technology, it was developed to transform an energy source with inherent dangers into a far safer commodity.

Whether it is through appliance misuse, wiring deterioration or simple short cuts, electricity has the ability to burn or kill instantly.

Thirty-nine people lost their lives to electricity in Australia and New Zealand in the financial year 2000/01. It's not just electrical or construction workers at risk, 49 per cent of these electrocutions occurred in the home according to ERAC data*. Compounding the gravity of this situation, most electrocutions and electrical injuries are preventable, being caused by a safety code violation, a defective product or human error.

To combat this situation, Protectelec developed Protex Switching Technology as a next-generation electrical safeguard system, providing protection from greater fault conditions that can cause electrical damage to both people and appliances.

According to Wayne Callen, managing director of Protectelec, Protex is designed to save lives, regardless of the electrical product or voltage it is used in. "This system revolutionises electrical safety because it isolates power in more applications under more fault conditions than current electrical safety systems," says Callen, adding, "Because Protex is not earth reliant it can operate on all appliances and in all environments. We believe that this system is truly unique; it can be manufactured into individual appliances or installed as a new wiring system.

"We wanted to develop an electrical safeguard system that was not earth reliant and would provide protection in all situations and environments in work places and homes."

Having an electrical safety device that is not earth reliant is important, not all products or environments have an earth connection. Because Protex is not earth reliant it can protect all classes of electrical equipment 1, 2 and 3, as well as making it adaptable for DC products.

Callen states he "was inspired to develop Protex after hearing of an electrical accident in-volving a child using a hairdryer in the bathroom. The family lived in a newly built home with an electrical safety system installed. Like so many Australians, this family believed the electrical safety system would work in all electrical fault situations and could not understand why the system had failed to protect them."

Protex does not use power until a fault is detected meaning it does not generate heat and can be encapsulated making it sparkproof and waterproof. Protex is suitable for use in sensitive environments including mining, medical and aeronautical fields. Around the home it will increase electrical safety in bathrooms, laundries, kitchens and pool areas.

Protectelec says it has conducted over 330,000 operations tests, confirming the strength and reliability of the Protex system.

According to the company, Protex is the only electrical system that also provides protection to DC applications. Many DC applications were previously not protected or were difficult to protect. Protex provides electrical protection to applications such as generators, inverters and pumps, making them safer in all environments, including building sites and petrochemical industries.

*2000/01 Electrical Regulatory Authorities Council (ERAC) data excludes mining industry accidents. Reported as general public electrocution and as accidents in the home.