ProSoundWeb Community

Sound Reinforcement - Forums for Live Sound Professionals - Your Displayed Name Must Be Your Real Full Name To Post In The Live Sound Forums => AC Power and Grounding => Topic started by: Mike Sokol on August 22, 2016, 11:25:51 AM

Title: Amusement Park Ride Shocks
Post by: Mike Sokol on August 22, 2016, 11:25:51 AM
UPDATE: Five people were taken to the hospital after an electrical shock while they were riding on an amusement ride in New London, Conn., yesterday afternoon. Four of them were children. They were on the Scrambler ride at Ocean Beach Park when the incident occurred.

An electrical problem has been identified as the cause of an electrical shock, according to an updated report from The Bulletin 225.

According to a report from WIAT News, Connecticut State and New London police were called to the park just before 2 p.m. after getting a report of people struck by electricity near the rides. Police say when they arrived, they found six people who said they suffered various degrees of electrical shock.

One child suffered minor burns to his hands when he touched a bar as he was leaving the area of the ride, according to a CBS News report. The operator also felt the shock as he turned off the ride.

The electrical issues that caused the injuries have been repaired by a licensed electrician in the presence of detectives from the State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit and representatives from the New London Fire Marshal's office.
Title: Re: Amusement Park Ride Shocks
Post by: Ike Zimbel on August 22, 2016, 12:23:25 PM
UPDATE: Five people were taken to the hospital after an electrical shock while they were riding on an amusement ride in New London, Conn., yesterday afternoon. Four of them were children. They were on the Scrambler ride at Ocean Beach Park when the incident occurred.

An electrical problem has been identified as the cause of an electrical shock, according to an updated report from The Bulletin 225.

According to a report from WIAT News, Connecticut State and New London police were called to the park just before 2 p.m. after getting a report of people struck by electricity near the rides. Police say when they arrived, they found six people who said they suffered various degrees of electrical shock.

One child suffered minor burns to his hands when he touched a bar as he was leaving the area of the ride, according to a CBS News report. The operator also felt the shock as he turned off the ride.

The electrical issues that caused the injuries have been repaired by a licensed electrician in the presence of detectives from the State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit and representatives from the New London Fire Marshal's office.
It's been years since I've been to a midway, but I sure remember walking around and seeing some horror show wiring. Hopefully they are (or will be...) inspected and policed more thoroughly going forward.
Title: Re: Amusement Park Ride Shocks
Post by: David Buckley on August 22, 2016, 05:24:36 PM
...after getting a report of people struck by electricity

Goddam that electricity.  Striking people.  That level of violence is just out of line.
Title: Re: Amusement Park Ride Shocks
Post by: Jeff Bankston on August 22, 2016, 06:15:53 PM
The Scrambler is my favorite ride when my 350 pounds is on the inside and 2 skinny friends are on the outside part of the seat. ! was about 10 the first time I rode a scrambler and my skiiny self was on the outside and my 2 "big and heavy" friends were on the inside and scrambled me real good, yep real good. I always look at wiring when I go to outdoor events. There are a lot of fly by night parking lot cornys that come through here all the time. So far there has never been a problem. I'm wondering just what caused that shock problem.
Title: Re: Amusement Park Ride Shocks
Post by: John Daniluk (JD) on August 23, 2016, 07:51:52 AM
I am giving away my age.......does anyone remember the "apple stick boxes" used at various shows......copper bar with holes drilled in it.  You stuck in the wire and used an apple stick to keep the wire in place.  Late 60/70 ac distro....

jd
Title: Re: Amusement Park Ride Shocks
Post by: Frank DeWitt on August 24, 2016, 09:35:24 PM
i have some old porcelain light sockets that were made for mounting on amusement park rides.  They are special in that they can be mounted on the corners of the wood structure and most important, they have drain holes so rain water can run right through them.  Much safer that way.
Title: Re: Amusement Park Ride Shocks
Post by: Stephen Swaffer on August 24, 2016, 10:51:26 PM
"Arranged to drain" is found in more than one place in the code.
Title: Re: Amusement Park Ride Shocks
Post by: Frank DeWitt on August 25, 2016, 03:07:48 PM
"Arranged to drain" is found in more than one place in the code.

These also have the center contact raised about 1/4 in off the inside base of the socket for better drainage, and the socket has slots on each side for convenient knob and tube wiring.

(http://lbpinc.com/amusment%20lg%202..jpg)
(http://lbpinc.com/amusment%20lg%201.jpg)