Electrical display wall for teaching/learning.

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Jan Brumfield

Member
A carpenter friend built an ell-shaped wall and I wired it with a light outlet,
3-way switching, a receptacle outlet and a chime with button. I also put in a
14V transformer, a pigtail coming out of the transformer box so it could be
plugged in to a 110V receptacle - make the chime and light fixture work. This has been used for middle school girls, women in transition etc. as a introduction to the electrical trade. A pre-school contacted me and wants to
use it. It's always been with me in the past. Is it safe? Can you foresee
any problems? Is there a liability issue? Any feedback will help. Thanks.
 
mdshunk

mdshunk

Senior Member
Location
Right here.
A pre-school? No way, brother. I certainly wouldn't be comfortable with that. A pre-schooler shouldn't even be plugging in an appliance, let alone doing whatever it is they have in mind for your display wall.
 
peteo

peteo

Senior Member
Location
Los Angeles
I'd discourage allowing it to be used in a preschool, even under direct supervision and returned to you at the end of the day. Once you build something, there's always the chance of liability. You don't know how it will be used, who the parents are and how they would react. Better to let this one go IMO too.
 
T

templdl

Senior Member
Location
Wisconsin
On the surface on would raise a red flag and say "Let's back the truck up and revisit the safety of such a display." as some of the responses were concerned about. I am not going to throw cold water on your idea because it could be some merit if approached correctly..
1) Is it GFCI protected?

2) Do the students have access such that they can come into contact with 120v?
3) What is the intent of the display?
4) Will it peak the student?s curiosity such that it may encourage them to explore outside the class room where there would most likely be little or no supervision?

I would certainly write something in regard to what the display is intended to do and to assure that it is used with that intent.
If the display could illustrate the danger of playing with electricity and to notify and adult if they were concerned about or had observed an unsafe condition what could be taught could teach invaluable.
One certainly does want to plant a seed in any of their little minds that could lead to they injury of even death while off campus.
 
J

Jan Brumfield

Member
Thanks for all the input. My first response was the same as yours, Marc.
But then I started thinking about dumbing down our kids. Usually they get
into trouble because they don't know about something and they are inquisitive. This wall was make to educate. What does IMO mean? Good idea about GFCI protecting it - even if it is low voltage. Thanks for the insurance idea. I agree that is should never be without supervision. Thanks
y'all. Jan
 
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templdl

Senior Member
Location
Wisconsin
Jan,
Then I'm to understand then the entire display is powered by 12-14v and that the student would not be exposed to voltages above that. Then I would conclude that it wouldn't be a safety problem. The only unknown would be that an inquisitive mind might believe the home electrical distribution system is just as safe and do something that may case injury.
As I said before, unlike the others, I am not one to throw cold water of your idea. If what the intent and focus is to educate with the goal to prevent injury or accident I would encourage it to be taught.
 
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